New Haven, CT – Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (Conn. – 3) announced that the Connecticut Department of Transportation will receive over $68.6 million through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for two projects – the purchase of 136 buses for six divisions of CTTransit (Hartford, Stamford, New Haven, Waterbury, New Britain, and Statewide Commuter Express) and improvements to nine Park & Ride lots located in Middletown, Columbia, Manchester, Vernon, Waterbury, Meriden, Southington, and Windsor Locks.

“With this funding we will not only be able to improve mass transit in Connecticut by purchasing new buses, but we will be able to repair the Park and Ride lots and enhance their overall safety. In doing so we will promote the use of mass transit and reduce the harmful pollution that causes global warming,” said DeLauro.

System Wide Bus Replacements: The funding will be used to replace 136, 34-ft, 40-ft, 45-ft, and 60-ft buses with up to 106 potential hybrid upgrades, which will operate in six distinct divisions of CTTransit: Hartford, Stamford, New Haven, Waterbury, New Britain, and Statewide Commuter Express. The contract award is anticipated in October 2009.

Repaving, Restriping and Repair of Park and Ride Lot Improvements: The funding will be used to repair nine of the state’s network of nearly 100 commuter Park and Ride lots. Daily, these nine lots located in Middletown, Columbia, Manchester, Vernon, Waterbury, Meriden, Southington, and Windsor Locks are used by over 1000 commuters to park their cars and commute to work using public transportation.