SERVICE PLAN

What Is A Transit Service Plan?

A transit service plan is a master "road map" that describes the overall transit service to be provided in a certain area -- in terms of the type of services, routes, frequency, days operated, span of service (what periods of the day the service runs), and type of vehicle.  A transit service plan needs to balance customer demand for frequent, direct transportation with cost.  This balance is extremely important for a transit system, ensuring a smooth, efficient operation to meet the customer demand in the most cost effective manner. 

Transportation planners use a structured approach in creating a service plan which takes into consideration population density, trip origins and destinations, land use, and availability of a car. Using this information, a service planner can estimate the amount of transit service that can be provided, estimate potential usage, and design services to fit within the budget and service parameters.

What Is The  CTfastrak Service Plan?

The CTfastrak Service Plan offers a comprehensive package for rapid transit services during the initial introduction of the CTfastrak system. The CTfastrak Service Plan represents an update to the preliminary service plan, originally published in 2009, for the purposes of the federal permit process. The new service plan has been modified to provide high quality service for the demand and ridership patterns expected when CTfastrak opens in 2015.

This updated plan has designed the rapid transit service by incorporating routes that operate on, and that connect with, the dedicated bus guideway. The plan includes route structure, service frequencies, stopping patterns, span of service, and type of vehicles used for each route. Estimates of annual service hours and service miles are included to enable budgeting and scheduling. 

How Does the New CTfastrak Service Plan Differ from the Preliminary CTfastrak Service Plan?

Based upon feedback during seven community meetings conducted in March 2013 and feedback received through the website, email and other means, the Preliminary CTfastrak Service Plan was revised to reflect the likely ridership and operating conditions expected during the opening year, 2015. In particular, the following changes were made:

• A new Hartford-Bristol Express route that operates via the guideway has been added to reduce travel time for rush hour commuters. 
• The proposed “BW2” Bristol-New Britain-Hartford shuttle provides direct service to Hartford via the guideway.
• The Corbin’s Express route between Corbin's Corner Park & Ride and Hartford, operating via I-84 , has been reinstated to reduce travel time for rush hour commuters. 
• The proposed route “BW4”  between Hartford and UConn Health Center operates via the guideway and New Britain Avenue, but is now routed via I-84 from the Westfarms area rather than South Road to avoid negative impacts on this narrow residential street. 
• A new connector route, the “C5,” connects Newington Center and Cedar Street Station to the UConn Health Center via Route 9 providing a new direct connection between these points.
• A new route, identified as “BW5” connects the Buckland Hills area and the Buckland Park & Ride lot to Westfarms Mall via downtown Hartford using the guideway between Hartford and Cedar Street Station.  This route provides direct connections to Asylum Hill, CCSU, and the Westfarms Mall area for commuters from east of the Connecticut River.
• The proposed new “C4” West Hartford - Bishop’s Corner connector is extended farther north to Copaco Shopping Center in Bloomfield where connections to many locations in Bloomfield and the North End of Hartford are available.
• The segment of Route 39W between Elmwood Station and Westfarms Mall has been reinstated maintaining direct connections between neighborhoods in Hartford and Westfarms Mall. 
• Route “C3” Newington Circulator has been routed via Jubilee Street and Dwight Street in New Britain which maintains the routing of the existing Route 41. 
• The “C2” Hospital Connector route operates via Asylum Avenue and Woodland Street, avoiding residential neighborhoods along narrow Ashley Street.
• All CTfastrak route operating hours will be integrated into the current services provided by the CTtransit Hartford division. Major routes in the Hartford division operate between 4:30 a.m. and 1:30 am.  Not all routes would necessarily run the complete 21-hour service day, although additional late night or off-peak services may be provided during special events.

 What Are The Elements Of The 2015 CTfastrak Service Plan?

There are four types of routes proposed in the new service plan:

• CTfastrak local services.
• CTfastrak express services.
• Circulators and Connectors to CTfastrak.
• Existing local transit services.

Each type of route fulfills a role in the overall bus transit network.

CTfastrak local services operate between downtown Hartford and various destinations along the bus corridor via the guideway, making stops at all CTfastrak stations along routes.

CTfastrak express services operate between Park & Ride lots and downtown Hartford, Asylum Hill and the Capitol Avenue area, primarily serving long distance commuters to downtown Hartford.

Connectors and circulators are intended specifically to link important employers, neighborhoods and other activity centers to CTfastrak stations.

Existing local transit services are modified to complement the new CTfastrak stations and services.