Transit Equity Day is observed annually on February 4 to commemorate the life and legacy of Rosa Parks on her birthday. Rosa Parks became a key figure in the Civil Rights era when she refused to give up her seat on a segregated Montgomery, Alabama public transit bus and was arrested in 1955. Her actions sparked the Montgomery bus boycott and the U.S. Supreme Court decision declaring segregation on buses unconstitutional. The actions and legacy of Rosa Parks is intrinsically tied to the concept of transit equity for all. (Learn more about Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott at the Library of Congress).
CTDOT is committed to providing equitable transportation for all. Connecticut is stronger when everyone has access to reliable transportation. Public transportation connects people to jobs, health care, schools, grocery stores, housing, and more, and CTDOT is always striving to eliminate barriers to transit. Please read more about our commitment here.
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act
CTDOT works closely with the Federal Transit Administration to meet its Title VI program requirements which help ensure our public transportation service is provided in a nondiscriminatory manner, promote full participation in decision-making without regard to race, color, or national origin, and ensure meaningful access by persons with limited English proficiency.
Bus Service Expansion
Governor Ned Lamont’s Biennial Budget included $17.5 million to expand bus routes across Connecticut. CTDOT is creating smaller hubs, consolidating bus stops, and cutting down on wait times for riders. By optimizing the distance between stops, bus service can operate more efficiently. Seventeen local routes in Greater New Haven were extended to 1 a.m. ADA paratransit service was extended, and a new express route was added between Meriden and Waterbury. For complete details, click here.
Microtransit Pilot Program
CTDOT recently awarded funding to nine historically disinvested communities across the state to design and develop an on-demand microtransit service. This pilot program will make it more manageable for older people and people with disabilities to access public transit. It will also eliminate the first and last-mile challenges by using an app or phone number to request and schedule a ride within designated areas. Services are expected to begin as soon as Summer 2024.
Bus Shelter Enhancement Program
Many of Connecticut's 1,300-plus bus stops need shelters, seating, or trip information. CTDOT is allocating $20 million to a bus shelter improvement program, allowing communities to build and install ADA-compliant bus stops and shelters with real-time schedule information. More details will be announced in Spring 2024.
Customer Experience Action Plan
CTDOT released its first-ever Customer Experience (CX) Action Plan in 2023 with a series of planned investments throughout the state. The CX plan is based directly on customer and stakeholder feedback. For example, adding mobile ticketing options was identified as a need and implemented based on feedback. View the CX Action Plan at transitcx.com.