The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) will host four public hearings, including one in Hartford, to gather input on the proposed rail and bus service changes and rail fare increases. As many as 13 different CTtransit/CTfastrak routes could change in the near future.
The biennial state budget adopted earlier this year included a funding increase for CTtransit bus service in Connecticut and a funding reduction for Metro-North Railroad (MNR) and CTrail Shore Line East (SLE) passenger rail service, to align with current commuting habits more closely.
It's important to mention that there is a proposed increase for Hartford Line, Metro-North, and SLE fares excluding monthly school passes.
At these hearings, CTDOT will provide information and accept public comments on the service and fare proposals and the Service and Fare Equity (SAFE) analysis. The SAFE analysis evaluates the proposed changes to determine if they will cause a disparate impact on people of color or a disproportionate burden to people with low incomes.
The virtual meetings will be recorded and saved on the CTDOT YouTube Channel at youtube.com/@ctdotofficial.
Registration is encouraged for the virtual public hearings; however, it is only required for those who would like to provide a comment during the hearing. To register, please visit ct.gov/dot/proposedtransitchanges or call (860) 594-3612 and leave a voicemail with your full name and contact information. Registration will be accepted up to the day of the hearing and will remain open for the duration of the hearings.
