The Jewett City local loop (route #8) has been completely eliminated. Shortly thereafter, the Jewett City route 9 was shortened, resulting in less passenger service in the Borough. SEAT is now prepared to completely eliminate the Jewett City run from evening going to Jewett City.
During the time that Jewett City residents and taxpayers are finding it more difficult to get to work by riding the bus, the Southeast CT Council of Governments (SCCOG) has been administering a $500,000 state funded study entitled, "The CT Intermodal Connections Study (State Project No. 103-253)." The stated purpose is to prepare a plan "for a service that would provide linkage of train, ferry, and bus with tourist attractions in Southeastern CT.
Jewett City Party Founder, Ron Ward, organized a community discussion to give Jewett City residents an opportunity to participate in the process of determining their needs related to the bus service. And, to make sure that when route 9 stops at Lisbon Landing, an alternative service is provided to the residents and taxpayers of Jewett City.
SEAT employees opposed holding the community meeting and requested that the Griswold Senior Center withdraw their commitment to host the meeting at their Jewett City facility. It appears that the "official word" is that final decisions regarding Jewett City bus No. 9 have not been made. However, SEAT personnel, local officials, and the bus passengers all know that with increasing traffic on Route 12 and the coming of the new shopping center at Lisbon Crossing, changes will be necessary.
Doing a study to make it easier for tourists to come and spend money makes sense. Making it more difficult for a bus-riding employee to get to work and put the tourist dollar in the cash register is just ridiculous!
The B-I-G questions: What changes are best for the residents of Jewett City? and, How will those changes be funded?
2 comments:
Maybe if we had the kids from JC walk instead of being pampered with the bus, we could re-allocate that fuel to SEAT and continue the operation! My kids always walked to school, and guess what? None of them are obese either, in fact because of walking to school, it got them involved in Cross Country and Track.
SEAT has received money from the towns, money from the State, money from the federal Govt, and I never saw them reduce service when EB was at 100,000 strong!
In the end it's all about money, not service. I pity that poor blind guy that relies on that bus route on a daily basis to be able to break the boundaries of JC and all the others as well! I guess we can forget about the ADA now as well.
Perhaps the new developments on 164, will encourage SEAT to extend there routes past Lisbon Landing.
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