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Bob Duff
Senate Majority Leader | Norwalk, CT

ARP: Norwalk CT, Expanding Transportation Access

Idea Category: Equity & Opportunity, Transportation | Funding Source: American Rescue Plan

Senator Duff helped structure a state budget that enacted several transit access programs. The fare-free bus program helped riders cope with rising costs and also has contributed to bringing ridership. During the summer, the ParkConneCT and Connecticut Summer at the Museum programs are helping families by incentivizing travel to the state’s parks and offering free fairs to over 130 museums.

Update:

Connecticut extended its free bus transportation service until April 1 2023 as a critical service in fighting homelessness, unemployment and increased access to healthcare and human services. This service continues to provide significant benefits to low- and moderate-income households who were negatively impacted by the pandemic. It has directly assisted residents and reversed declining use of public transportation as a result of the pandemic. Access to transportation has become a foundational element for students and those in the workforce. Approximately 1 in 4 students at Norwalk Community College rely on public transportation to get to their programs.

Impact Testimony: Residents like Daisy Rodriguez of Hartford used to pay $63 for a 31 -day bus pass. She said the money she saves can go towards the higher costs of groceries and other necessities. She noted that before the program began, “Sometimes you don’t have the money for the bus fare, and you have to walk.”