Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy announced this week that ridership on CTfastrak, the region’s first true bus rapid transit system, is exceeding expectations.
CTfastrak saw an average of 10,344 daily riders during its first week of service in April. Since then, ridership has grown to a point where it is averaging about 14,000 rides per day. Roughly half of those rides are on routes that operate solely on the Hartford-to-New Britain busway, while the other half are on routes that include, but extend beyond, the busway. According to Transportation Commissioner Jim Redeker, ConnDOT had projected a minimum of 11,200 daily rides during first year of service.
CTfastrak’s early success continues a national trend of actual ridership surpassing projections for new light rail, streetcar and BRT systems. It also proves that the “Land of Steady Habits” has embraced new ways of getting around, despite what some critics had predicted early on.
One segment of the population that has helped boost ridership beyond projected figures is the students at Central Connecticut State University, who use CTfastrak to get between campus and the nightlife in downtown Hartford. The Hartford Courant reports:
Since CTfastrak started running at the end of March, Central Connecticut State University students have embraced it as a safe, low-cost ride home on Thursday nights. For $1.50, they ride from East Street — near dorms and many off-campus apartments — to the cluster of clubs just a block or two from Union Station.
As rowdy as it might be, the only one behind the wheel tonight is the bus driver, who identifies himself as James. “You have to remember, they’re not going to be driving — we’re keeping them off the roads,” he says.
Although CTfastrak won’t see many students riding this summer, there’s reason to suspect ridership to continue to increase in the next few months — studies have shown that transit use tends to rise with the temperature — and in the coming years as transit-oriented development projects proliferate around station areas.
Given bus and other transit fares in the region isn’t a dollar fifty a little low?
Great news. Maybe we’ll soon hear more about expanding CT Fastrak to Griffin Line to serve Bloomfield, University of Hartford, Upper Albany Ave. St. Francis Hospital. Hope it is considered before I84 replacement project begins. http://i84hartford.com
[…] ridership well above expectations. Joseph Cutrufo at Tri-State Transportation Campaign’s Mobilizing the Region blog has […]
Imagine a line connecting Hartford with UConn at Storrs. A 30 minute car ride (without traffic) now. Perhaps a lane on I-84 could be devoted to this, and be shared with inter-city buses like Greyhound and Bolt going from NYC to Boston.
Title VI violation?The busway is not complete until there is a meriden- new haven route, new Britain to Springfield. If the state does not do this right away, can we, the people organize and run our own private lines along the route?(provided we operate under the same driving and saftey rules and protocols as CTFastrak currently adhere to). If denied the right to use the busway, is that a violation of title VI civil rights or FTAs rules?
I personally would like to run a meriden to Hartford via busway and springfield to new britan via busway shuttle using high class luxury Mercedes shuttles for a flat rate of $5. to compliment even compete with the main routes who, for its cheaper prices come with more crowded busses, providing higher quality comfort and security as once all 16 seats are full, no standees will be picked up and bus will continue stopping only to drop off riders.
[…] daily ridership on Connecticut’s new BRT system has reached 14,000, far exceeding ConnDOT officials’ projections of 11,200 daily […]
Let’s see, This Ten mile fastrak,has cost us well in excess of $800,000,000. The biggest benefit is CCSU students using it to party? Way to go Malloy. $800,000,000 party bus. Last one out of Connecticut, please turn off the lights!!!!!
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