Governor Rell Announces Free

Trial Rides on Connecticut Buses

            As an incentive for Connecticut drivers to use public transportation, Governor M. Jodi Rell announced today the Connecticut Department of Transportation (DOT) is distributing free trial bus passes to commuters.

            All state-owned CTTRANSIT divisions are participating in this incentive program, along with many services provided by transit districts. Included in this promotion are express bus services into Hartford and the I-Bus, which offers interstate express service between Stamford and White Plains, N.Y.

            “This is a great opportunity for commuters to discover the benefits of using the bus,” Governor Rell said. “As we approach the holidays and the inevitable winter weather, I think people who give the bus a try will find it less stressful than driving.”

            The trial ride incentive is available to employees commuting to and from work who are not current bus riders. To take advantage of the offer, commuters must call a regional DOT Commuter Services representative with their commuting information. They will receive a 10-trip ticket as well as a bus schedule for the appropriate route. Participants may be contacted in the future to see if they have used the free ticket and if they have continued to use public transportation.

            Interested commuters can contact a Connecticut DOT Commuter Services representative in Fairfield County by calling 1-800-FIND-RIDE; in the greater Hartford/New London area by calling 1-800-972 EASY; and in the Greater New Haven/Waterbury area by calling 1-800-ALL-RIDE.

            In addition to buses, the free trial ride incentive is also being offered for seats on existing Easy Street vanpool routes with capacity for additional riders. Easy Street is the state’s vanpool system that operates routes to employment sites throughout Connecticut.

            The free trial ride incentive has been offered in the Hartford area for several years and has proven to be an effective program to get commuters to try public transportation. Prior to taking this program statewide, the incentive was offered on a trial basis for CTTRANSIT Hartford local bus routes and Hartford express bus routes. In 2006, DOT fulfilled 132 local bus and 199 express bus incentive requests. Earlier this year, the free trial offer was expanded into the New Britain area. That expansion proved successful, with 268 requests for free trial rides since the end of July.

            In August, Governor Rell announced the installation of bicycle racks on buses serving the Greater Hartford area. The entire 237 bus CTTRANSIT Hartford fleet is scheduled to be equipped with the racks by Thanksgiving.

            “Last year, the bike racks on buses in New Haven and Stamford were used more than 27,000 times, and use is up again in 2007,” Governor Rell said. “Clearly, people are enjoying the convenience that the racks offer. Adding racks to buses in the greater Hartford area continues our progress in getting single occupant vehicles off the roads.

            “To get people out of their cars and onto our buses, it is our job to make that change as easy as possible,” the Governor said. “You have to give people a reason to change their habits and this is a common-sense idea that addresses what was once an obstacle to mass transportation. Now people can ride their bikes to the bus stop. It’s a healthy alternative.”

            More than 2.7 million new riders took advantage of Connecticut bus and rail service in 2006 – a number Governor Rell attributed to the state’s efforts to expand service, enhance amenities and educate the public and Connecticut businesses about the value of Connecticut transit services.

            “More and more Connecticut commuters are hearing our message: Please take your cars off the road and hop on a train or a bus,” Governor Rell said. “That’s the best way to unclog our highways and parkways. It’s also a smart way to expand our economy by making our state a better place to do business.”

            Across-the board increases were documented in the DOT’s annual bus and rail ridership report for 2006. The biggest increase was shown on Connecticut’s bus service, where there were 1.5 million new riders on daily fixed routes – a 5 percent increase over 2005.

            In June, Governor Rell announced $10,909,856 in U.S. Department of Transportation grants for the New Britain/Hartford Busway Project. The funds will be used for final design and right-of-way acquisition. When complete, the Busway will serve an estimated 15,000 daily customers. Each bus’s daily run will replace about 100 personal automobiles on I-84.