2 min read
The toll plaza at Interstate 195 (Saco Industrial Spur) on Tuesday. (Derek Davis/Staff Photographer)

Summer traffic counts by the Maine Turnpike Authority show that the number of Canadian travelers has decreased as much as 43% on the 109-mile toll highway from Kittery to Augusta.

The drop corresponds with similar declines in Canadian border crossings into Maine that have followed President Donald Trump’s political insults and tariff threats made earlier this year.

Based on broad samplings over several weeks, the average daily number of Canadians paying cash at turnpike tollbooths from May through August fell from 2,377 in 2024 to 1,339 this year, a 43% drop.

Meanwhile, total E-ZPass transactions for Canadian travelers in June and July were down 19%, from 17,284 transactions in 2024 to 14,037 in 2025.

Cash-paying customers likely represent Canadian tourists who travel to Maine less frequently, while Canadians who have Maine E-ZPass accounts may cross the border more often, said MTA spokesperson Erin Sullivan.

The MTA monitors its toll-payer mix to keep track of its customer base and to help plan for potential program improvements, including automated toll options.

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The authority decided to share its summer travel data because it provides a valuable snapshot of current travel trends, said Andre Briere, executive director.

“While Canadian traffic is down compared to last year, the overall strength of travel on Maine’s busiest highway shows that our state remains a top destination,” he said. “We will continue to monitor these numbers and work with stakeholders to ensure Maine’s economy and communities continue to benefit from strong tourism and travel.”

Border crossings from Canada into Maine fell again in July — down 28% — from 383,000 in 2024 to 275,000 in 2025, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Total crossings into Maine are down about 25% so far this year, from nearly 1.8 million in the first seven months of 2024 to just over 1.3 million in the same period this year. August border crossing numbers aren’t available yet.

And while visitor numbers are up this summer at Acadia National Park and some tourist-oriented businesses have reported a strong season, in part because of mostly sunny skies throughout July and August, some in the industry worry that the loss of Canadian tourists will hurt their bottom line.

At the same time, year-to-date turnpike traffic has held steady overall, with a slight increase of 0.3% increase from 62.1 million transactions in 2024 to 62.4 million transactions in 2025, according to the authority.

As a result, the drop in Canadian travelers won’t have a significant effect on turnpike revenue or operations, Briere said.

Kelley writes about some of the most critical aspects of Maine’s economy and future growth, including transportation, immigration, retail and small business, commercial development and tourism, with...

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