Norwich — U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal heard several perspectives from about 20 government leaders and residents Thursday during a visit to the Norwich Transportation Center to discuss transportation funding needs.

He concluded the trip learning about bass fishing and expansion plans by Thayer’s Marine business across Falls Avenue and ended up buying a red Thayer’s Marine T-shirt, promising to wear it while jogging.

Standing on the sidewalk outside the Southeast Area Transit hub, Blumenthal said he has read the recent report analyzing Southeast Area Transit service and needs. Holding up a map from the report that depicted SEAT service lines and major employment centers in the region, Blumenthal stressed that public transportation is critical to jobs and company success, as well as education.

Blumenthal also said he strongly supported the $8.18 million federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant approved last fall for upgrades to the Central New England freight line, because it also included the potential to bring passenger service from New London through Norwich and into the Massachusetts.

During a brief tour of the transportation center, Mayor Deberey Hinchey pointed to the New England Central freight rail line that passes by the center just across the west branch of the Yantic River. The original plans for the $22 million transportation center included a pedestrian bridge and rail platform for passenger connections.

Several speakers Thursday offered their comments on the financial needs for SEAT and other transportation improvements. Cynthia Litton, a member of the newly created Commission for the Disabled, said SEAT bus lines need to be expanded, and buses that can better accommodate people with disabilities need to be obtained.

Sandra Gallagher, bilingual home visitor for Family-School Connection, which works in two Norwich elementary schools, said many families have no transportation to get to school for teacher conferences or school functions. If students miss the bus, they can’t easily get to school — especially children with disabilities.

City and regional government officials used the open forum to urge Blumenthal to press for long-term federal transportation funding — the initial topic for Blumenthal’s first visit to the Norwich Transportation Center since it opened three years ago.

James Butler, executive director of the Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments, said he had a “simple request” for the senator to get Congress to extend federal funding for six years, rather than the two-month continuing legislation approved recently.

Blumenthal chuckled at the “simple” request and said it’s the rest of Congress that needs to be convinced of the importance of the transportation infrastructure funding. Blumenthal also has pushed to extend funding for roads and bridges to passenger rail to cut down on the number of accidents that have occurred and safety deficiencies discovered recently.

“We’ll have another opportunity two months from now, or sooner if I have my way,” Blumenthal said. “And it ought to be bipartisan.”

c.bessette@theday.com

Twitter: @Bessettetheday