Press Releases
07/01/2022
Governor Lamont Reminds Public of ParkConneCT Program That Offers Increased Bus Services To State Parks and Beaches This Summer
(WESTPORT, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont at present is reminding Connecticut residents in regards to the state’s ParkConneCT program, which is providing elevated bus providers to Connecticut state parks and seashores. A continuation of a pilot program launched final yr, this system affords fare-free shuttles and enhanced present transit service to numerous state parks and seashores this summer time by Labor Day (Monday, September 5, 2022).
The program, which is a collaboration of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT), goals to attach folks to Connecticut state parks for the summer time season, help seasonal employment, and promote leisure exercise to enhance bodily and psychological wellbeing.
The governor, together with CTDOT and DEEP officers, at present highlighted this system by driving the Sherwood Island Shuttle from the Green’s Farms Metro North Station in Westport to Sherwood Island State Park. While on the park, the governor addressed the media and met with guests having fun with the seashore and boardwalk.
“Being able to catch a shuttle from the commuter station right to this beautiful shoreline park is a convenient resource to enjoy the outdoors that otherwise,” Governor Lamont mentioned. “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Connecticut’s state parks are one of the best things about living here, and connecting our residents to them is important. That’s what the ParkConneCT program is all about.”
“ParkConneCT increases access to the positive physical and mental benefits one can get from being out in our beautiful state parks,” DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes mentioned. “It can also help people who have seasonal employment with DEEP get to their workplace. Thank you, Governor Lamont and our DOT partners for the vision and collaboration on this important program. We hope you consider utilizing this service this summer and have a safe, fun, rejuvenating time in your state parks.”
“I’m excited to kick off the Fourth of July weekend by taking public transportation to one of our beautiful state parks,” CTDOT Commissioner Joseph Giulietti mentioned. “Now is a great time to give public transit a try. It’s a convenient and reliable way to move across Connecticut. With fare free buses running statewide and through expanded free ParkConneCT services, like microtransit, trolleys, and shuttles, we’re expanding access to beaches and parks across Connecticut.”
All buses related to the ParkConneCT pilot program will run fare free by Labor Day (September 5, 2022). Additionally, as half of the fiscal yr 2023 finances, all buses statewide are working with out amassing fares till November 30, 2022 (with the exception of premium on-demand ridesharing applications). Wheels 2U and Valley Transit District’s on-demand ridesharing providers will solely be free on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays noticed on July 4 and September 5, when utilizing the service to or from parks within the ParkConneCT program.
The parks included within the ParkConneCT pilot program are:
- Fort Trumbull State Park
- Hammonasset Beach State Park
- Indian Well State Park
- Osbornedale State Park
- Sherwood Island State Park
- Silver Sands State Park
- Sleeping Giant State Park
The state parks for this pilot program had been chosen primarily based on standards prioritizing seasonal employment ranges, leisure summer time actions, continuously traveled vacationer locations, and present service connections. Routes had been chosen by performing an evaluation utilizing geospatial info methods and prioritizing areas the place essentially the most cost-effective enhancements could possibly be made to attach folks to the parks.
Since the launch of the pilot program, CTDOT has continued to gather and assess ridership and passenger journey information to measure the success of this system. Those efforts will proceed this yr and will embody a survey to gather extra info from riders.
For extra info on ParkConneCT, go to portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Park-Connect.
ParkConneCT Service Schedule Hammonasset Beach State Park (Madison)
Silver Sands State Park (Milford)
Fort Trumbull State Park (New London)
Sleeping Giant State Park (Hamden)
Sherwood Island State Park (Westport)
Osbornedale State Park (Derby) & Indian Well State Park (Shelton)
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