CTDOT eAlert: News from the Connecticut Department of Transportation

Web Version     Connecticut Department of Transportation CTDOT Will Host Inaugural Meeting of "Vision Zero Council" to Reduce Roadway Fatalities Posted on August 13 , 2021 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. 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 New Late Night CTtransit Buses in New Haven and Changes to CTtransit Express Service to Take Effect August 22, 2021 Posted on August 10 , 2021 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. 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 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