AUBURN — Drawing up a new management contract for the Citylink bus system might be a good time to consider expanding the service beyond the Twin Cities, according to officials.

Members of Lewiston-Auburn Transit Committee have adopted a resolve saying they would be happy to investigate operating a commuter bus system if that’s what both city councils want. A commuter service could include regular bus service between Lewiston-Auburn and Portland, Brunswick or Augusta.

“We are sort of challenging the councils,” said Lewiston Councilor Craig Saddlemire, the council’s representative to the transit committee. “We are saying that we see a need, and asking if they are they wiling to step up and start addressing it. We can do more studies but before we do, are they interested in doing something at all?”

Phil Nadeau, Lewiston’s deputy city administrator and chairman of the committee, said this is a good time to talk about the scope of the Citylink system.

The contract with operators Western Maine Transit expires in 2013 and the group is hoping to begin taking bids and operating proposals for a new contract this fall.

“But we can’t to presume that we should start looking at expanding service unless we get some pretty clear direction from both cities,” Nadeau said. “We’ve at least opened the door for the discussion.”

Western Maine currently operates Citylink’s system, which includes a fleet of 10 buses covering nine routes on weekdays and two routes on Sundays. Western Maine also operates the system’s on-demand ADA para-transit system.

The new five-year contract would begin in October 2013.

Lewiston’s City Council voted to support the transit committee’s investigations at its meeting Aug. 14, but Councilor Mark Cayer said he had some concerns.

“First, I’d like to know if there is demand for this kind of thing,” Cayer said. “I’d like to know that there is a nearly self-supporting market. We need to know if there is federal money available or if there is enough ridership to pay for itself.”

Auburn Mayor Jonathan LaBonte said he feels it’s time for someone in the Twin Cities to begin tackling the issue. Members of both city councils are working to schedule joint meetings beginning in October, and LaBonte said transit could be a topic at one of them.

“Having the city councils saying they want this and directing staff to figure out what it will take is a critical step,” LaBonte said. “Historically, that just hasn’t happened.”

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