CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NEWS RELEASE 2800 BERLIN TURNPIKE P.O. BOX 317546 NEWINGTON CONNECTICUT, 06131-7546

FOR RELEASE: June 9, 2015

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

CTfastrak Rewards Program Launched

      The Connecticut Department of Transportation announced today that it has launched the "CTfastrak Rewards Program," a benefits program that offers a variety of local business discounts to transit riders in the central Connecticut area.

      The new CTfastrak Rewards Program is easy and simple for rider and business participation.  Riders just need to present the appropriate bus transit fare ticket to the business in order to receive the rewards program discount.  Businesses can participate in the program for no fee.  "As a New Britain business owner trying to reach customers throughout the region, I thought the new CTfastrak Rewards Program was a great opportunity to extend my marketing and sales outreach," said Nick Augustino, owner of East Side Restaurant in New Britain.

      Some of the initial CTfastrak Reward Program participants include The Corner Pug in West Hartford, Amato's Toy and Hobby in New Britain, Pho Viet Restaurant in Newington, Black Eyed Sally's in Hartford, Custom Framing Depot in West Hartford, Signs Now in Newington, Puritan Barbershop in West Hartford, Cafe Beauregard in New Britain and Nozik Photography in West Hartford.  "The new CTfastrak Rewards Program is a smart tool for business owners to attract more attention and customers.  It's just one of the many evolving advantages of this new CTfastrak Bus Rapid Transit system," said James Varano, owner, Black Eyed Sally's in Hartford.

      For the latest information about the new CTfastrak Rewards Program including a business participation list and specific rewards offers, visit www.ctfastrak.com/rewards.  For businesses inquiring about participation in the program, send an email to rewards@ctfastrak.com. 

      The CTfastrak transit system provides direct service to and from Waterbury, Cheshire, Southington, Bristol, Plainville, New Britain, Newington, West Hartford, Hartford, East Hartford and Manchester with routes that take advantage of the bus-only CTfastrak roadway.  The CTfastrak system offers a one-seat, no-transfer ride to many major regional employment, shopping and healthcare destinations as well as connections to the New Haven Line-Waterbury branch rail in Waterbury and Amtrak service in Hartford.  A new 4.5 mile multi-use trail was built paralleling the CTfastrak bus-only roadway from New Britain to Newington Junction.

      For information about CTfastrak, visit www.ctfastrak.com, connect via Facebook at www.facebook.com/ctfastrak or via Twitter at @ctfastrak.  Route timetables are available at www.cttransit.com under the “Schedules/CTfastrak” tab.