PART 5:

BUS SERVICE EXPANSION

BY MUNICIPALITY

This section is a blueprint for the continued operation of Housatonic Valley bus transit services over the next decade. Thru this document, all concerned with bus transit in the area can have access to key information, then help shape public policy and expenditures.

Supplemental documents available on the web or thru the HVCEO office are:

5A: APPENDIX - HART BUS SERVICE PLAN 2010
5B: APPENDIX - 2008 ANALYSIS OF SWEETHART DISABLED SERVICES
5C: APPENDIX - 2008 HISTORY OF PUBLIC BUS SERVICE IN GREATER DANBURY
5D: APPENDIX - 2007 EXPANDING BUS TRANSIT TO BRIDGEPORT AND WATERBURY

5E: APPENDIX - 2006 HARLEM LINE SHUTTLE BUS STUDY
5F: APPENDIX - 2005 FIXED ROUTE EFFICIENCY STUDY
5G: APPENDIX - 2000 INTERMODAL CONNECTIVITY STUDY
5H: APPENDIX- 1997 ECONOMIC IMPACT OF HART ON REGION

The Housatonic Area Regional Transit District (HART) was created by two municipalities as the Danbury-Bethel Transit District in 1972. Taking its present name in 1979, HART functions as the authority responsible for overseeing efficient public bus transit operations in the Housatonic Valley Region and promoting their careful and steady incremental growth.

HART has eight member towns: Bethel, Brookfield, Danbury, New Fairfield, New Milford, Newtown, Redding, and Ridgefield. The Transit District is governed by a Board of Directors with at least one representative from each member town.

HART operates two types of bus services. Fixed route service, which operates according to a published timetable, is available to the general public on 15 routes. Paratransit (demand-responsive, door-to-door) service known as SweetHART, is available to persons over 60 or with a disability in eight municipalities.

Below is the HVCEO and HART rail and bus transit improvement plan by municipality.

1. EXPAND BETHEL, CT TRANSIT SERVICES:

Bethel Fixed Route HART Bus
· Add bus shelters along Route 302 and in the central business district where appropriate and justified by ridership.

· Extend the weekday service span for the 5 Bethel Center and 2 Stony Hill Routes from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and implement service on Sunday between 8 am and 7 pm. Improve headways from 60 minutes to 30 minutes weekdays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

· Split the 2 Stony Hill Route into two routes to allow for bi-directional service to major employment on Newtown Road in Danbury, and expansion of service area to Newtown.

Bethel SweetHART Bus
· Provide Bethel’s seniors and disabled with additional weekday SweetHART service by extending the service day from the current end at 4:45 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Add a second bus in the morning peak period between 8 and 10 a.m. to reduce
competition for appointment times when demand is strongest.

· Long term, establish new regional SweetHART service that would serve all towns in a more efficient manner than the current town by town approach.

Bethel Commuter Rail
· The current ConnDOT study is will develop recommended options to improve the existing Danbury Branch Line between Danbury and Norwalk. The study also will develop a plan to resume regular passenger service north of Bethel to New Milford which ceased in 1971.

Improvements will increase service frequency on the Branch Line from the current 11 round trips per week day/six per Sunday; expand peak period, through train and reverse commute rail service.

· Expand parking supply at the ConnDOT Bethel station, which is severely overcrowded. Study the feasibility of a second platform at the station to facilitate boarding access. Implementation of transit oriented development on Durant Avenue is an additional area of study.

· Provide shuttle bus service to Bethel Station from remote park and ride lots after phase two Danbury Branch Line expansion.

2. EXPAND BRIDGEWATER, CT TRANSIT SERVICES:

Bridgewater Town Dial-A-Ride
· Bridgewater provides a town operated dial-a-ride service for seniors and persons with disabilities with a single bus on a variable schedule, with most service provided on Tuesday and Thursday.

The Town is outside of the HART service area, but adjacent communities receive comparable SweetHART dial-a-ride service in addition to HART fixed route service. The goal is to integrate the Bridgewater dial-a-ride to the extent possible with the surrounding regional transportation services provided by HART.

Long term, establish new regional SweetHART service that would serve all towns in a more efficient manner than the current town by town approach.

