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CTfastrak to Begin Service March 28, 2015

Public Invited to Open Houses to Learn More about the Service

      The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) announced today the CTfastrak bus rapid transit system will begin operating on March 28, 2015. CTDOT will hold a series of open house events in December and January where the public can learn about routes in their neighborhoods, use a web-based trip planner, board the new buses, and try out the new ticket vending machines.

      The CTfastrak bus rapid transit system is a series of routes that use a bus-only roadway to improve travel time.  Local CTfastrak buses will stop at every station, or use the bus-only road for part of the trip, then use local roads to bring riders to popular destinations such as Westfarms Mall, Manchester Community College, UConn Health Center and Central Connecticut State University (CCSU). Circulator routes will also link CTfastrak stations with surrounding neighborhoods.

      Passengers can also board a Hartford Express Bus at free Park & Ride lots in Bristol, Cheshire, Southington, or Waterbury. Buses enter the bus roadway at the Downtown New Britain station, and then continue non-stop to the Sigourney Street station in Hartford where they exit the bus-only road and circulate through downtown Hartford.

      “The bus-only roadway will allow CTfastrak buses to avoid the often-jammed sections of I-84 west of Hartford,” said CTDOT Commissioner James P. Redeker. “That means that customers can count on consistent, reliable service and dramatically improved travel times. CTfastrak will provide a frequent, reliable alternative to drivers and dramatically improve service for existing riders, including evening and Sunday CTTransit bus service in New Britain and Bristol.”  

      Ten new bus stations in New Britain, Newington, West Hartford and Hartford are in the final stages of construction. In addition, a five-mile recreational trail was built along the CTfastrak roadway between New Britain and Newington for bicyclists, runners and pedestrians.

      The public is invited to attend any of the following free open house events to learn more about CTfastrak:

Hartford – Tuesday December 2, 2014

6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Hartford Public Library, 500 Main Street

Hartford – Thursday, December 4, 2014

11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Old State House, 800 Main Street

New Britain – Tuesday, December 9, 2014

6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

CCSU's Institute of Technology & Business Development, 185 Main Street

West Hartford – Wednesday, December 10, 2014

6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Elmwood Community Center, 1106 New Britain Avenue

Newington – Monday, December 15, 2014

6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Newington High School, 605 Willard Avenue

Waterbury – Wednesday, December 17, 2014

6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Waterbury City Hall, 235 Grand Street

Southington – Tuesday, January 13, 2015

6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Southington Municipal Center, 196-200 N. Main Street

Plainville – Wednesday, January 14, 2015

6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Plainville Library, 56 E. Main Street

Cheshire – Wednesday, January 21, 2015

6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Cheshire Town Hall, 84 S. Main Street

Bristol – Thursday, January 22, 2015

4:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Bristol Library, 5 High Street

For more information about CTfastrak and updated information about the open house events, visit www.ctfastrak.com. Individuals requesting language assistance or accommodations due to a disability should contact the CTDOT communications office at (860) 594-3061. For consideration, requests should be submitted five working days prior to the event. The Department will make every reasonable effort to provide assistance.