CTtransit and CTfastrak 31-Day Bus Passes Available for Purchase on Smartphones

System-wide

Thu Sep 07, 2023
31-Day Bus Passes Available on SmartPhones
CTtransit and CTfastrak 31-Day Bus Passes Available for Purchase on Smartphones

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) today announced that CTtransit and CTfastrak customers can purchase their 31-day pass on their smartphones beginning Friday, September 1, 2023, through Token Transit.

On April 1 of this year, a pilot program was launched in partnership with Token Transit to allow customers to purchase two-hour Adult, Senior/Disabled, and Youth bus passes for all local CTtransit and CTfastrak buses on their smartphones. Customers routinely requested additional fare and payment options while CTDOT was developing its first Customer Experience Action Plan.

“Due to the success of the pilot program over the last several months and feedback from our customers asking for more fare options through their smartphones, we’re excited to include 31-day passes for purchase through Token Transit,” said Connecticut Department of Transportation Bureau Chief of Public Transportation Benjamin Limmer. “The ability to purchase bus fares through Token Transit improves the customer experience by giving our customers more freedom in paying for their fares and improving boarding times at stops.”

To use Token Transit, customers can download the Token Transit mobile app or use Transit App, Moovit, Agile Mile, or Google Maps, which are all integrated with Token Transit.

Here’s how it works:

  • As buses approach, customers who purchased passes via Token Transit will be able to open their app and tap on the pass to activate it.
  • The applicable period (two hours or 31 days) for which the ticket is available begins once the pass is activated.
  • Once on the bus, customers should follow the instructions in the app to validate the ticket and show the bus operator.

All CTfastrak and CTtransit local buses will accept Token Transit, including the Hartford, New Haven, and Stamford Divisions, as well as CTtransit in Bristol, Meriden, New Britain, Wallingford, and Waterbury.

CTtransit Express buses are not currently included as part of this pilot program. Any customer who uses Token Transit on a CTtransit local bus and transfers to a CTtransit Express bus will need to pay the difference in fares with cash at the farebox of the express bus.

Here’s what passengers need to know when using Token Transit:

  • Passengers will need a mobile device with an internet connection to purchase and activate passes. The mobile ticketing technology works for iOS and Android devices.
  • Purchased passes can be used immediately or stored for future rides. Fares purchased on Token Transit never expire.
  • Passes can also be sent to any phone number, allowing customers to deliver bus passes to family and friends instantly.
  • If passengers need to transfer to another bus operated by another participating Connecticut transit agency, they can request a paper transfer upon boarding the initial CTtransit or CTfastrak bus. For a list of the transit agencies that accept transfers from CTtransit and CTfastrak, please visit CTtransit.com/fares/transfers.
  • Several security features are used to prevent fraud, including moving imagery to prevent screenshots and a current time ticker to prevent screen recordings.

The Go CT card will continue to be available to CTtransit and CTfastrak customers and will use a system called Fare Capping to calculate their fares and pay the lowest possible price with no guesswork for the user.

Token Transit partners with 143 other United States and Canada transit agencies.

For more information, help planning a trip, and a list of routes, visit CTtransit.com.


 

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Connecticut Receives $38.9 Million Grant from Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to Upgrade CT fastrak to All-Electric Fleet

Connecticut Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto (second from the left), Governor Ned Lamont (center), and the Federal Transit Administration’s Peter Butler (farthest right) present the milestone award grant.

CT transit is excited to share that Governor Ned Lamont and the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) recently announced a $38.9 million Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant to help convert our CT fastrak to an all-electric bus fleet.

“This significant investment showcases our commitment to sustainable transportation and underscores our dedication to fostering skilled professionals for the future,” said Thomas E. Stringer Jr., General Manager. We look forward to this initiative’s positive impact on our community, environment, and local economy. Thank you to the FTA and the CTDOT for their continued support.”

L to R: Peter Butler, FTA Region 1 Administrator, and Thomas E. Stringer Jr, CT transit General Manager.

This significant grant, awarded through the FTA's Low or No Emission Grant Program, will facilitate the purchase or lease of zero-emission transit buses and the necessary facility upgrades.

CT transit will use these funds to acquire 46 battery-electric buses and install 29 chargers for the fastrak bus rapid transit service. The grant will also cover the cost of installing 25 depot chargers at the Hartford facility, four on-route chargers at the CT fastrak New Britain Station, and the required electrical infrastructure. This initiative is backed by over $17 million in matching state funds and $30 million from federal formula funds.

This milestone represents a monumental leap towards Governor Lamont's objective of transitioning the entire statewide public transportation bus fleet from diesel to zero-emission models by 2035. It's a testament to our collective commitment and the potential for a greener future.

Governor Lamont.

“The new battery-electric buses and chargers will help us meet the growing demand for reliable, efficient, and environmentally friendly transit options, and will greatly benefit the thousands of residents and commuters who rely on CT fastrak services every day,” said Governor Lamont. “Thank you to the Biden-Harris administration for continuing to invest in green technology that will modernize Connecticut’s public transit system and spur new economic opportunities across the state.”

Around $5.6 billion in funding has been allocated through President Joe Biden’s recently enacted Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support the replacement of thousands of public transit vehicles nationwide.

 

Connecticut Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto addresses the media.

“Investing in electric buses for the CT fastrak fleet is a forward-thinking move that highlights Connecticut’s dedication to sustainability and innovation,” said Connecticut Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto.

CT fastrak was recently recognized as the best bus rapid transit system in the United States by the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy.

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