Check out Tom Condon and Jessica Bravo’s July 17th CT Mirror story that analyzes the CT Transit free-fare policy in comparison to other US metro regions, and also looks at the forthcoming CRCOG “Metro Hartford Rapid Routes” study “to improve the speed and reliability of bus service in the region’s major transit corridors: Albany Avenue, Farmington Avenue, Franklin Avenue, Main Street and Park Street in Hartford as well as Burnside Avenue in East Hartford. These core routes carry 65% of the region’s bus passengers.”
According to Condon and Bravo, “The Rapid Routes plan does not mention the fare-free program, and CRCOG has not taken a position on it. Advocates are beginning to push for extending it past the Dec. 1 expiration date. Bus riders have never had the same level of advocacy as train riders; for example, there is no bus equivalent of the Connecticut Commuter Rail Council. But there are advocates, such as the New Haven Coalition for Active Transportation and the Transport Hartford, a project of the Center for Latino Progress, in Hartford.”