CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NEWS RELEASE 2800 BERLIN TURNPIKE P.O. BOX 317546 NEWINGTON CONNECTICUT, 06131-7456

FOR RELEASE: March 5, 2013

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS TELEPHONE: (860) 594-3062 FAX: (860) 594-3065 WEB SITE: www.ct.gov/dot

Connecticut DOT to Begin Managing Southeastern CT Bus Service

            Responding to a formal request by the nine towns that are members of the Board of Directors of the Southeast Area Transit District (SEAT), on March 5, 2013, the Connecticut Department of Transportation (DOT) will commence management and operation of the bus service based in Preston, which provided more than 1 million passenger trips in 2012.

          The announcement comes following the adoption of resolutions by the SEAT District towns and the SEAT Board of Directors asking DOT to take over operations. The current SEAT Board of Directors will remain and will advise the Department.  The Department also intends to engage staff and municipal leaders from member towns of SEAT and the Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments (SECCOG) to work on service planning issues.

          Day-to-day operations and management will be overseen by DOT through a continuation of the management contract that is in place between SEAT and First Transit, the private company hired by SEAT to manage operations.

          “We expect this transition to be seamless for SEAT riders and look forward to working with the towns on enhancing the customer experience,” said Commissioner Redeker. “In cooperation with the Board and the region’s towns, we will begin a series of reviews to examine the viability of existing route service, the feasibility of service expansions on existing routes and the potential for new services.  We also look forward to working with the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1209 whose members are essential to achieving improvements in transit service in the region.”

            SEAT routes serve the towns of East Lyme, Griswold, Groton, Ledyard, Montville, New London, Norwich, Preston (non-member), Stonington and Waterford.