The ParkConneCT Program Connects You To Connecticut State Parks!
The Connecticut Departments of Transportation and Energy and Environmental Protection are pleased to announce the ParkConneCT program, a collaboration of CTDOT and CT DEEP. This program aims to provide safe and reliable transportation within a 10 minute walk to Hammonasset, Indian Well, Osbornedale, Sherwood Island, Silver Sands and Sleeping Giant state parks.
The ParkConneCT Program will run from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend (05/27/2023 to 09/04/2023). Connections to the parks listed above are also available from nearby train stations, providing access to the parks on a regional basis.
Please visit each transit operator’s website below for assistance on planning transit to the park and the individual park websites to see what amenities are available at that location. Restrooms, shelters, and concessions vary from park to park and may not be available at all locations.
Hammonasset Beach State Park, Madison
Bus Connections
River Valley Transit: 641 Old Saybrook/Madison and Madison Shuttle
- CTtransit Route 201 from New Haven operates weekdays and Saturdays, meeting the River Valley Transit 641 route on weekdays and Madison Shuttle on Saturdays, serving Hammonasset. Note that the 641 does not stop inside the park – the closest stop is at Route 1 & Hammonasset.
For more information on the scheduled times and route maps for the above service please visit River Valley Transit.
Sleeping Giant State Park, Hamden
Bus Connections
- Route 228: Whitney Avenue
- Bus stop is at Whitney Avenue & Mt. Carmel Avenue. Follow the sidewalk along Mount Carmel Avenue east for 0.3 miles, to the main entrance to the Park.
- Route 229: New Haven – Waterbury
- Bus stop is at Whitney Avenue & Mt. Carmel Avenue. Follow the sidewalk along Mount Carmel Avenue east for 0.3 miles, to the main entrance to the Park.
Trail Connections
CTrail Connections (Hartford Line/Shore Line East/New Haven Line)
- Visitors can indirectly connect to routes 228 and 229 at the New Haven Green by taking the Union Station/Green Shuttle on weekdays from New Haven Union Station or walking from State Street Station to the Green.
Silver Sands State Park, Milford
Bus Connections
Silver Sands Shuttle operated by Milford Transit District
- Bus stop is at the boardwalk inside the park
- CTtransit Routes 261 and 271 from New Haven operate daily, meeting the Silver Sands Shuttle route at the CT Post Mall.
- For more information on the scheduled times and route maps for the above service please visit the bus operator’s website.
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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