What is the Lower Connecticut River Valley Transit Study?

RiverCOG conducted 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 was completed in the Autumn of 2020. It was 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.

RiverCOG encourages you to view study materials

Click here to read the Executive Summary.

Click here to read the Final Governance and Facilities Report

Click here to read the Final Service Improvement Report

Click here to read Appendix A: Evaluation of Scenarios which explains the alternatives considered for facility construction and governance.

Watch the Presentation on Possible Bus Route and Service Changes

The study has also evaluated the effectiveness of existing transit services and is assessing potential service enhancements, such as how to better match service with demand, make regional connections, or expand service frequency to better serve key activity centers.