Rep. Dauphinais and Sen. Somers Continue Open Dialogue With Transportation Groups

PLAINFIELD – State Representative Anne Dauphinais (R-44) and State Senator Heather Somers (R-18) met with representatives from the Southeast Area Transit District (SEAT),  Northeastern Connecticut Council of Governments (NECCOG), Town of Plainfield and the Connecticut Department of Transportation (DOT) to continue discussions on how to provide public transportation for area residents.

Tuesday’s meeting was long overdue according to the lawmakers, who had hoped to continue previous discussions between the groups much sooner. Unfortunately, due to a change of commissioner at the Connecticut Department of Transportation, any new meeting involving DOT representation had to wait.

“I’m glad that we were finally able to get this meeting together and continue to express the needs of residents in our district to those who can help facilitate a transportation plan that works for well for everyone,” Rep. Dauphinais said.

“It was a very productive meeting bringing all of these parties together,” Sen. Somers said. “It gave Representative Dauphinais and I an opportunity to discuss the broader transportation needs with all of the decision makers.”

Unlike surrounding towns, Plainfield residents don’t have viable transportation options for getting to and from school, work, and medical appointments that occur outside of town. Eligible seniors are able to utilize Veyo, a limited transportation service, but the organization has come under intense scrutiny recently for a plethora of

failings. Residents have reported Veyo not showing up at a pick up time, being stranded at various appointments, and other claims to have shown up when they hadn’t.

Both Dauphinais and Somers are working with the town, area transit groups and DOT to help come up with a better solution.

The group plans to reconvene with updated findings again in mid-July.