Southeast Area Transit

Southeast Area Transit District
	SEAT New Flyer XD40 #1802 at SEAT's main facility along CT Route 12 in Preston.
Parent	Towns of East Lyme, Griswold, Groton, Ledyard, Montville, New London, Norwich, Stonington and Waterford, cities of New London and Groton;
Founded	1975 (service began in 1980)
Headquarters	21 Connecticut Route 12, Preston, CT 06365
Service area	Norwich-New London Urbanized Area
Service type	Local bus service,; Amtrak Thruway
Routes	17 (plus three micro-transit service areas)
Hubs	2 (New London Union Station, Norwich Transportation Center)
Fleet	22 fixed-route, 7 demand-response
Daily ridership	3,888 (weekday); 1,363 (Saturday)
Fuel type	Diesel, hybrid diesel-electric
Annual budget	$9,110,072
Website	Official Website

Southeast Area Transit (abbreviated to SEAT) is a provider of local bus service in eight towns and two cities in the southeastern portion of the U.S. state of Connecticut: East Lyme, Griswold, Groton (town and city), Ledyard, Montville, New London, Norwich, Stonington, and Waterford. Under contract to Amtrak, SEAT also provides Amtrak Thruway service from New London to Foxwoods.

A 2015 report co-authored with the Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments (SCCOG) sketched out opportunities for "system expansion."

Routes

SEAT operates the following bus routes:

Regional routes. Routes connecting major cities or towns in the region.

1: Norwich to New London via Route 32
2: Norwich to New London via Route 12 and Groton
3: New London to Niantic via Boston Post Road and Crossroads Wal-Mart
108: New London to Foxwoods via Groton and Old Mystic Village (also an Amtrak Thruway route)

Norwich/Jewett City. These routes, except Route 8, originate from the Norwich Transit Center.

4: Norwich Transit Center to Occum/Taftville
5: Norwich Transit Center to Norwich Business Park via Backus Hospital
6: Norwich Transit Center to Norwich Wal-Mart via Marcus Plaza
7: Norwich Transit Center to Hamilton Avenue, Uncas-on-Thames and Mohegan Sun
8: Lisbon Landing to Jewett City
9: Norwich Transit Center to Lisbon Landing via Route 12
980: Norwich Transit Center to Groton/New London Sub Base and Electric Boat
982: Norwich Transit Center to Foxwoods via State Route 2

New London/Groton. These routes, except Route 11, originate from the New London Railroad Station.

11: Groton Local
12: New London to Crystal Mall and NL Shopping Center
13: New London to L&M Hospital and Ocean Beach
14: New London to NL Mall, Waterford Commons, Crystal Mall and NL Shopping Center
15: New London/Waterford Local (nights only)

SEAT Connect Services (On-demand microtransit)

Stonington HOP Service: Stonington area between Pawcatuck and Mystic along the CT Route 1 corridor
Groton/Waterford HOP Service: eastern Groton area between Noank, Route 184 and Mystic and the Quaker Hill area of Waterford
New London Smart Ride: service within the city of New London

Fares

Fare category	Single Ride	Ten Ride Ticket Book	Four Hour Zip Pass	One Day Pass	Five Day Pass	Thirty-one Day Pass
Regular	US $1.75	US $17.50	US $2.50	US $3.50	US $14	US $40
Senior/Disabled	US $0.85	US $8.50	Not available
ADA/Paratransit	US $3.50	US $35	Not available

Children aged 5 and under and measuring 45 inches in height or below ride for free.

Transfers

One free transfer may be obtained with each fare. Transfers allow customers to complete a one way trip which requires multiple buses. Transfers are issued upon fare payment and are valid for one-and-a-half hours. Transfers cannot be used to make a round trip. Transfers are only accepted at the following designated Transfer Points:
Norwich Transportation Center, Lisbon Landing, Mohegan Sun, Foxwoods Resort Casino, New London Water Street, New London NSA, New London Eugene O’Neill and State Street Shelter, Groton Square, Groton Plaza Court, I-95 / Route 2 Commuter Lot (N. Stonington), Olde Mistick Village

System Expansion

2015 SEAT Bus Study

In 2015, SEAT and the Southeastern Connecticut Council of governments published the SEAT Bus Study, which described potential ways to improve efficiency and increase ridership. The study identified 3 potential options for future bus service with changed frequency, coverage area, and weekend service. All three of the proposed changes would have focused on simplifying and routes to be less circuitous. The most expansive option, "System Expansion C" would create new routes better. The final

The study concluded that Cost Neutral Plan A would best meet the goals of the study, though noted it would eliminate service in some areas. It was also identified that expansion of bus service would be ideal if funding allows.

Fleet

Make & model	Year introduced	Fleet numbers
Ford Transit/Startrans Candidate	2019	1906-1907
Gillig Low Floor 35'	2019	2001-2005
Gillig Low Floor 29'	2019	1901-1904
New Flyer XD40	2018	1801-1805
New Flyer XD35	2018	1806-1811
New Flyer XD40	2020	2006-2007
Gillig Low Floor BRT HEV 40'	2013	1301
Gillig Low Floor BRT HEV 35'	2013	1302
Ford E450/Coach & Equipment Phoenix	2016	1601-1605