NEW BRITAIN–Evan James Mangan is back in New Britain after a quick trip to West Hartford thanks to CT Fastrak.
“I needed to get my hair cut,” said Mangan.
Soon there will be more of them, according to an announcement made by Gov. Dan Malloy Monday. “We’ve already delivered success with this project, now we’re going to do it again, extending service east of the river,” said Governor Malloy.
The governor says the half-billion dollar bus-only route has been a success so far, so there are now plans for Fastrak East, which will loop in East Hartford and Manchester, providing access to Pratt & Whitney and Goodwin College.
The success is in the numbers: in just over two months, it’s averaging 14,500 trips a day during the work week. The projection for the end of year one was 11,200 trips. Before CT Fastrak, CT Transit buses served about 8,000 riders a day.
“We want to build on that success,” said Malloy, “and we want to build on that as quickly as we can.”
The expansion would use HOV lanes on I-84.
Expanding the bus rapid transit service will use $6.5 million in anticipated bonding. Funding would come from the budget, just adopted by lawmakers but awaiting Malloy’s signature
The $567 million project cost the state $112 million, with the rest paid by the federal government.
