Fare-free public buses extended to December

Free summer shuttles to state parks return

The ParkConneCT program, which offers free shuttles and improved transit to many state parks and beaches during the summer, is returning this year, with the addition of free buses for the remainder of the year.

Launched last year to increase access and encourage residents to explore Connecticut’s recreational opportunities, the ParkConneCT program provides free transportation to seven of the state’s busiest parks and beaches, according to a Department of Transportation statement.

The program returns this year, running from Memorial Day weekend, May 28, through Labor Day, Sept. 5, according to the statement.

Similar to last summer’s program, riders will be dropped off at a safe location within a 10-minute walk to the destined beach or park.

Fare-free transportation is provided to: Hammonasset Beach, Silver Sands, Fort Trumbull, Osbornedale, Indian Well, Sleeping Giant and Sherwood Island State Parks.

The parks were chosen for the program based on seasonal employment levels, recreational summer activities, frequently traveled tourist destinations and existing service connections, according to the statement.

Bus and shuttle routes were selected by performing an analysis using geospatial information systems and prioritizing areas where the most cost-effective improvements could be made to connect people to the parks, the statement said.

Last year, depending on the day of the week, riders may have had to pay for transportation part of the way before switching to a fare-free ParkConneCT shuttle.

This year, however, the entire ride on public buses will be free.

“Last year, Governor Lamont turned around and said, ‘Can we come up with a program to make sure we keep access to all of our parks?’ This year, on top of what we’re doing with the parks, the governor extended free busing. That’s going on all the way to the end of the year,” DOT Commissioner Joe Giulietti said at Hammonasset on Friday morning.

Excluding the premium ridership programs, such as Wheels2U, all Connecticut public buses are free this year through Dec. 1.

All buses associated with ParkConneCT and shuttles will run fare-free through Labor Day, and all regular public buses will operate without collecting fares until December, according to the DOT statement.

“The park program provides access to parks between Memorial and Labor Day, but what the governor’s done is, all the public buses being operated will continue until the end of the year,” Giulietti said. “So, it’s not going to change the access in terms of those parks. We only provide the access during that time period since that’s when they’re effectively open.”

The fare-free bus program was started in April as part Lamont’s effort to alleviate the strain of rising inflation and gasoline prices. The initial program was set to end in June but was extended through the fiscal year 2023 budget, according to a statement from Lamont’s office.

Bus ridership has increased significantly since the fare-free program began in April, though it may be difficult to tell whether the increase is due to warmer weather or the free rides, DOT spokesperson Josh Morgan previously said.

The state tracks three local city routes — in Hartford, Stamford and New Haven — along with CTfastrak and the express route. All but the express route saw large increases in service between March and April, according to DOT data.

New Haven’s bus routes saw the biggest bump in ridership between March and April, with an increase of 71 percent of pre-COVID-19 levels in March to 86 percent in April, according to the data.

Alongside the ParkConneCT program, the state is continuing its “Passport to the Parks” program, which allows cars with Connecticut license plates to visit state parks for free, Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner Katie Dykes said.

Not only will the free rides to some of the state’s most popular parks increase visitation and allow residents to explore more of Connecticut, but it will also benefit the local economy, Dykes said.

“You can enter and visit all of our state parks without paying a parking fee. That means when people come to Hammonasset, they can come enjoy the park and not have to stay here all day but actually pop out to Madison,” Dykes said. “It’s also contributing to the thriving local economy for the communities that host our parks.”