Press Releases
07/02/2021
Take the Bus, Avoid Traffic and Stress This July 4th Weekend
Use Fare-Free Transit Options to Select State Parks and Beaches
(HARTFORD, CT)— The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is reminding residents that fare-free shuttles and enhanced existing transit service to various state parks and beaches are available this Fourth of July weekend via the pilot ParkConneCT program.
DEEP expects to see significant crowds this weekend, and we recommend planning to arrive at any parks or beaches early in the day. If parks serviced by ParkConneCT close due to parking lot capacity being reached, residents who choose to take public transit options to the parks will still be able to walk in.
The ParkConneCT program, a collaboration between DEEP and the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT), aims to connect people to Connecticut State Parks for the summer season to support seasonal employment, and promote recreational activity to improve physical and mental wellbeing. The initiative works in conjunction with Governor Ned Lamont’s “Weekend Wheels” program, which offers fare-free summertime weekend bus service statewide as part of the state’s COVID-19 pandemic recovery.
The ParkConneCT Pilot Program is running this year from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend (May 29, 2021 to September 6, 2021). All buses will operate without collecting fares on Saturdays, Sundays, Independence Day and Monday, July 5, 2021, and Labor Day as part of the Weekend Wheels program promotion. The Silver Sands Shuttle, Madison Shuttle, and Clinton Trolley will also be fare-free on weekdays.
The parks included in the ParkConneCT pilot program are Silver Sands State Park, Hammonasset Beach State Park, Sleeping Giant State Park, Bluff Point State Park, and Fort Trumbull State Park.
Detailed route and trip planning information is available online at DEEP’s ParkConneCT page. A summary of the included destinations and routes is below.
Service Schedule
Hammonasset Beach State Park (Madison)
New Service
- Hourly Sunday service on the Estuary 641: Old Saybrook/Madison
- Saturday and Sunday service every two hours on the Estuary 645: Madison/Middletown that will now stop at Middle Beach
- Free hourly daily service on the Clinton Trolley that now stops at Middle Beach
- Free 30-minute daily service on the new Madison Shuttle that stops at Middle Beach
Existing Service
- Hourly Monday-Saturday service on the Estuary 641: Old Saybrook/Madison
- Monday-Friday service every two hours on the Estuary 645: Madison/Middletown that will now stop at Middle Beach
- Shore Line East to Madison Train Station connects with the Madison Shuttle
Silver Sands State Park (Milford)
New Service
- Free hourly daily service on the new Silver Sands Shuttle
Existing Service
- Hourly Monday-Friday service on the Milford Route 3
- 30-minute daily Coastal Link service to Milford Train Station
- New Haven Line to Milford Train Station connects to Milford Route 3 and the Silver Sands Shuttle
Bluff Point State Park (Groton)
Existing Service
- Hourly Monday-Saturday service on the SEAT Route 11: Groton Local Service
Fort Trumbull State Park (New London)
Existing Service
- Hourly Monday-Saturday service on the SEAT Route 13: New London to Lawrence, Memorial Hospital and Ocean Beach
- Shore Line East to New London Union Train Station connects with SEAT Route 13
- Thames River Heritage Park River Taxi Harbor Cruise
Sleeping Giant State Park (Hamden)
Existing Service
- Hourly Monday-Sunday service on the New Haven Route 228: Whitney Ave
- Hourly Monday-Sunday service on the New Haven Route 229: New Haven – Waterbury
- Farmington Canal Heritage Trail
For more information on ParkConneCT, visit the updated Web site at portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Park-Connect.
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Contact
DEEP Communications
DEEP.communications@ct.gov
860-424-3110