With construction on the interstates, proposed rail service from New Haven to Springfield, Mass., and Tweed New Haven Regional Airport searching for ways to stay in business, Connecticut has become a hub of transportation transformation. Follow continuing coverage here from the New Haven Register.
The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is announcing the inaugural meeting of the newly formed safety-oriented "Vision Zero Council" on August 19, 2021, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
The Vision Zero Council was established this year by the Connecticut General Assembly as part of Public Act 21-28, a landmark transportation safety bill championed by Transportation Committee Chairs Representative Roland Lemar and Senator Will Haskell. The primary mission of the council will be to develop a state-wide policy and interagency approach to eliminate transportation-related fatalities and severe injuries involving pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, motorists, and passengers.
"CTDOT is committed to eliminating deaths on our roadways and having our sister agencies at the table will help make this possible," said Garrett Eucalitto, CTDOT Deputy Commissioner and Vision Zero Council Chair. "By bringing diverse perspectives together on the Vision Zero Council and engaging with and listening to the concerns of the public and safety stakeholders, we can better shape our approach to making Connecticut's transportation system safer for all users."
The Vision Zero Council, comprised of the commissioners (or their designees) of the Departments of Transportation, Public Health, Emergency Services and Public Protection, Motor Vehicles, Education, and Aging and Disability Services may also include additional commissioners (or their designees) as additional resources to address transportation safety.
Statistics show a trend of increasing road-user fatalities, particularly for those most vulnerable - pedestrians. The CTDOT recently announced a Toward Zero Deaths Campaign to promote an enhanced culture of safety, as well as a Comprehensive Pedestrian Safety Strategy to increase awareness and target the root causes of pedestrian injuries and fatalities in the state.
The inaugural meeting of the Vision Zero Council will take place virtually. For details on how to register, watch, and participate in the meeting, please click here.
The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is reminding bus customers that significant changes to bus service in the CTtransit Hartford and New Haven service areas are taking effect on Sunday, August 22, 2021. Changes include a major expansion of late night service seven days per week as well as other changes to CTtransit express and local bus service in the greater Hartford area. These bus changes were proposed in April 2021 and a series of public hearings were held during May 2021 to gather public input.
"All of the changes being made are centered around providing better connections to employment opportunities," said CTDOT Public Transportation Bureau Chief Richard Andreski. "CTDOT looked at how CTtransit Express bus services were being delivered in the state and took this opportunity to streamline the service, reduce duplication and provide better regional connections. The expansion of local service in Greater New Haven Area, as part of the Move New Haven project, is geared toward meeting the transportation needs of workers who work beyond an 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. schedule. As the employment world changes, Connecticut's bus system must adjust to efficiently and effectively meet the needs of riders."
CTtransit Hartford local bus service will see the addition of a new route 24 serving Windsor and Windsor Locks railroad stations and Bradley International Airport, improved weekend service frequency on the 30-Bradley Flyer route and the reintroduction of service on the DASH downtown Hartford shuttle. Route 34 will now operate approximately hourly seven days a week from early morning until late evening, serving major employment centers in Windsor. Schedules on many other routes in the Hartford area are being modified to a lesser degree, and information is available here.
CTtransit Express service adjustments are being made to every route in the system, but all express routes will continue to serve downtown Hartford and Union Station. Several routes will see the introduction of mid-day service. Free connecting shuttle services in downtown Hartford will be available to Asylum Hill, the State Capitol and Columbus Boulevard. Details on the changes are available here.
CTtransit New Haven local bus service will see revised schedules and a significant service expansion, including extended hours on many existing routes. Other changes include the addition of Saturday service and improved service frequency on the Union Station Shuttle with service to the New Haven Green, and the acceptance of CTrail Hartford Line tickets (except 10-ride tickets) on the 950-Hartford/Meriden/New Haven Express. Details can be found here.
In its Service and Fare Equity (SAFE) analysis process, CTDOT accepted comments regarding these changes via email, mail, and voicemail during the public hearings and at participating local libraries. In response to public comments received, adjustments to the initial proposal were incorporated into the final service plan taking effect on August 22, 2021. The final SAFE Analysis is available at www.ct.gov/dot/proposedtransitchanges.
Details about the service changes are available on CTtransit.com. Customers are encouraged to sign up for alerts by email on the website for the most up-to-date service announcements.