3. EXPAND BROOKFIELD, CT TRANSIT SERVICES:

Brookfield Fixed Route HART Bus
· Goals include extending the weekday service span on the 7 New Milford Route (which serves Brookfield via Route 7) from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., and the provision of service with 30 minute headways between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

On weekends, extending the Saturday service span from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and implementation of new Sunday service hourly between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. on the route are planned.

· Modify the 4 Brookfield Route to operate between Danbury and Brookfield hourly via Danbury Hospital. This route currently operates weekdays 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., and on Sunday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., leaving Danbury via Osborne Street, Germantown, and Federal Road, and terminating at the Regional YMCA.

Hours on this route should be extended to match the rest of the urban fixed route as described above.

Brookfield SweetHART Bus
· Provide Brookfield's seniors and disabled with additional weekday SweetHART dial-a-ride service by extending the service day from the current end at 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Add a second bus during peak travel times between 8 and 10 a.m. to better serve the needs of riders.

· For the long term, reduce costs by establishing a new regional SweetHART service that would serve Brookfield and nearby towns in a more efficient manner than the present town by town approach.

Brookfield Commuter Rail
· The current ConnDOT study of the Danbury Branch Line will provide recommendations for reestablishment of passenger rail between Danbury and New Milford. Long term, a new rail station may be located in Brookfield to allow for service north to New Milford, and south to Danbury and Norwalk.

The existing historic station stop on Route 25 near the intersection with Route 7 is one possibility for the new Brookfield station. A station stop at 92 Pocono Road, opposite the Brookfield Fire Station, is also under consideration.

As the study nears completion, the selection of a location or decision not to have a station in Brookfield will be finalized. Any new station should be integrated with HART services and, if appropriate, pedestrian access plans within Brookfield Village.

4. EXPAND DANBURY, CT TRANSIT SERVICES:

Danbury Fixed Route HART Bus
· Danbury is the locus of fixed route operations for the region. The main HART bus station or Pulse Point is located on Kennedy Avenue in Danbury. It is comprised of 4 bus bays and a small building with a ticket agent. The majority of transit rides on the system pass through this location.

Development plans adjacent to the Pulse Point have led to a discussion of restructure of the traffic flow and intersections near the facility. As nearby traffic flow improvements are made, it is important that operations at this regional hub are not damaged.

· All seven urban fixed routes serve Danbury. Long term goals for the urban fixed route system include extending the weekday service span from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., extend the Saturday service span from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., implementation of Sunday service hourly between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m., and provide service with 30 minute headways between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

· To simplify routes and provide more direct service to Danbury Hospital, remove the Hospital from the 1 Medical Center Route and place it in the 4 Brookfield Route.

Expand the service hours of the Brookfield Route, currently 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday to match the rest of the fixed route system.

· Split the 2 Stony Hill Route into two routes to allow for bi-directional service to major employment on Newtown Road in Danbury, and expansion of service to Bridgeport via Bethel and Newtown.

· The Danbury Fair Mall is the most significant transit destination in the area. Plans are to operate the 6 Mall Route with 30 minute headways throughout the day (current service is 30 minutes from 6-9 a.m. and from 3-6 p.m., and 60 minutes during the midday), or create a second route with more direct service to the Danbury Fair Mall from the Danbury central business district.

Danbury SweetHART Bus
· Danbury's SweetHART ridership is the largest in the HART service area, exceeding 80 passengers per day. A goal is to provide Danbury's seniors and disabled with additional weekday SweetHART service by providing more buses during peak travel times between 8 and 10 a.m.

· For the long term, reduce costs by establishing a new regional SweetHART service that would serve Danbury and nearby towns in a more efficient manner than the existing town by town approach.

Danbury Commuter Rail
· The current ConnDOT study will develop recommended options to improve the existing Danbury Branch Line between Danbury and Norwalk. The study also will develop a plan to resume regular passenger service north of Danbury to New Milford, which ceased in 1971.

Improvements will increase service frequency on the Branch Line from the current 11 round trips per week day/six per Sunday and expand peak period, through train and reverse commute rail service.

· As part of the resumption of passenger service to New Milford, create a second Danbury station stop near the Brookfield line. Locations for this stop are under evaluation as part of the current DOT study, with suggested locations within the Berkshire Industrial park, or opposite the existing White Turkey Extension park and ride lot.

A shuttle service to the Danbury North Station from remote lots may be warranted after the implementation of expanded rail service to New Milford.

