Why is bus rapid transit needed in Connecticut, and what can the state learn from BRT systems around the region and the nation? Those were the topics of discussion at a Bus Rapid Transit Symposium, sponsored by Tri-State and others, at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford on Thursday. The event was attended by approximately 80 members of the public and policymakers from the region including State Senate Transportation Committee Chair Donald DeFronzo; Sen. Toni Boucher; State Reps. Thomas Drew, Claire Janowsky, David McCluskey, and Joe Mioli; Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez; and ConnDOT Commissioner Joe Marie. The impetus for the event was ConnDOT’s Hartford-New Britain Busway, which is nearly finished with design and scheduled to begin service in 2013.

In his keynote address, Joseph Calabrese of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority extolled the successes of Cleveland’s first BRT line, the HealthLine, which operates in the city’s Euclid Avenue corridor. The system has exceeded ridership expectations and has driven over $4 billion in economic development since its inception.  Mr. Calabrese emphasized the flexibility that BRT offers as a transit system as well as its capacity to revitalize communities and spur economic growth, and discussed how the Health Line had successfully won middle- and upper-income riders by providing a quality ride with stylish aesthetics.

A panel of experts also provided insight into BRT efforts in the region and beyond. Dennis Hinebaugh of the National BRT Institute gave an overview of BRT plans from around the country, while Craig Lader of the South Western Regional Planning Agency discussed a recent study of a Greenwich/Norwalk system and Naomi Klein of Westchester DOT described her agency’s plans for Central Avenue.

One of the most interesting pieces of information to come out of the symposium was a “walkshed map,” developed by co-sponsor Regional Plan Association, that was included in the event program.  It finds that even if Connecticut built New Haven-Springfield rail and reactivated all of its historic rail lines, 92% of Connecticut’s population and 87% of the state’s jobs would not be within walking distance of a train station. This is compelling proof that a robust bus system including BRT, as well as increased emphasis on transit-oriented development, are both needed to adequately address Connecticut’s transportation needs in the 21st century.

In addition to Tri-State and RPA, the event was sponsored by the Center for Public Policy and Social Research at Central Connecticut State University, Transit for Connecticut, Connecticut Fund for the Environment, and the Capitol Region Council of Governments. Materials and presentations from the event are available at TSTC’s website (all materials will be available by tomorrow).