TRENTON — The Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) has sent requests for proposals for designing the next three phases of the Acadia Gateway Center here.

The first phase, which was completed last fall, includes the Island Explorer bus maintenance facility, which will be formally dedicated May 4, and infrastructure for the rest of the project.

Phase 2 involves a building with a bus boarding area, information center for local chambers of commerce, and public restrooms. Two additions to that building, an Acadia National Park welcome center and a theater for showing park orientation films, would be built in phases 3 and 4.

“Whether all those are actually built is another question,” Acadia’s deputy superintendent Len Bobinchock said. “During the design phase, we’ll be revisiting what all the programmatic needs are and how much space we actually need.”

Mr. Bobinchock said the MDOT is expected to award the design contract for the next three phases next month and for the design work to start in June.

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