· A shuttle/circulator bus service to the Downtown Danbury rail station that provides a direct connection to the HART Pulse Point and Peter Pan bus stop is suggested after the initial expansion of service to New Milford.

5. EXPAND NEW FAIRFIELD, CT TRANSIT SERVICES:

New Fairfield Fixed Route HART Bus
· The existing New Fairfield-Southeast Shuttle operates during the weekday peak commute, with a significant gap in the midday. At present, there is no service available between 7:45 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Reducing the size of the midday gap is a goal for the service.

· Long term, Implement a bus route between Danbury and New Fairfield via Route 37 serving the North Street Shopping Center, Federal Correctional Institution, Stetson Place in Danbury, and the Town Center and Ball Pond areas of New Fairfield.

New Fairfield SweetHART Bus
· Provide New Fairfield's seniors and disabled persons with additional weekday SweetHART service by extending the service day from the current end at 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Operate a second bus to provide additional service during peak travel periods each weekday during heavy travel times from 9 to 11 a.m. and from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m.

· For the long term, reduce costs by establishing a new regional SweetHART service that would serve New Fairfield and nearby towns in a more efficient manner than the town by town approach at present.

6. EXPAND NEW MILFORD, CT TRANSIT SERVICES:

New Milford Fixed Route HART Bus
· Add trips between New Milford and Danbury for the 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30 a.m. pulse times to provide more regular service between the municipalities and facilitate transfers to early trains leaving Danbury Station. Current funding allows for only limited morning peak service between New Milford and Danbury and creates a confusing schedule.

· Long term goals for the 7 New Milford Route include expansion of the weekday service span from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., extending the Saturday service span from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., implementation of Sunday service hourly between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m., and provide service with 30 minute headways between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

New Milford Town Dial-A-Ride
· The town operates two buses in a senior/disabled dial-a-ride, Monday through Friday between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. New Milford would benefit from an extension of service later in the day until 6 p.m. On weekends, no Saturday service is provided.

New Saturday service between 9 and 4 p.m. with a single vehicle, and a similar schedule on Sunday would better serve this population.

· For the long term, reduce costs by establishing a new regional SweetHART service that would serve Danbury and nearby towns in a more efficient manner than the existing town by town approach.

New Milford Commuter Rail
· The current ConnDOT Danbury Branch Line study will develop recommended options to improve the existing Danbury Branch Line between Danbury and Norwalk. The study also will detail a plan to resume regular passenger service north of Danbury to New Milford, which ceased in 1971.

With resumption of passenger train to New Milford, DOT will develop a recommended location for a New Milford station stop. Potential locations include north of the historic station building on Railroad Street, a site on Pickett District Road opposite Dodd Road, and on Grove Street off Anderson Avenue.

7. EXPAND NEWTOWN, CT TRANSIT SERVICES:

Newtown Fixed Route HART Bus
· Create a new Danbury-Bridgeport bus route serving Newtown via Routes 6 and 25. The Bridgeport to Danbury service would provide connections for people working and living on either end of the route and local service to points along the corridor at retail, office and manufacturing locations.

The bus could also act as a shuttle from the park and ride lot at the junction with Route 111 in Trumbull to the MTA Metro-North Railroad’s New Haven Line station in Bridgeport.

Current proposals are for a three bus service during the weekday peak travel period. The route would be operated jointly by the Greater Bridgeport Transit Authority and the HART system. Bus fares would be integrated with the two systems.

· Enhancements to the existing Peter Pan bus schedule would provide three additional a.m. round trips and four additional p.m. round trips between Danbury and Waterbury Monday through Friday.

An additional route stop in the I-84 Exit 10 area of Newtown (the location of an historic intercity bus stop) would be added on these trips. This location would also serve as a transfer point to the
planned Danbury-Bridgeport service.

· As part of the resumption of passenger service to New Milford, a second Danbury station stop near the Brookfield Line is planned. Locations for this stop are being evaluated as part of the current DOT study, with suggested locations within the Berkshire Industrial park, or opposite the existing White Turkey Extension park and ride lot.

Rail user demographics suggest a peak period rail feeder shuttle from the Exit 10 or 11 of I-84 areas of Newtown to this new station may be an appropriate option.

Newtown SweetHART Bus
· For the long term, reduce costs by establishing a new regional SweetHART service that would serve Newtown and nearby towns in a more efficient manner than the town by town approach at present.

