CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NEWS RELEASE 2800 BERLIN TURNPIKE P.O. BOX 317546 NEWINGTON CONNECTICUT, 06131-7546
FOR RELEASE: August 21, 2008	FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:    OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS    TELEPHONE: (860) 594-3062    Fax: (860) 594-3066    Web site:www.ct.gov/dot

Bus Ridership Soars As Commuters Looks for Ways to Save

As the price of gasoline continues to stay around $4 a gallon, commuters in Connecticut are trying to find more effective ways to cut commuting costs. An easy solution is to take public transportation.  Many in Connecticut have figured that out as ridership on CTTRANSIT buses, in July, posted the largest percentage increase in more than a year.

“Buses in Hartford, New Haven and Stamford carried some 288,000 more passengers in July of 2008 than in July of 2007, which is an increase of more than 14 percent,” said CTTRANSIT General Manager David Lee. “We are attributing the ridership spike to the high cost of gasoline as more Connecticut commuters try money-saving alternatives to driving alone.”

Similar trends are being reported by the other bus transit systems throughout Connecticut.

According to Michael Sanders, Transit and Ridesharing Administrator, at the Connecticut Department of Transportation, the increase was even more pronounced on commuter express routes, which connect suburban park-and-ride lots with downtown Hartford. Compared with July, 2007, the number of commuter express passengers increased nearly 23 percent, from about 71,000 in 2007 to 87,000 this July.  

"Free parking and an economical bus trip into downtown clearly appeals to a growing number of Hartford area commuters, especially as the price of gasoline continues to remain high,” said Sanders.

ConnDOT Commuter Services also offers an incentive to start using transit – the Free Trial Ride Offer.  For commuters who do not currently use transit, they can take advantage of a free one week trial ride on the bus or an Easy Street vanpool (for vanpools, the offer is limited to existing routes with available seats).  For more information on public transportation service in your area, please contact a regional ConnDOT Commuter Services representative.

In Fairfield County: 1-800-FIND-RIDE (1-800-346-3143)

In Greater New Haven and Waterbury: 1-800-ALL-RIDE (1-800-255-7433)

In other parts of the state: 1-800-972-EASY (1-800-972-3279)

CTTRANSIT is the state-owned bus transit system serving the greater Hartford, New Haven, Stamford, Waterbury, New Britain, Meriden, Bristol and Wallingford areas.