The Federal Transit Administration has given its go-ahead to the Bus Rapid Transit line that will connect downtown New Britain to downtown Hartford.  The 9.4 mile corridor will have a dedicated bus lane that follows an abandoned freight rail line on its southern portion and then share right-of-way on an active Amtrak line north of Newington Junction.

The busway will include up to 12 transit stations along the route, including Union Station in downtown Hartford.  Express, shuttle, circulator and separate feeder bus service will provide access to the busway and a multi-use trail will be constructed next to the busway from downtown New Britain to the Newington Junction Station and between Park Street and Sigourney Street in Hartford.

ConnDOT expects the project to boost daily peak period transit ridership in the corridor nearly 60% over its projected “2020 base case” estimate, from 7,300 to over 11,600 (MTR #356).

After obtaining state permits, construction on the line will begin.  According to ConnDOT, service on the line could start as early as 2005.

Bus Rapid Transit: CT Leads NY and NJ (March 11, 2002)

New Transit Lines? Rapid Bus a Contender (Dec. 3, 2001) 

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