The Connecticut Department of Public Transportation (CTDOT) honors Transit Equity Day 2024 with a commitment to high-quality, accessible public transportation and filling gaps between communities and vital jobs and resources. Transit Equity Day is marked annually on the birthday of late civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks, who helped spur legislation that created more equitable transportation across the country.
Public transit is critical to Connecticut’s transportation infrastructure, along with highways, roadways, and bridges. Public transit connects residents to work, housing, food, places of worship, health care, and schools. CTDOT is committed to improving and expanding equitable access for transit-dependent and transit-choice customers. On Sunday, February 4, a front seat will be reserved on all public transit buses to commemorate Transit Equity Day 2024.
“The brave actions of a lone passenger on a Montgomery city bus more than 65 years ago remain relevant today,” said Connecticut Department of Transportation Deputy Commissioner Karen Kitsis. “As we work to ensure our public transit system is equitable and sustainable for future generations—connecting residents to vital resources whether they live in urban or rural areas—we continue to evaluate and fill existing gaps in public transit that have historically been excluded.”
While public transit provided more than 58 million trips to Connecticut customers in 2023, CTDOT remains committed to continued investments in our public transit system that make transit accessible for all people. From transitioning the statewide bus fleet from diesel buses to zero-emissions buses by 2035 to free Wi-Fi on CTtransit buses statewide and new mobile ticketing options for CTtransit and CTfastrak customers via Token Transit App, CTDOT is improving the customer experience.
Furthermore, CTDOT is dedicated to filling existing gaps in public transportation, including:
Bus Service Expansion
Governor Ned Lamont’s Biennial Budget included $17.5 million to expand bus routes across Connecticut. CTDOT is creating smaller hubs, consolidating bus stops, and cutting down on wait times for riders. By optimizing the distance between stops, bus service can operate more efficiently. Seventeen local routes in Greater New Haven were extended to 1 a.m. ADA paratransit service was extended, and a new express route was added between Meriden and Waterbury. For complete details, click here.
Microtransit Pilot Program
CTDOT recently awarded funding to nine historically disinvested communities across the state to design and develop an on-demand microtransit service. This pilot program will make it more manageable for older people and people with disabilities to access public transit. It will also eliminate the first and last-mile challenges by using an app or phone number to request and schedule a ride within designated areas. Services are expected to begin as soon as Summer 2024.
Bus Shelter Enhancement Program
Many of Connecticut's 1,300-plus bus stops need shelters, seating, or trip information. CTDOT is allocating $17 million to a bus shelter improvement program, allowing communities to build and install ADA-compliant bus stops and shelters with real-time schedule information. More details will be announced later this spring.
Customer Experience Action Plan
CTDOT released its first-ever Customer Experience (CX) Action Plan in 2023 with a series of planned investments throughout the state. The CX plan is based directly on customer and stakeholder feedback. For example, adding mobile ticketing options was identified as a need and implemented based on feedback. View the CX Action Plan at transitcx.com.
