CTTRANSIT Revenue and Competitors

In Hartford, CTTRANSIT operates 166 daily trips on 12 commuter express routes between suburban park-and-ride lots and downtown. While some trips were historically extended past the downtown terminus, most began and ended at the main transfer hub in the city center. For many downtown commuters, this service provided a simple, direct connection to within a block or two of their workplaces. For commuters traveling to companies located farther away from the central terminus, transfer to a local bus was necessary. Beginning this May, 115 of the express bus trips will now extend to serve Asylum Hill and the Capitol area. "Providing convenient affordable transit options to single occupancy vehicle travelers is a priority of our working group. The one-seat expansion will begin to build momentum through the support of employers in Hartford. With the city's renaissance well underway, enhancing the bus system to support an increased volume of commuters in and out of Hartford will contribute to the long-term economic growth of the region," says Oz Griebel, president and CEO, MetroHartford Alliance. CTTRANSIT also expects that the nearly 1,100 customers who already purchase express bus passes through their employers will find their commute is easier following the service adjustments. The goal is to increase commuter express ridership by offering more "one-seat" rides to potential customers who might be deterred by the need to transfer to a local bus. According to CTTRANSIT General Manager David Lee, "We know from our market research that some potential customers would be willing to try the commuter express service if it brought them closer to their workplaces. The changes coming on May 10 will eliminate the perceived inconvenience of having to transfer and, we hope, encourage more commuters to take the bus rather than drive to work.""It is very exciting to see the positive results of many months of a collaborative effort to provide our employees on Asylum Hill with enhanced convenience commuting to Hartford. We anticipate that the "one-seat" ride will, over time, become a preferred option for many in our workforce who currently drive to work," says George Mantak, vice president and director, Corporate Real Estate, The Hartford Financial Services Group. Along with other enhancements to commuter express service over the last two years, including the addition of a mid-day trip on nine of the express routes, and the recent purchase of seven commuter coach buses, the simplification to a one-seat ride will make parking and riding an express bus the convenient and cost-effective choice for more commuters. "Our working group will continue to meet regularly to map out the future of our mass transit system. For example, we will start to focus on establishing a bus rapid transit system from Hartford to New Britain, with the goal of implementing the service by 2007," says Griebel.