TRENTON, Maine (AP) — The federal government is giving $9 million to help with the development of a transit facility in Downeast Maine that supporters say will dramatically improve transportation in the area.

The Federal Transit Administration is providing the money to help finish the next phase of Acadia Gateway Center in Trenton. The facility is designed to be a place for visitors to park their vehicles and get information about Acadia National Park.

Republican Sen. Susan Collins said the project will improve the experience of visiting the park and also improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists. The first phase of the project finished in 2012. That included a bus maintenance garage, park-and-ride lot and a propane fueling station.

Collins said the investment will help “ensure effective, safe, and reliable transportation for all riders and improve the visitor experience at Acadia National Park.”

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