CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NEWS RELEASE 2800 BERLIN TURNPIKE P.O. BOX 317546 NEWINGTON CONNECTICUT, 06131-7546

FOR RELEASE: August 27, 2015

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS TELEPHONE: (860) 594-3062 FAX: (860) 594-3065 WEB SITE: www.ct.gov/dot

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The CTDOT operates a multimodal public transportation network consisting of commuter rail and bus systems, as well as paratransit services, providing over 80 million rides annually.  To ensure fairness and equity in the distribution of those services, the Department wishes to engage the public in a collaborative process to develop its public transportation equity policies.  The purpose of developing these policies is to ensure that the Department identifies, mitigates and/or minimizes disproportionate negative impacts to minority or economically disadvantaged populations whenever there is a major service change proposal.

The Department is developing a Major Service Change Policy specifically to define what constitutes a “major service change,” for example - a change to fares, routes and/or operations.  A major service change requires that the CTDOT conduct a thorough service equity analysis for those proposed changes. Therefore, it is imperative for the Department to specifically define what constitutes a major service change. Smaller, relatively minor service changes will not trigger an analysis.

Subsequently, the Department is in the process of developing a policy for assessing and measuring disparate impact.  The policy will define adverse effects and develop thresholds and measures for determining when adverse effects of service changes are borne disproportionately by minority populations compared to impacts borne by non-minority populations.

Additionally, the Department is in the process of developing a policy for assessing and measuring Disproportionate Burden on low-income populations.  This policy will establish a threshold for determining when adverse effects of service changes are borne disproportionately by low-income populations.  The disproportionate burden threshold defines what is considered a statistically significant disparity.

CTDOT is seeking your input as part of the process to develop these policies.  The requirements and standards for developing the policies will be explained in greater detail at the meetings. Times and Locations are listed below; all locations are meet ADA requirements.  The Department will make reasonable efforts to accommodate language assistance requests that are received 48 hours prior to the scheduled meeting.

New Haven         Tues., Sept. 1, 2015         4:00PM – 6:00PM           Kennedy Mitchell Hall of Records
                                                                                                              Public Hearing Room (G-2)
                                                                                                              200 Orange Street, New Haven

Bridgeport           Wed., Sept. 2, 2015         4:00PM – 6:00PM            Bridgeport City Hall
                                                                                                               Council Chambers
                                                                                                                45 Lyon Terrace, Bridgeport

Hartford              Thurs., Sept. 3, 2015        4:00PM – 6:00PM             Hartford Public Library
                                                                                                                Center for Contemporary Culture
                                                                                                                500 Main Street, Hartford