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Transit survey: most NECTD riders lack vehicles; monthly pass and service improvements under review
Summary
NECTD reported results of a ridership survey of more than 200 riders showing high dependency on transit (80% lack vehicle access) and strong satisfaction; staff are considering a monthly pass, customer-service changes, a soon-to-be-endorsed contract and a November bus tour for elected officials.
At the Sept. 29 NECCOG special meeting the director presented results from an NECTD ridership survey and operational updates.
The director said the survey collected more than 200 responses and found that over 80 percent of respondents do not have access to a vehicle; about 50 percent reported they lacked funds to pay the $1.00 fare. The director said 87 percent of respondents were satisfied or very satisfied with service and reliability, more than 84 percent agreed routes covered needed areas and schedules were easy to understand, and nearly 80 percent viewed the service as reliable. Based on the survey, staff are exploring a monthly pass and customer-service improvements.
Operational updates provided at the same time included: contract negotiations nearing completion with a planned endorsement in October; a bus camera system installation delayed due to additional information requested by the Department of Transportation; and a bus tour for elected officials scheduled for November to familiarize officials with service and routes.
Why it matters: The survey suggests a significant portion of NECTD’s ridership relies on transit for mobility and faces fare-payment barriers; proposals such as a monthly pass could affect ridership patterns and local budgets.
Next steps: NECTD staff will finalize contract negotiations for board endorsement in October, continue follow-up with DOT on camera installation requirements, and provide details about the November bus tour to members.
