CTDOT eAlert: News from the Connecticut Department of Transportation

Web Version     Connecticut Department of Transportation Train Schedule Changes for Hartford Line, Shore Line East, and Amtrak Posted on July 12 , 2021 The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is pleased to announce that effective Monday, July 26, 2021, additional train service will be added to the CTrail Hartford Line and Shore Line East. Seven round trips that were eliminated in March, 2020 will be returned to the Hartford Line schedule and seven additional trains will be added to the  Shore Line East schedule.  Four Shore Line East trains will be extended from Old Saybrook to New London to allow for more travel options. On July 19, Amtrak will add additional service on the Northeast Corridor between Boston and New York. Also on July 19, the Vermonter, which was suspended in March 2020, will resume daily operation to St. Albans, Vermont. "Expanding train service is an important step for public transportation not only for our state, but also for our region and our country. It means we are moving forward in the right direction," said CTDOT Commissioner Joseph Giulietti. "We can once again, safely and responsibly, connect in person with our friends and families who we have missed." Please visit the Hartford Line website to view the current schedule and check Hartford Line alerts to get all the latest information. Please visit ShoreLineEast.com to view the current schedule and check news and alerts to get the latest information. Please visit Amtrak.com to view the current schedule and get the latest Amtrak information. You can also sign up to have alerts sent directly to your phone or email at hartfordline.com/service-alerts/ and shorelineeast.com/service-alerts. Information about all rail services in Connecticut is available at CTrail.com.  Rail passengers must wear a mask while on board the trains and at the stations. These preventative measures will help maintain a safe and healthy travel experience for all. Connecticut Department of Transportation 2800 Berlin Turnpike P.O. Box 317546 Newington, CT 06131-7546 860-594-2000 Twitter You're receiving this email because you opted in to receive notices from the Connecticut Department of Transportation. Edit your subscription Unsubscribe instantly

CTDOT eAlert: News from the Connecticut Department of Transportation

Web Version     Connecticut Department of Transportation CTDOT Seeking Commuter Feedback and Opinions Concerning Return to Employer Worksites Posted on June 11 , 2021 The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is conducting an online survey of all Connecticut commuters about changes to their commutes and their views on commuting to employer worksites. As the state reopens and recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, CTDOT asks commuters to help tailor and modify statewide public transportation services. The online survey will allow CTDOT to collect fundamental data about current and projected commuting habits and how commuters foresee their commutes to worksites. Commuters can access the survey through Friday, June 25, 2021, by visiting ctrides.com/survey. Participants will be eligible to receive one of four $50 gift cards. The survey is a follow-up to one similarly conducted in July 2020 during the height of the pandemic. Last year's survey found that while 77.5 percent of respondents worked at an employer worksite full-time prior to the onset of COVID-19, almost 72 percent worked from home at least part-time in July 2020. The pandemic dramatically changed the demand for the public transportation system. "As the state continues to reopen, our best avenue for customizing and optimizing our public transportation services is to hear firsthand from commuters about their diverse and unique commuter needs," said Rich Andreski, CTDOT Bureau Chief of Public Transportation. "This direct input from commuters will be shared with state and local transit operators. Together we can mold services to best meet the commuters' needs." The CTDOT will also reach out directly to employers that partner with CTrides to request employee participation in the survey. CTDOT, CTrides, and local transit systems will also promote the survey through social media and emails. Connecticut Department of Transportation 2800 Berlin Turnpike P.O. Box 317546 Newington, CT 06131-7546 860-594-2000 Twitter You're receiving this email because you opted in to receive notices from the Connecticut Department of Transportation. Edit your subscription Unsubscribe instantly

CTDOT eAlert: Construction News from the Connecticut Department of Transportation

