Route 3 through Trenton is a significant transportation corridor approaching the Mount Desert Island portion of Acadia National Park. Since 2004, Friends of Acadia has been a partner in planning for the Acadia Gateway Center, a regional transportation hub and statewide visitor information center to be constructed on the west side of Route 3.

The Center will serve as a location where visitors can access park information, purchase park entrance passes, and leave their cars while riding the Island Explorer to the park and surrounding towns. The site also includes a year-round park-and-ride facility, as well as the maintenance center and offices for Downeast Transportation, the operator of the Island Explorer.

Friends of Acadia facilitated the purchase of the land on which the Acadia Gateway Center will be built and contributed funds to help Downeast Transportation set up the maintenance hub. Friends will contribute $1M for the construction of the visitor center and transit hub.

Other partners include the National Park Service, U.S. and Maine Departments of Transportation, Maine Office of Tourism, Maine Tourism Association, Efficiency Maine, and more.