This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Island Explorer—the local fare–free shuttle buses that run on clean–burning propane fuel. Since 1999, these buses have carried more than 2.9 million people, beating their all–time season record last year with a whopping 8,000 passengers on a single day in August.

During these last 10 years, more than 1 million vehicle trips have been eliminated. Were all those parked cars to line up, they would create a traffic jam reaching from Bar Harbor down around the southern tip of Florida, heading past St. Petersburg to Yankeetown. Over the years, individuals who chose to ride rather than drive into the park have eliminated more than 16 tons of smog–causing pollutants and reduced greenhouse gases by more than 10,000 tons—a great gift to Acadia and the region.

The Island Explorer is the largest public bus fleet in the state of Maine. It is also arguably the most popular. Last summer, 99% percent of surveyed riders showed their strong support for the system, saying that it is “very important” for it to continue. Currently, this efficient and popular service operates out of the parking lot of a local market on Route 3 in Trenton. In order for it to operate—and grow—more efficiently, however, it needs a permanent home.

From the earliest planning days, the Island Explorer partners envisioned a location that would include a site for maintenance and operations, a welcome center to provide community and Acadia National Park information to visitors, and a place where day visitors could easily board the bus and explore the park before heading back home or to their next Maine destination.

Now, the Acadia Gateway Center—the capstone of the Island Explorer system—is proposed on 150 acres in Trenton. Friends of Acadia acquired the Crippens Creek property in 2007, exercising a four–year option on the land, and selling what was needed for the Gateway Center to the Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT). The center will have a national park–like setting, protecting the creek, the big heath, and other natural features. The development will incorporate conservation, outdoor recreation, and facilities that fit within the character of the area. A fitting prelude to Acadia.

Design plans include LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certification. That is only the starting point. Partners are exploring additional opportunities for energy conservation, efficiency, and innovative technological models. Pioneering technology will draw people to the center to explore and learn about energy efficiency, as well as renewable energy alternatives.

Earlier this year, the Acadia National Park Advisory Commission, composed of state appointees and citizen representatives from the surrounding communities, passed a resolution urging Acadia National Park and the MDOT to make the Acadia Gateway Center a demonstration project, incorporating energy efficiency and generating and using renewable energy.

Simply stated, the Acadia Gateway Center should stand as a model of conservation and environmental leadership—a gateway center worthy of an iconic American destination.

In a time of calls for “shovel ready jobs” and “economic stimulus,” the Acadia Gateway Center has the potential to be a welcome resource for the region. Acadia National Park generates more than $130 million of the State economy each year. As the Gateway Center reaches its potential, Trenton will find itself on the map as home to a place where people come to learn about and experience creative energy conservation, discover what the region has to offer, and hop on the bus to Acadia.

The Gateway Center will bring jobs and customers to the area communities. Downeast Transportation, the nonprofit organization that operates the Island Explorer, employs more than 85 workers, including seasonal bus drivers, year–round charter bus drivers, office staff, maintenance crew, and others. Building the first two phases of the center will require more than 150 construction jobs, of one– to two–year duration, over the next three to four years.

When you see the snappy white Island Explorer buses with their distinctive blue and green stripes this summer, consider how much they benefit the park and surrounding gateway communities. If you haven’t already ridden one, give it a try. Schedules are online at www.exploreacadia.com, and available at many businesses and town offices on Mt. Desert Island.

With ample space for bus maintenance, operations, and visitor information, the Acadia Gateway Center will surely build upon the great successes of the Island Explorer and offer the greatest opportunity to grow.

—Marla S. O’Byrne