Gov. Malloy joins officials to commemorate the launch of ctfastrak

[scalziand]

http://www.ct.gov/dot/cwp/view.asp?A=1373&Q=563146

GOV. MALLOY JOINS OFFICIALS TO COMMEMORATE THE LAUNCH OF CTFASTRAK

Connecticut’s First Bus Rapid Transit Service Opens to the Public on Saturday, March 28 With Nine Days of Free Service for Riders





Governor Dannel P. Malloy today 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 service in central Connecticut. CTfastrak operations begin on Saturday, March 28, 2015, starting with nine days of free service for riders.



“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 today’s 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.



“Modernizing Connecticut’s transportation system impacts every resident that commutes to work or school, the functioning of business and industry, and the quality of our environment,” Lt. Governor Wyman said. “CTfastrak marks our commitment to a more connected, more efficient transit system that attracts riders, drives economic growth, and protects our environment.”



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.



“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.”



Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (CT-5) said, “CTfastrak began as a bipartisan concept that, under the leadership of Governor Malloy, has become a practical solution. CTfastrak will give commuters, students, families, and seniors increased access to jobs, local businesses, and healthcare services, all while avoiding heavy traffic from New Britain to Hartford. CTfastrak is just the beginning for new alternative transportation opportunities in our state. As a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in Congress, I am committed to making sure that the federal government is a strong partner in all our transportation efforts.”



“Bus rapid transit systems like CTfastrak bring fast, high-frequency service for riders and serve as a catalyst for economic development,” Federal Transit Acting Administrator Therese McMillan said. “We’re happy to help bring new transit options to central Connecticut’s growing population and the thousands of new bus riders who are expected to use the new service to connect to jobs, education, businesses and other destinations in New Britain, Newington and Hartford.”



Mayor Stewart said, “Today, we witness the culmination of more than a decade’s worth of collaboration, cooperation and execution at the federal, state and local levels. Not long ago, the area where we are standing was an abandoned warehouse. Today, it is the terminus of the nation’s newest – and New England’s first – Bus Rapid Transit system, and the City of New Britain couldn’t be more proud. We also celebrate the perseverance of countless officials and government professionals – on every level – who absorbed tremendous criticism, but nevertheless kept the faith and kept moving the project forward.”



“This is a great day for Hartford, for New Britain and all the communities that are a part of CTfastrak,” Mayor Segarra said. “This will not only improve the lives of Hartford residents who use public transit regularly, it provides options for students at colleges and universities in Hartford and for employees who commute to work here every day. I want to thank Commissioner Redeker, Governor Malloy, Mayor Stewart and everyone else involved in making CTfastrak a reality.”



The nine days of free service includes transit on all new CTfastrak green-branded buses and on buses that use the bus-only roadway, as well as the new CTfastrak circulator routes and the four new or expanded CTtransit express routes from Bristol, Cheshire, Southington and Waterbury. Free transfers from CTfastrak to CTtransit routes are available upon request, but any travel beginning on an existing CTtransit route will require fare payment.



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.



For information about CTfastrak, visit www.ctfastrak.com, connect via Facebook at www.facebook.com/ctfastrak or Twitter at @ctfastrak. Route timetables are available at www.cttransit.com under the "Schedules/CTfastrak" tab.

It's crummy that they tore up an existing rail ROW to build the busway, but I hope it doesn't flop.

[202_Cyclist]

Thank you for posting. Does anyone know if there is bus service between White Plains and Stamford or Bridgeport?

[scalziand]

Two months later, and early ridership figures are in(well, in three weeks ago)
It's not a flop.

CTFastrak surpasses ridership expectations just 5 weeks in
Posted 3:51 PM, May 6, 2015, by Samantha Schoenfeld, Updated at 04:18pm, May 6, 2015

Department of Transportation Commissioner James Redeker said that before it launched, it was projected that CTFastrak would have a minimum of 11,200 daily rides within the first year of service. However, Redeker said the service is already seeing 14,000 daily rides after just five weeks.

The CTFastrak Express route, which operates within the city of Hartford but not on the designated fastrak roadway, increased its ridership from 9,000 in March to 13,000 in April.

http://foxct.com/2015/05/06/ctfastra...st-5-weeks-in/

Originally Posted by 202_Cyclist

Thank you for posting. Does anyone know if there is bus service between White Plains and Stamford or Bridgeport?

Greyhound has service from Stamford and Bridgeport but it's only twice a day so it's not good for commuting. CTtransit does have an hourly bus from Stamford to White Plains (I-BUS-Stamford/White Plains Express)

[scalziand]

CT Fastrak to expand service
Mark Davis, News 8 Chief Capitol Correspondent Published: June 8, 2015, 12:21 pm Updated: June 8, 2015, 12:29 pm

NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (WTNH)– Connecticut’s new rapid transit bus-way from New Britain to Hartford has only been operating for a couple of months and the state is already announcing an expansion of the service.

“CT Fastrak” the line is going to be expanded to the east of Hartford all the way to Manchester. The Governor proclaimed CT Fastrak a big success. For the first 2 months the system is averaging 14,000 riders a day on weekdays, that way exceeds the original estimate for the first year of just 11,000.

http://wtnh.com/2015/06/08/ct-fastra...xpand-service/

[scalziand]

This is a very good problem to have.

