Bus stops often serve as the first point of contact with Connecticut’s public transportation system, playing a vital role in shaping a rider’s initial impression. CTDOT is working to make bus stops more welcoming, accessible, and consistent—contributing to a better transit experience statewide.
About the Program
The State of Connecticut has approximately 13,000 bus stops which are served by 17 different service providers. Some bus services are owned by the State and operated through contracts between CTDOT and private companies under the “CTtransit” brand name. Other bus services are operated by Transit Districts, formed under Connecticut General Statues, Chapter 103a and governed by a Board of Directors representing their member towns, with financial assistance provided by CTDOT through transit operating contracts. While CTDOT is a major funding source of public transit services statewide, it does not directly govern the provision, placement, or maintenance of bus stop infrastructure in the Transit District service areas.
Historically, the procurement, installation, and management of bus stop infrastructure have been the responsibility of the municipalities. While having been successful in improving user experience, this approach has resulted in the development of regional bus stop enhancement programs which have led to varying bus stop designs across the state and an inability for CTDOT to track whether the stops were enhanced in compliance with state and federal regulations. CTDOT’s Bus Stop Enhancement Program (BSEP) has been developed as a vendor-in-place system for delivering standardized bus stop enhancements across the State.
Program Objectives
- Improve customer experience and satisfaction at the bus stop.
- Standardize bus stop amenity designs statewide while bringing the enhanced stops into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) via the installation of sidewalk, concrete boarding pads, and curb cuts where necessary for a complete streets approach to providing pedestrian access.
- Establish a streamlined procurement and installation process of standardized bus stops and amenities and implement new maintenance agreements that clearly identify the requirements and roles of responsible parties.
- Furnish bus stops with new amenities at no cost to the Transit Districts or Municipalities.
Legislative Impacts
CTDOT’s Office of Transit and Ridesharing initiated the development of the BSEP in the summer of 2021. On June 27, 2023, while the program’s framework was still in its initial stages of development, the Connecticut General Assembly passed HB05001 into law as Public Act No. 137: An Act Concerning Resources and Support Services for Persons with Intellectual or Developmental Disability (PA 23-137). This act mandated CTDOT and each transit provider jointly develop a plan to modernize and maintain bus stops and shelters throughout the State (PA 23-137-22) thus further highlighting the importance and need for the BSEP being developed. Through coordination with stakeholders such as transit service providers, councils of government, and municipalities CTDOT satisfied the requirements of this act.
Section 22 of PA 137 required the following:
- That the BSEP ensures all bus stops and shelters be constructed and maintained in compliance with accessibility guidelines under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (42 USC 12101).
- That bus stops inclusively serve all via the inclusion of sidewalks, appropriate curb cuts and ramps, shelter from weather conditions, lighting and signage that provides real-time information concerning transportation services.
- That the installation of solar PV systems at bus stops for the operation of lights and electronic device charging be considered and
- That maintenance and safety of bus stops and shelters be ensured following construction.
All the above requirements were accounted for during the development of the BSEP framework.
For more information email DOT.BustStops@ct.gov.