RiverCOG is conducting the Lower Connecticut River Valley (LCRV) Transit Study to take a comprehensive look at bus transit services in the region. These services are provided by the Estuary Transit District (operating as 9 Town Transit) and Middletown Transit District (MTD) operating as Middletown Area Transit (MAT). The Study began in early 2019 and will be completed in the Summer of 2020. It is funded by the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) and administered by RiverCOG.
9 Town Transit and MAT operate in distinct but adjacent service areas. 9 Town Transit serves Shoreline communities between Old Lyme and Clinton, with service running north to Durham and Haddam; regional connections to New London, Madison, and Middletown are also provided. MAT focuses on local Middletown routes, with service provided to Middlefield, East Hampton, Portland, Durham, and parts of Cromwell and Meriden.
The study is recommending that Middletown Transit District and Estuary Transit District merge as one integrated district to achieve a more efficient and sustainable approach to delivering transit service across the Lower Connecticut River Valley region. This regional approach also provides the greatest opportunity to expand service in the future, enter into new partnerships, construct needed facilities and ensure the long-term financial resilience of transit in our region.
It would take several years for the merger to take place. Once new facilities are built, transit in the northern part of the region would be operated out of an expanded Middletown facility. Shoreline area transit services would operate out of a new facility, currently proposed for Westbrook. There are no job losses or layoffs anticipated from this proposed merger. In fact, it is recommended that the new larger district create several new management, maintenance, and administrative positions. There are also no specific service changes proposed at this time (but click here to view and weigh in on possible changes to the bus service).
