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

FOR RELEASE: June 2, 2016

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

CTfastrak First Year Report

Report Summarizes Operating, Marketing & Outreach Activities For Connecticut’s New Bus Rapid Transit System

      The Connecticut Department of Transportation today released the CTfastrak First Year Report – a  review of the operating, marketing and outreach activities since the new Bus Rapid Transit system's launch on March 28, 2015.

      Highlights from the report include:

·         Weekday passenger trips now average 16,000, doubling the previous daily ridership in the corridor

·         A 99.4 percent fare compliance rate in a proof-of-payment system

·         Celebrated millionth rider on September 9, 2015

·         Introduced service to UConn Football games at Rentschler Field in September 2015

·         Participated in more than 100 public outreach events

·         More than 750 runners participated in CTfastrak’s 15K and Relay race on May 3, 2015.

·         CTfastrak employs more than 200 people, including bus operators and mechanics

      The full CTfastrak First Year Report and a two-page summary can be found at: http://ctfastrak.com/about/news/one-year-anniversary. It has also been posted on the Connecticut Department of Transportation website (CTfastrak Year One Report).

      CTfastrak provides direct service to and from Waterbury, Cheshire, Southington, Bristol, Plainville, New Britain, Newington, West Hartford, Hartford, East Hartford and Manchester with routes that take advantage of the bus-only CTfastrak roadway. The CTfastrak system offers a one-seat, no-transfer ride to many major regional employment, education, shopping and healthcare destinations as well as connections to the New Haven Line-Waterbury branch rail in Waterbury and Amtrak service in Hartford.  A new 4.5 mile multi-use trail runs parallel to the bus-only roadway from New Britain to Newington Junction.

      For information about CTfastrak, visit www.ctfastrak.com, connect via Facebook at www.facebook.com/ctfastrak or via Twitter at @ctfastrak.  Route timetables are available at www.cttransit.com under the “Schedules/CTfastrak” tab and the latest information on the more than 60 businesses participating in the CTfastrak Rewards program is available at www.ctfastrak.com/rewards.