CTDOT press releases
03/21/2023
Governor Lamont and Congressional Delegation Announce $2 Million Federal Grant to Develop a Unified Statewide Transit Information System for Mobile Devices
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont and members of the Connecticut Congressional Delegation today announced that the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is receiving a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to develop a unified statewide transit information system for mobile devices.
The grant is awarded under the competitive Enhanced Mobility and Transportation Revolution (SMART) Discretionary Grants program, which was created under the bipartisan Infrastructure Act.
CTDOT will use the funding to support the Connecticut Integrated Transit Mobility Project (CT-ITMP). This project includes the development of a system for mobile devices that will integrate transit information across Connecticut, while allowing users to pay fares directly from their smartphones. It will integrate real-time arrival information for Connecticut’s entire public transportation system, resulting in a better customer experience while promoting equitable transportation access.
Governor Lamont said, “Making public services as easy to access as possible has been a priority for our administration, and this system for mobile devices will unify everything Connecticut transit riders need in one convenient, centralized location. A project like this, which modernizes our transportation system, is exactly why President Biden’s bipartisan infrastructure act was passed. I commend our congressional delegation for once again helping to secure dollars that were approved under this historic law and bringing them back to Connecticut.
US Senator Richard Blumenthal said, “Improving transport infrastructure is not limited to the purchase of new buses or the rehabilitation of roads, it also includes innovative solutions that make transport more easily accessible to all. This federal funding will help bring Connecticut’s transit system into the 21st century and create a centralized system on mobile devices for riders to check schedules and pay fares. I am thrilled to see the U.S. Department of Transportation making this necessary investment in Connecticut, and I will continue to fight for more federal funds to support our state’s transportation infrastructure.
US Senator Chris Murphy said, “Using the bus or train to get to your destination should be as easy as possible. I’m glad to see that this Bipartisan Infrastructure Act funding makes it much easier for people to get where they need to go using our state’s public transportation system.
U.S. Representative John B. Larson (CT-01) said“Through the bipartisan Infrastructure Act, we are dedicating federal resources to make intermodal transportation options in Connecticut accessible to all residents, whether by bus or train. This grant will help better connect our transportation system public transportation by creating a place where people can track available trips and pay their fares. Envisioning a future less dependent on automobile transportation has been one of my infrastructure priorities in Congress, and today’s announcement oday is a step forward towards that goal.
U.S. Representative Joe Courtney (CT-02) said“The Infrastructure Act we passed in 2021 has already enabled dozens of projects across Eastern Connecticut, creating all sorts of new career opportunities, but that’s only half the equation. As faster, more convenient forms of public transport begin to come online thanks to the IIJA – upgrades to the Shore Line East rail line, the new Enfield station, expanded services along SEAT bus route and more – we need to ensure that CTDOT has the tools to provide people in our area with real-time information on how to access our improved transit systems. Federal funding will help them do just that, and it’s good to see the IIJA helping to make these projects a success from start to finish.
U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) said, “Easy access to transportation makes it easier for families to get to school, to their workplace and to our communities more efficiently. We know that infrastructure is the engine of our economy. However, the past few years have been extremely difficult for transportation services that are essential to our transportation system and our economy. These technology and accessibility upgrades put us on the right path to making our transportation infrastructure more accessible. We now have the tools to make these much-needed improvements a reality.
U.S. Representative Jim Himes (CT-04) said, “I am pleased to see that the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act continues to be effective for Connecticut. Developing a unified transit mobile app and digital payment option will make our trains and buses more accessible and convenient for riders. Bringing Connecticut’s public transportation into the 21st century, this grant will spur our region’s economic growth, reduce carbon emissions and improve traffic conditions.
U.S. Representative Jahana Hayes (CT-05) said, “Improving our public transit is about more than investing in physical infrastructure. These investments won’t go far if public transit systems remain difficult to use. By increasing the accessibility and convenience of Connecticut’s public transit systems, this funding will make it easier for people who depend on them for work, school and everyday life to get around. It will also encourage people to start and continue using public transportation in our state for years to come. »
CTDOT Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto said, “By making public transit more accessible and easier to use, more people will use our transit system. This grant allows us to plan and create an easy-to-use one-stop-shop for everything related to public transit in Connecticut. Thank you to the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Connecticut Congressional Delegation for supporting this grant and understanding the value and importance of public transit in Connecticut.
This $2 million grant awarded is the maximum allowed for Stage 1 planning. Now that CTDOT has received this funding, which does not include local cost sharing, the agency is eligible for a seed grant. Stage 2 implementation of over $15 million. CTDOT partners with the California Integrated Travel Project and RATP Dev USA on CT-ITMP. During planning for Stage 1, CTDOT will seek input and feedback from stakeholders, including Connecticut’s transit service providers and community organizations. Planning and development will continue in 2023 and 2024.
Connecticut’s public transit system provides more than 43 million annual passenger trips in bus and Americans with Disabilities (ADA) service and more than 41 million annual passenger trips in rail service.
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