Bus system causing some parking issues
NEWINGTON, CT (WFSB) -

The CTfastrak is more popular than expected but it is causing some parking problems.

The state’s first rapid bus system has been up and running for five months, but some of the parking lots are too fill and now the state is looking for more parking.

The CTfastrak is rolling along with roughly 2,000 more riders per day.

"I am not surprised --- in fact I think it’s a good idea, it really is mass transit, it should be like that,” said Philip Montaufray of Newington.

In Newington, after the morning rush, the Cedar Street parking lot is full.

"I plan on taking it every day so I figured rather than drive I would get acquainted,” said Rob Brownell, who is a student at Manchester College. “I had to park up the driveway to get here.”

There is open space adjacent to the bus stop and the state plans to clean up contamination there and turn that into parking.

In New Britain, more parking is also needed and riders can park in the Bank Street garage, but it costs $3 per day, which may keep people from using that station.

There is a shopping center nearby and the state is trying to work out some type of arrangement to allow riders to park there and even lease some spots from other businesses.

http://www.wfsb.com/story/29868257/b...parking-issues

[scalziand]

State officials worked behind scene to promote busway

Tuesday, August 25, 2015 9:05 PM EDT
By STEPHEN SINGER
Associated Press


HARTFORD, Conn. — As the $567 million bus-only corridor between Hartford and New Britain began operating this spring, state officials worked behind the scenes to shape public opinion of the project that has been a lightning rod for criticism because of its cost.

The public relations campaign to rally support for the 9.4-mile CTfastrak involved Michael Sanders, the Transportation Department's transit administrator, who suggested in an email that he would use a "stage name" to post a comment on a newspaper website.

Other efforts detailed in scores of emails obtained by The Associated Press in a Freedom of Information request included a push for ridership numbers and a transportation official going "undercover," listening to passengers' comments.

Detailed ridership numbers were collected for the benefit of the media, the governor's office and "angry legislators who hated the project," Sanders said. He said he has used a screen name other than his own a handful of times to post comments on The Hartford Courant website since the project opened in March because on occasion it "fires up people" if he identifies himself as a transportation official.

Today, Sanders said ridership tops 9,500 on most weekdays, outpacing one model forecasting 8,000 riders.

http://www.rep-am.com/articles/2015/...cut/903592.txt

[scalziand]

Governor downplays 'stage name' bus support
http://rep-am.com/news/local/903874.txt

[scalziand]

Ridership up statewide, not so in Waterbury
Monday, March 28, 2016 11:05 AM EDT
BY JAMES H. SMITH REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN

A year after it opened, state officials are pleased with the growth of the CTfastrak bus routes from Hartford to New Britain to Waterbury, even as ridership has plenty of room to grow.

"We're more than pleased," said Michael Sanders, the project's manager for the state Department of Transportation. "On the scale from depression to ecstasy, I'm at a 7 or 8."

http://rep-am.com/news/local/947946.txt

Figures from behind the paywall:
February trips: 14,445
Yearly peak(October): 15,757

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by scalziand

Ridership up statewide, not so in Waterbury
Monday, March 28, 2016 11:05 AM EDT
BY JAMES H. SMITH REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN

A year after it opened, state officials are pleased with the growth of the CTfastrak bus routes from Hartford to New Britain to Waterbury, even as ridership has plenty of room to grow.

"We're more than pleased," said Michael Sanders, the project's manager for the state Department of Transportation. "On the scale from depression to ecstasy, I'm at a 7 or 8."

http://rep-am.com/news/local/947946.txt

Figures from behind the paywall:
February trips: 14,445
Yearly peak(October): 15,757

The comments associated with the article really show a major difference between Canada and the USA. Time and again I have seen such hostility towards public transit investment amongst the American public.

[Busy Bee]

You could dedicate a thread to this phenomenon. It would be a go to place to raise your blood pressure and facilitate heart disease.

[Eidolon]

For a second as I hovered my cursor over the title, I read ctfastrak as "clusterfuck" for some reason.

[scalziand]

Might as well post the actual first year report.

CTfastrak First Year Report

Report Summarizes Operating, Marketing & Outreach Activities For Connecticut’s New Bus Rapid Transit System



The Connecticut Department of Transportation today released the CTfastrak First Year Report – a review of the operating, marketing and outreach activities since the new Bus Rapid Transit system's launch on March 28, 2015.

Highlights from the report include:

· Weekday passenger trips now average 16,000, doubling the previous daily ridership in the corridor

· A 99.4 percent fare compliance rate in a proof-of-payment system

· Celebrated millionth rider on September 9, 2015

· Introduced service to UConn Football games at Rentschler Field in September 2015

· Participated in more than 100 public outreach events

· More than 750 runners participated in CTfastrak’s 15K and Relay race on May 3, 2015.

· CTfastrak employs more than 200 people, including bus operators and mechanics

The full CTfastrak First Year Report and a two-page summary can be found at: http://ctfastrak.com/about/news/one-year-anniversary. It has also been posted on the Connecticut Department of Transportation website (CTfastrak Year One Report).