Connecticut Bus System Earns Top Ranking

The Hartford region’s CTfastrak bus system was ranked first in the nation by the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, reports Emily DiSalvo for CT Insider. “Among the top 50 bus systems in the rankings, Hartford is the only one from the U.S. The other top bus rapid transit systems are concentrated in Central and South America.”

“The CTfastrak, previously called the Hartford-New Britain Busway, is an express transit system that connects Hartford to New Britain via designated bus lanes, allowing the buses to avoid traffic.” The system scored 79.2 out of 100 on the Institute’s scale, which takes into account “the quality of the stations, the routing, and the ways in which the system is integrated with local bus service and biking amenities.”

According to a statement from the Connecticut Department of Transportation, “The CTfastrak has also spurred new housing, shopping, and employment destinations along the system’s bus-only roadway between New Britain and Hartford.”

The system has also implemented safety measures such as a rubber bumper that narrows the gap between buses and platforms and makes its General Transit Feed Specification available for use in transit planning apps.