Transportation Corridor Market Study
The issue of public transportation in western New Hampshire is one that has inhibited economic mobility among all walks of life. While public transportation services exist within Sullivan County and southern Grafton County, the neighboring regions have never been connected by a common public bus route. Connecting the two regions will help address accessibility issues for basic services, employment opportunities, and healthcare.
To address these transportation voids, the Town of Newport applied for a Community Development Block Grant planning grant to further study the needs of our community and possible solutions. In January 2020, the Town was awarded $12,000 from the Community Development Finance Authority to conduct such a feasibility study.
This study was undertaken with the goal of:
- Identifying which populations would benefit from expanded public transportation
- Determining if expanded public transportation would assist in supporting Newport’s businesses with increased workforce
- Distinguishing the most advantageous, suitable public transportation routes & methods
Arnett Development Group (ADG) of Concord, New Hampshire was contracted to perform the study in mid 2020. Through interviews with various key players throughout the region including employeers, non profit groups, transportation specialists and economic development actors, ADG found there is universal support in principle for a new service. All of the commentators they spoke with touched on the need for improved transportation services between the Newport and Claremont area and Lebanon/Hanover.
In the attached document, you will find their completed study. Please reach out to our Economic Development Coordinator with any thoughts/feedback/ideas.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
 town_of_newport_transportation_corridor_market_study.pdf | 12.52 MB |