Connecticuts first BRT service opens to the public

New Britain, Conn. — Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy joined federal, state and local transportation and elected officials at a grand opening ceremony in downtown New Britain to inaugurate service on CTfastrak – Connecticut’s new bus rapid transit (BRT) service in central Connecticut. Ten new CTfastrak transit stations were built along the 9.4 mile bus-only roadway in Hartford, West Hartford, Newington and New Britain, partly along abandoned rail line and existing Amtrak rail line.

“With CTfastrak, Connecticut commuters will have another option to beat traffic as localities see new economic opportunities,” Governor Malloy said.  “We are improving lives, easing congestion, and delivering growth in municipalities.  From Waterbury through Hartford to Manchester, and to its connections to air and rail travel, CTfastrak will provide residents and business professionals with a new way to travel between our cities and towns.  As we work to transform Connecticut’s transportation network with Let’s Go CT, today’s opening is a great start toward creating a 21st Century transportation system.”

In addition to Governor Malloy, officials participating in the opening ceremony at the downtown New Britain station included Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman, CTDOT Commissioner James P. Redeker, New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart, Acting Federal Transit Administrator Therese McMillan, U.S. Representative Elizabeth Esty and the New Britain High School Golden Hurricanes marching band.  The officials rode CTfastrak buses from downtown Hartford to the ceremony in New Britain.

“The CTfastrak team built 17 new bridges, over 60 new retaining walls and completed the project on time and on budget,” Commissioner Redeker said.  “We now would like to invite everyone to enjoy a free ride on CTfastrak for the first nine days of service.”

The CTfastrak system 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 will provide a one-seat, no-transfer ride to many major regional employment, 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 multi-use trail was built paralleling the CTfastrak bus-only roadway from New Britain to Newington Junction.

CTfastrak augments the state’s CT Transit bus system, which has seen ridership increase by two million passengers in the last two years. With the opening of CTfastrak, bus ridership in the corridor is expected to double from current daily ridership of about 8,000 by 2030. The rapid bus will run every 7½ minutes during rush hour and every 12 minutes during off-peak times. By linking with Amtrak in Hartford, CTfastrak will enable passengers to connect from local transit to other East Coast cities.

The U.S. Department of Transportation contributed $454.6 million toward the $567 million CTfastrak project. Federal funds include $275.3 million through FTA’s Capital Investment Grant (New Starts) Program, $114.2 from the Congestion Mitigation Air Quality Highway Program, and $65.1 million in other FTA funds.

For information about CTfastrak, visit www.ctfastrak.com.