Web Version     Connecticut Department of Transportation New I-91 Northbound Exit 29 Opens Wednesday Morning, May 26, 2021 Posted on May 21 , 2021 The New I-91 Northbound Exit 29 to the Charter Oak Bridge opens to reduce congestion and improve traffic flow and safety in the region. The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) announced that the new I-91 Northbound Exit 29 is set to open on Wednesday morning, May 26, 2021, as part of the I-91 Charter Oak Bridge "Congestion Buster" Project in Hartford, East Hartford, and Wethersfield. On Wednesday, May 26, at approximately 12:01 a.m., one lane of the new I-91 Northbound Exit 29 will open to traffic, and the existing right hand exit will close permanently. To access the new ramp, I-91 Northbound travelers will enter Exit 29 from the left lane.  The new Exit 29 includes a bridge that spans over Route 5/15 Southbound, and will enter Route 5/15 Northbound from the left lane, onto the Charter Oak Bridge. The second lane of the new Exit 29 will open at a later date upon completion. The former ramp will be demolished, and the debris removed as part of the ongoing project. The purpose of this project is to strategically target and alleviate recurring traffic congestion along I-91 Northbound by constructing a new, two-lane exit-ramp to the Charter Oak Bridge (Route 5/15 Northbound) at Exit 29 in place of the existing, single-lane ramp configuration. The project replaces (doubling the capacity and improving the geometry of) the existing operationally deficient exit ramp that has long been a source of congestion on I-91 Northbound and on the Charter Oak Bridge - resulting in daily delays and safety concerns for motorists as traffic slows or stops on the highway. The "Congestion-Buster" project will relieve this bottleneck for roughly 80,000 drivers per day by improving through-traffic capacity and by reducing weaving maneuvers on I-91 Northbound and on Route 5/15 Northbound on the Charter Oak Bridge. Work on the I-91 Charter Oak Bridge Project will continue through October 2022 with completion of the: New second lane for I-91 Northbound Exit 29 Widening of I-91 Northbound and its bridges Lowering of Airport Road Widening of Route 5/15 Northbound and its bridges in East Hartford The project was awarded to O&G / BHD, Joint Venture at a cost of $212,964,746.16. It involves multiple stages and a schedule with incentives for the contractor to finish ahead of schedule. The anticipated completion date for the project is October 18, 2022. To keep the public informed, the CTDOT issues press releases in advance of any activities that will impact motorists. The project website (I-91CharterOakBridge.com) has the latest information about work activities and any expected impacts to the public. Travelers can go to the project website to sign up and receive weekly project updates. Questions and comments may be emailed to the project team at info@I-91CharterOakBridge.com.  LANE CLOSURE INFO Intermittent lane closures will occur on I-91, Route 5/15, associated ramps and turning roadways, Airport Road (Hartford), Reserve Road (Hartford), Main Street (East Hartford), and Silver Lane (East Hartford) during off-peak hours and weekends. More information about the project, including weekly lane closures and detours may be found on our website, I-91CharterOakBridge.com. Connecticut Department of Transportation 2800 Berlin Turnpike P.O. Box 317546 Newington, CT 06131-7546 860-594-2000 Twitter You're receiving this email because you opted in to receive notices from the Connecticut Department of Transportation. Edit your subscription Unsubscribe instantly

CTDOT eAlert: News from the Connecticut Department of Transportation

Web Version     Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner Giulietti Urges Connecticut Residents and Visitors to Help Prevent Crashes that Result in Deaths and Serious Injuries with 'Toward Zero Deaths' Campaign Posted on May 19 , 2021 Connecticut Department of Transportation and partners statewide launch new awareness campaign to promote an enhanced culture of safety and reach the goal of zero deaths on Connecticut's highways. Commissioner Joseph Giulietti of the Connecticut Department of Transportation urged Connecticut residents and visitors to make highway safety a priority as he announced Connecticut's participation in the Toward Zero Deaths (TZD) campaign as part of the 2021 Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP). TZD is a national strategy on highway safety that uses a unified approach to change driver behavior and improve highway safety with a goal of reducing the number of traffic-related serious injuries or deaths to zero. In 2020, with help from safety partners across the state, the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) developed a new roadmap for the future of transportation safety, the Strategic Highway Safety Plan. The SHSP leverages those partnerships to coordinate education, enforcement, engineering, and emergency response initiatives to build and enhance a culture of safety and provide a safe transportation system. "The safety of all who travel in and through Connecticut is a top priority," said Joseph Giulietti, Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Transportation. "When anyone uses the transportation system, whether driving a car or riding a motorcycle, walking or cycling, driving a truck or riding a bus – our goal is for everyone to arrive safely at their destination, every trip, every time." Developing the SHSP roadmap is critical as more and more states, cities, and local communities work to prevent roadway crashes, which claimed 37,133 lives in 2018, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). So far, more than 45 states, along with dozens of local and tribal agencies, have adopted a zero-fatalities goal such as Toward Zero Deaths. Safety officials, however, acknowledge that it is not enough to say "zero" is the only acceptable number. That's why the SHSP provides guidance for organizations and individuals to implement to help create a culture of safety throughout Connecticut. "In 2020, Connecticut saw 308 lives lost on our roads and highways, the highest level in a decade. The preliminary CTDOT data shows there were 83,664 motor vehicle crashes in Connecticut. Sadly, of those motor vehicle crashes, 293 were fatal crashes. One death is too many," said Garrett Eucalitto, Deputy Commissioner, CTDOT and Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont's Highway Safety Representative. "Zero is not an impossible goal for Connecticut drivers. It will take all of us to get there and that's why the SHSP Toward Zero Deaths roadmap was developed, to ensure each of these zero-based plans—and those to come—are fully implemented so that we reverse this trend and save lives." For more information, visit Connecticut's Strategic Highway Safety Plan Toward Zero Deaths. Connecticut Department of Transportation 2800 Berlin Turnpike P.O. Box 317546 Newington, CT 06131-7546 860-594-2000 Twitter You're receiving this email because you opted in to receive notices from the Connecticut Department of Transportation. Edit your subscription Unsubscribe instantly

