2027 SEAT Public Transit Study
About the Study
SECOG, in coordination with the Southeast Area Transit District (SEAT), City of New London, and consulting firm RouteSprout, is conducting a public transit study to evaluate local transit service and identify opportunities to better serve the needs of the New London community.
The study will examine existing fixed route and microtransit service, travel patterns, ridership, fares, and connections to key destinations. It will also consider the experiences of transit riders, bus operators, community members, and other stakeholders to help identify opportunities to improve the accessibility, effectiveness and overall usefulness of public transportation.
Community input will be an important part of the study, helping inform the evaluation of existing services and the development of recommendations. There will be opportunities for public input at various stages through the study process, including surveys, public information meetings, and key stakeholder group meetings.
What Will the Study Examine?
The study will focus primarily on SEAT Routes 12, 13, 14, and 15, as well as SEAT’s microtransit service. Other relevant transit services, connections, and transportation needs may also be considered.
Key areas of investigation include:
- Existing transit service: Review of current routes, service patterns, and connections to important destinations.
- Ridership and fares: Analysis of ridership information, fare structures, and transit utilization.
- Transit rider needs: Understanding how well existing services meet the needs of residents, workers, students, and other transit users.
- Access and connectivity: Examining connections to employment, education, healthcare, community services, and other destinations.
- Opportunities for improvement: Identifying potential strategies to make transit service more convenient, accessible, and responsive to community needs.
- Cost and feasibility of service alternatives: Comparing the potential costs, operational considerations, and feasibility of different transit service alternatives to help inform recommendations that balance community needs, service effectiveness, and available resources.
Get Involved
Public participation is a key component of the SEAT Public Transit Study. Opportunities to share feedback will be available as the study progresses.
Planned engagement activities will include public surveys, opportunities for in-person community input, public meetings and more. These activities will help the project team understand how people in New London use transit, what challenges they experience, and what improvements they would like to see.
Check back for updates on upcoming surveys, public meetings, and other opportunities to participate.
Schedule and Status
The study is currently in its initial data collection and analysis phase. The project team is gathering and reviewing existing ridership, fare, and transit service information to develop an understanding of current conditions.
This foundational work will help inform subsequent analyses and public engagement activities. As the study progresses, the project team will share additional information about its findings, upcoming engagement opportunities, and study recommendations.
Project Timeline coming soon!
Contact
For questions about the SEAT Public Transit Study, please contact SECOG Transportation Planner Tyler Frost at [email protected].