Transportation

Connecticut is stuck in traffic. Congestion and traffic-generated pollution hurts our air, water, economy and overall quality of life. Connecticut Fund for the Environment and its program the Transit for Connecticut Coalition are working to redesign our transportation system with an emphasis on mass transit and smart growth principles.

LATEST NEWS

Report: Economic Importance of Investment in Public Transportation (April 2011)

Malloy Approves New Britain – Hartford Busway (April 2011)

Map: Connecting Cities and Towns Through Transit (January 2011)

TRANSIT FOR CONNECTICUT

The Transit for Connecticut Coalition, formed in 2007, has taken a leadership role in organizing and mobilizing groups and individuals in the state in support of expanded bus transit. The Transit for Connecticut Coalition has grown to 32 business, social service, environmental, transportation, planning and civic organizations dedicated to increasing the awareness of the benefits of bus transit and advocating for increased funding for bus transit. The Coalition Steering Committee is comprised of experts in the field of transportation, business, the environment and the needs of senior citizens. Transit for Connecticut is administered by Connecticut Fund for the Environment and supported by the One Region Funders' Group that includes the Fairfield County Community Foundation  and the Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation.

Facts and Essential Information

Bus Transit Needs Analysis, a study completed for Transit for Connecticut in March 2007 by Urbitran Associates details the economic, environmental and social benefits of bus transit. The study also proposes an investment plan to increases bus ridership by over 80 per cent.  “Improved bus service linked to investment in rail will enhance Connecticut's economic outlook by reducing congestion on our highways and encouraging employers to grow jobs in Connecticut,” said Joe McGee, V.P. of the Business Council of Fairfield County.

Bus Transit Needs Executive Summary
Bus Transit Needs Full Report

To further explain and emphasize the economic benefits of increased transit, Mayanka Mudgal, a graduate student at Yale University, completed a white paper in November 2008, “Economic Benefits of Transit in Connecticut,” that detailed the benefits of increased transit to residents and the state of Connecticut. The report explained the savings to individuals of using transit over driving a car, the savings to the state of Connecticut of increased transit and the overall economic benefits of investing in transit. In February 2009, again with the help of Urbitran Associates, Transit for Connecticut completed a booklet entitled, “Bus Transit in Connecticut – A Vision for the Future.” The booklet included maps of current bus service in the state, a proposal to expand existing service and a map that illustrates Transit for Connecticut's vision for bus service in the future that nearly doubles existing ridership and provides appropriate levels of service to all 169 municipalities in the state.

The Coalition Connection: Listening to Residents

In addition to meeting with state and local elected officials, state commissioners and their staff, testifying before legislative committees, and making presentations to stakeholders and other interested groups and individuals, Transit for Connecticut, along with Coalition partners AARP and Connecticut Association for Community Transportation, conducted five listening session in the Fall of 2007. Over 300 people attended the session in New Haven, Hartford, Bridgeport, Norwich and Waterbury and provided valuable information on improving and expanding bus service.

The 2009 Budget Battle

In response to Governor Rell's May 2009 budget proposal that proposed a 40 per cent increase in bus fares, two very successful public events were held in New Haven and Bridgeport and over 1700 signatures on petitions were sent to the Governor, Senate President Donald Williams and House Speaker Christopher Donovan opposing the proposed fare increase. Coalition members and supporters also called and emailed the Governor, legislative leaders and their legislators asking them to continue to provide bus service that is critical to residents. Click here for our transit fact sheet.

Results

While the State of Connecticut saw a small increase in operational and capital funding for bus transit over the last two years, the economic downturn that began in 2008 has precluded a major increase in funding for bus transit. Even with no additional funding, bus ridership has increased across the state, in some cases as much as 15 percent. During these difficult times, the Transit for Connecticut Coalition and its Coalition partners have been able to maintain funding for existing bus service. In addition, $70 million of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds will be used to purchase new clean buses for Connecticut, of which 106 will be hybrid buses.

As part of our efforts to inform legislators, agency staff and transportation advocates about the benefits of bus transit, what's being done in other parts of the country, and the advantages of an intermodal transportation system, Transit for Connecticut, along with the Capitol Region Council of Governments, Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, Regional Plan Association, The Business Council of Fairfield County and Central Connecticut State University, organized a conference entitled, “Buses for 21st Century Mobility.” The keynote speaker was Mr. Cal Marsella, General Manager/CEO of the Denver Regional Transportation District. Topics discussed were the latest trends in bus transit, how to attract choice riders and how to pay for increased transit services.

Continuing our education efforts, along with the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, Regional Plan Association, Capitol Region Council of Governments and Central Connecticut State University, Transit for Connecticut is sponsoring a symposium on Bus Rapid Transit on October 15, 2009, tentatively.

The Transit for Connecticut Coalition will continue to work toward our goal of increasing bus ridership by 80 percent. This increase will allow workers access to thousands of job, benefit employers, slash diesel pollution and create energy efficiencies that will reduce global warming pollution by hundreds of thousands of tons of global warming CO2 annually.

January 2010 report: Missing Links: Prioritized Bus Expansion Plan

For more information

If you would like more information about the Transit for Connecticut Coalition, please email Transit for Connecticut Coordinator Karen Burnaska.

Click here if you would like to receive Connecticut Fund for the Environment action alerts.