courant.com | A Plan For Mass TransitMass transit advocates on Monday unveiled a $309 million plan aimed at comprehensively enhancing commuter bus service statewide over five years.
Transit for Connecticut, a coalition of 20-plus business, social service, environmental and transportation organizations, said at a state Capitol news conference that a fairly modest state investment could boost bus ridership by 80 percent.
In 2006, more than 35 million riders used state-subsidized bus service, up 5 percent from the previous year.
State Sen. Donald J. DeFronzo, D-New Britain, co-chairman of the General Assembly's transportation committee, said the proposal would reduce highway congestion and pollution and improve state economic development.
Transit for Connecticut recommends expanding express bus services to major employment centers, and increasing operating hours and frequency of service on heavily used and overcrowded routes. ...
"If we do nothing, we will be losing ground," DeFronzo said. "We really ought to be moving forward."
