CTDOT eAlert: News from the Connecticut Department of Transportation

Web Version     Connecticut Department of Transportation CTDOT Announces Bus Service Changes for CTtransit in Hartford and New Haven Posted on July 22 , 2021 Today, the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) announced the finalization of the Service and Fare Equity (SAFE) Analysis which included changes to bus service in the CTtransit Hartford and New Haven service areas. The SAFE Analysis also included service changes to trains on the New Haven Line, New Canaan Line, Danbury Line, Waterbury Line, and Shore Line East which were already implemented due to sudden and significant decline in ridership. In addition, the SAFE Analysis included the proposed elimination of the mail and ride rail fare media. The date for the elimination of the mail and ride fare media has not been set. The final SAFE Analysis is available at www.ct.gov/dot/proposedtransitchanges. The approved bus changes include adjustments to CTtransit express and local bus service in the greater Hartford area, expansion of CTtransit New Haven local area service, and minor fare changes to the CTtransit express routes 950 and 912. These bus changes were proposed in April 2021 and a series of public hearings were held during May 2021. 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 in the hearing process, additional service adjustments are being made. These include improving service frequency on downtown Hartford shuttles and the Route 30-Bradley Flyer, improving New Haven Route 228 service to Hamden Hills, providing Sunday service on New Haven Route 255 to Ansonia and Seymour, and providing Sunday service on the New Haven Union Station Shuttle. "CTDOT values the opinions of bus and train riders - especially when making changes to the public transportation system. We took the comments and input we received very seriously and made adjustments based on what we heard. This is why the public comment process is so important," said Richard Andreski, Bureau Chief of Public Transportation, Connecticut Department of Transportation. The service changes in the CTtransit Hartford service area will take place on August 22, 2021, as well as the majority of New Haven area local service expansion. The additional New Haven area service changes that are being made in response to public input will take place later in 2021. Details about the service changes will be available on CTtransit.com and in a more detailed announcement immediately ahead of the service change dates. Customers are encouraged to sign up for alerts by email on the website for the most up-to-date service announcements. 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 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