CONNECTICUT, USA — Gov. Lamont announced on Tuesday that he has directed CTtransit to provide free, bus service statewide to all customers every weekend beginning on Memorial Day weekend and lasting through Labor Day.
Lamont added this directive is part of his administration's ongoing efforts to help the state recover from the economic impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“To help support our economic recovery from the pandemic, I want to make Connecticut’s many attractions and businesses reachable by as many of our residents as possible, and implementing free weekend bus service this summer – the busiest time of tourism season – will help facilitate that,” Gov. Lamont said. “I thank Connecticut’s Congressional delegation for advocating on behalf of our state to ensure that we receive the resources needed to help recover from this pandemic.”
According to the state, about 20% of residents in cities like New Britain and Waterbury rely on transit for mobility. Gov. Lamont said by offering the free service on weekends, people will be encouraged to visit locally-owned, small businesses.
“Our ability to attract weekend riders through a free weekend-ride program gives our state and our residents an additional boost towards returning to normal,” Connecticut Transportation Commissioner Joe Giulietti said.
The state's Department of Transportation will use $3 million Connecticut received from the CARES Act. The DOT added it will also work with transit districts outside of the CTtransit system to provide others with the free weekend program.
The service will include Memorial Day on May 31, the observed Independence Day on July 5, and Labor Day on September 6.
Senate Republican Leader Kevin Kelly (R-Stratford) criticizing the Governor's directive, saying federal relief dollars should be spent elsewhere.
"Our state is facing a once-in-a-generation opportunity to use federal support to transform government and services to help people recover from the pandemic and put our state in a better position going forward," said Senator Kelly. "A few months of free bus service starting two months from now is not going to reshape what Connecticut looks like in a post-COVID world. Republicans have proposed using federal relief dollars in areas like telehealth and to support our unemployment trust fund which has been a lifeline for thousands who were out of work during the pandemic. We want to support nursing home upgrades and our vulnerable senior population. We need conversations with all perspectives on how to best use this funding. We have a chance to use federal funds to address deep structural challenges, and to fix systemic problems that have limited our state's ability to grow and thrive for decades. This is a defining moment and perhaps there is a better use for these dollars.”
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