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NECCOG reports falling ridership, highlights grants and regional transportation plans
Summary
NECCOG staff reported decreased S&D ridership and outlined multiple transportation programs and grants — including a new transit website, Safe Streets for All contact, a Long Range Transportation Plan public outreach, a Rural Improvement Program with a 20% match, TAP applications from Plainfield and Putnam, and an Active Transportation Micro Grant up to $5,000.
Maureen Nicholson, NECCOG Chair, opened the June 28 special meeting and heard a report from NECCOG staff on regional transportation programs and recent ridership trends.
NECCOG staff said S&D ridership has decreased and announced a new transit website will be launched soon. Staff identified funding and planning efforts designed to address safety, multimodal travel and resiliency across the region.
Among items highlighted, NECCOG staff directed interested municipalities to contact Jim Larkin regarding Safe Streets for All grant opportunities. The Long Range Transportation Plan is in a public outreach phase with final adoption and project lists forthcoming. The Transportation Rural Improvement Program may issue solicitations in Fall 2024 that will require a 20% local match from participating towns. The Draft 2025 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) was presented to members for public fulfillment.
NECCOG staff also reported that the Transportation Alternatives Program received applications from Plainfield and Putnam. The Active Transportation Micro Grant Program will provide eligible municipalities and 501(c)(3) nonprofits with up to $5,000 for items such as bike helmets, fleets and safety vests; the minutes explicitly note that bike racks are not eligible at this time. Staff described the PROTECT (resiliency) program as under development to assess risks from extreme weather events for the 94 municipalities served by regional councils of governments.
Why it matters: these programs and grants shape near-term project funding and local match obligations for small towns across the region. The combination of declining ridership and several active grant opportunities signals a period of planning and solicitation that local staff will need to track.
What’s next: staff encouraged municipalities to pursue grant applications and to follow the Long Range Transportation Plan outreach; NECCOG provided contact information for follow-up.
