Public Hearings on Proposed Service and Fare Changes for Bus and Rail

Today, the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) announced two public hearings to gather input on proposed additional rail service; a proposed rail fare discount; and proposed additional bus service, including three new bus routes.

Proposed changes for bus service include extra trips on CTtransit Hartford area routes 512 (Berlin Turnpike) and 24 (Windsor-Bradley Int’l Airport-Windsor Locks) to provide additional access to employment opportunities and to provide scheduled connections to and from CTrail Hartford Line trains. Proposed new bus services include CTtransit New Haven area Route 282 (East Grand Avenue) to provide riders with new service along East Grand Avenue and the Bella Vista Apartments in New Haven, CTtransit Express Route 940 (Waterbury-Meriden) to better connect riders between Waterbury and Meriden, and a CTtransit Hartford area route, the Bradley-Union Connector to improve speed between Union Station in Hartford and Bradley International Airport, providing stops exclusively at both of those locations.  The CTtransit Express Route 940 is already operating under a pilot program since January 2022.

Proposed changes for rail include increased service on the Waterbury Line and an additional discount on CTrail Hartford Line and Shore Line East Ten-Trip Tickets to promote rail ridership. 

At these hearings, CTDOT will provide information and accept public comments on the service and fare proposals and the Service and Fare Equity (SAFE) analysis. The SAFE analysis evaluates the proposed changes to determine if they will cause a disparate impact on minority persons or a disproportionate burden to people with low incomes, as defined by the FTA Title VI circular. The proposed service and fare changes may be viewed on the CTDOT’s website at www.ct.gov/dot/proposedtransitchanges.

The hearings will be conducted virtually via Zoom’s online platform and toll-free conference call feature. Closed captioning will be provided. An American Sign Language interpreter is scheduled to be present at the virtual public hearings. The hearings will also be live streamed via Microsoft TEAMS Live Event, which offers non-English translation options, and on YouTube. All public hearings will be recorded and published online for later viewing.  

Registration is encouraged; however, it is only required for those who would like to provide a comment during the hearing. To register, please visit www.ct.gov/dot/proposedtransitchanges or call (860) 594-3612 and leave a voicemail with your full name and contact information. Registration will be accepted up to the day of the hearing and will remain open for the duration of the hearings.  

 
Language assistance may be requested by contacting the Department of Transportation at (860) 594-2109 at least five business days prior to the hearing. Persons having a hearing and/or speech disability may dial 711 for Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS). Language assistance is provided at no cost and efforts will be made to respond to timely requests for assistance.  
 
For more information on how to attend the public hearings, information on the proposed changes, how to provide comments and to access the SAFE analysis document please visit: www.ct.gov/dot/proposedtransitchanges.  
 

The public comment period for the proposed service and fare changes and the SAFE analysis will run from April 27^th to May 30^th, 2022. CTDOT encourages all members of the public to participate in one or more of the scheduled public hearings and/or submit written comments by mail to:  
 

COMMENT ON PROPOSED FARE AND SERVICE CHANGES 
Connecticut Department of Transportation 
P.O. Box 317546 
Newington, CT 06131-7546 
 
Members of the public may also submit comments by emailing dot.proposedtransitchanges@ct.gov or by calling (860) 594-3612. CTDOT will review and consider all comments received during the public comment period and take those comments into consideration when approving the final service and fare proposal(s).  

For general questions please email dot.proposedtransitchanges@ct.gov or call (860) 594-3612.