CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NEWS RELEASE 2800 BERLIN TURNPIKE P.O. BOX 317546 NEWINGTON CONNECTICUT, 06131-7456

FOR RELEASE: May 18, 2012

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS TELEPHONE: (860) 594-3062 FAX: (860) 594-3065 WEB SITE: www.ct.gov/dot

The Connecticut Department of Transportation will hold the ceremonial groundbreaking ceremony of Connecticut’s first rapid transit system, CTfastrak, on Tuesday, May 22, 2012, at the future Parkville Station located at the corner of Francis Avenue and Park Street, Hartford, CT.  This project was designated the New Britain-Hartford Busway during the planning stage.  The new elements of the statewide public transportation branding campaign created under the “CTrides” name will also be unveiled during the event as well.

The new regional transit link, CTfastrak, is being constructed on an abandoned railroad corridor from New Britain to Newington Junction and then alongside the active Amtrak rail right of way of the Springfield Line. The project will include 11 stations in New Britain, Newington, West Hartford and Hartford. Buses will operate from approximately 4:30 a.m. to 1:30 a.m and during peak times buses will operate every three to six minutes. In addition to regular service, express bus services from west of New Britain will use CTfastrak to improve service and travel times between New Britain and Hartford by way of a dedicated bus exit onto CTfastrak from Interstate 84/Route 72. Buses will also use CTfastrak to provide direct service to major employment sites such as the UConn Medical Center, Westfarms Mall and throughout downtown New Britain and Hartford.

Event: Official CTfastrak Groundbreaking Event
Place: Corner of Francis Avenue & Park Street, Hartford, CT
Time: 2 – 2:30 p.m.
Agenda: Welcome & Introduction -Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner James P. Redeker
Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy
U.S. Congressman John Larson
Federal Transit Administration Regional Administrator Mary Beth Mello
Federal Highway Administration Division Administrator Amy Jackson-Grove
MetroHartford Alliance President and CEO Oz Griebel

The first construction segment of the project will begin on a 5.8 mile stretch that begins just north of Cedar Street, Newington and runs north to a point just north of Sigourney Street, Hartford. The $130 million contract for this segment also includes the construction of seven stations, a new $19.9 million bridge at Flatbush Avenue, West Hartford and the construction of a new gravel maintenance road for Amtrak.

(Please note: Interviews with State of Connecticut and local transportation officials before the event about the regional construction project are encouraged and scheduled based upon availability).