CTDOT eAlert: News from the Connecticut Department of Transportation

Web Version     Connecticut Department of Transportation CTDOT's "Connecticut In Motion" Webinar Examines the Impact of COVID-19 on Current Workplace Trends and Commuting Posted on May 13 , 2021 The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT), through its commuter services program, CTrides, will debut the next webinar in the "Connecticut in Motion" series on Tuesday, May 18 at noon. This episode will explore the impact that COVID-19 has on current workplace and commuting trends in Connecticut. As more of the state's residents are vaccinated and the state continues to loosen its restrictions due to the pandemic, local employers are planning for the "new normal' at their workplaces. Workplace arrangements will likely encompass greater flexibility and hybrid working arrangements for the foreseeable future. This webinar will bring together workplace and transportation experts to shed light on these developments. The podcast is moderated by Dennis House, Chief Political Anchor, News 8 (WTNH). Panelists include: Kim Lesay, Bureau Chief, CTDOT Bureau of Policy and Planning; Kelly Bacon, Global Practices Lead – Workplace Advisor, AECOM; and Lauren Mason, Senior Principal, Mercer.  "As workplaces change with more employees incorporating flexible work schedules, the impact on Connecticut's transportation system is likely to vary according to the mode of transportation commuters choose," states Kim Lesay. "The use of the highway system is back to pre-pandemic levels. While we don't see the same types of high travel demands during the peak commuting hours on our highways, shorter trips are on the rise. However, the public transit system is experiencing ridership on the bus system somewhat lower than pre-pandemic levels, and rail ridership is only approximately one-third of what is was pre-pandemic. As more commuters return to work in the office, increased use of public transportation will be critical in managing traffic congestion in the state." CTDOT will continue to monitor these developments closely to plan for any changes in the transportation network to accommodate for these substantial changes in travel and commuting.  Kelly Bacon will identify a number of pre-existing trends affecting the workplace that were super-charged as a result of the pandemic. "Employees are finding that they can work at home productively and would like to keep this new flexibility," states Bacon. "At the same time, we see across the board that employers are wrestling with how to accommodate employees' newfound ability to work productively at home without the daily commute to their workplace." Lauren Mason will discuss what she has seen in her workplace and explore what can only be done at the workplace and what things can be done productively at home. "While Mercer saw that about twenty percent of employees desire to continue to work from home, the new normal is likely to be a hybrid workplace," states Mason. "Although this development may take several years to develop fully. Employers are looking to bring employees back to their workplace to foster collaboration and creativity, maintain their corporate culture, and to incorporate and mentor new employees." All participants agree that changes in how employees work, where they work, and what commuting choices they make will continue to evolve over the next five to ten years. Workplace changes will also depend on real estate and other considerations that have a much longer timeline. Expectations of a "work anyplace future" also seems marginal due to legal and tax issues that impact locational decisions of employees. The webinar will be approximately 30 minutes in duration and registration is required. Further details and registration can be found here.  Over the coming months, the "Connecticut in Motion" webinar series will continue to examine the impact of COVID-19 on different aspects of the changing workplace, work practices, and commuting. ### CTrides, a service of the Connecticut Department of Transportation, works with employers and the public to improve commuting to work while helping to reduce traffic congestion and harmful emissions from unnecessary driving. Find out more about your low cost and healthier commuting options, at CTrides.com.  Connecticut Department of Transportation 2800 Berlin Turnpike P.O. Box 317546 Newington, CT 06131-7546 860-594-2000 Twitter You're receiving this email because you opted in to receive notices from the Connecticut Department of Transportation. Edit your subscription Unsubscribe instantly