8. EXPAND REDDING, CT TRANSIT SERVICES:

Redding Fixed Route HART Bus
· Redding is served by the Danbury-Norwalk Route 7 LINK bus, which travels the length of the Route 7 corridor between Danbury and Norwalk. The current service provides 4 morning and 4 evening round trips with a significant gap in the midday. The goal is to provide buses hourly throughout the weekday.

· With the redevelopment of the Georgetown wire mill, add a deviation to the Danbury-Norwalk bus route to directly serve the new multimodal transportation center planned there.

Redding Town Dial-A-Ride
· Redding provides a Town operated dial-a-ride service for seniors and persons with disabilities with a single bus Monday through Thursday. Adjacent communities receive comparable SweetHART dial-a-ride service in addition to HART fixed route service.

The goal is to integrate the Redding dial-a-ride to the extent possible with the regional transportation services provided by HART.

Long term, establish new regional SweetHART service that would serve all towns in a more efficient manner than the current town by town approach.

Redding Commuter Rail
· In coordination with the private redevelopment of the vacant wire mill complex in Georgetown, construct a new rail passenger station and adjacent transportation center on the Wilton - Redding Town Line.

· Expand peak period, through train and reverse-commute rail service and extend rail service north from Georgetown and West Redding Stations past Danbury to New Milford.

· Support the construction of a multi-modal transportation center in the Georgetown village area, as part of the redevelopment of that area which is immediately adjacent to Route 7. The multi - modal center will be located on the Wilton - Redding Town Line and include pedestrian and bicycle access, bus and rail transit services, and parking.

9. EXPAND RIDGEFIELD, CT TRANSIT SERVICES:

Ridgefield Fixed Route HART Bus
· Ridgefield is served by the Danbury-Norwalk Route 7 LINK bus, which travels the length of the Route 7 corridor between Danbury and Norwalk. The current service provides 4 morning and 4 evening round trips with a significant gap in the midday. The goal is to fill this gap and provide buses hourly throughout the weekday.

· Determine if there is a market for expanding the Ridgefield to Katonah, NY commuter shuttle service to the midday hours, as no service is provided at present between 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Expanding the Katonah Shuttle is complicated by a parking shortage along the route. Additional parking locations are thus a high priority, and may be necessary even without major expansion.

· Day-long service on the shuttle provides an ancillary benefit to travel between Danbury and Ridgefield. The current Ridgefield-Katonah schedule allows for a limited direct service between the two municipalities as buses leave and return from the HART facility in Danbury.

Additional buses on the shuttle route will provide more opportunities for transit connections between the central business districts of Ridgefield and Danbury.

Ridgefield SweetHART Bus
· Provide a second bus during the peak morning and afternoon period Monday Through Friday to increase the service span to 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. from 8:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. and provide better coverage for senior and disabled riders. Provide Saturday Service between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

· For the long term, reduce costs by establishing a new regional SweetHART service that would serve Ridgefield and nearby towns in a more efficient manner than the town by town approach at present.

Ridgefield Commuter Rail
· The current ConnDOT Danbury Branch Line study will develop recommended options to improve passenger rail between Danbury and Norwalk. The study also will develop a plan to resume regular passenger service north of Danbury to New Milford, which ceased in 1971.

Improvements will increase service frequency on the Branch Line from the current 11 round trips per week day/six per Sunday and expand peak period, through train and reverse commute rail service.

· As part of a comprehensive municipal improvement plan for the Branchville Village section of Ridgefield, the Ridgefield Planning and Zoning Commission developed a concept plan to enhance the parking facilities at the ConnDOT Branchville station.

In its 2002 Branchville Village Plan, the Commission suggests the construction of a decked parking structure, designed with an attractive facade reminiscent of an historic mill building, to augment parking supply at the Station.

If warranted, implement a subscription shuttle bus to the Branchville Station after the Phase Two Danbury Branch expansion to further ease parking supply and congestion, and investigate the possibility for shuttles to employment from the station location.

10. EXPAND SHERMAN, CT TRANSIT SERVICES:

Sherman Town Dial-A-Ride
· Sherman provides a dial-a-ride bus service for seniors and persons with disabilities between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday – Friday with a single small bus. The service is coordinated with the local FISH program, which provides volunteer transportation for medical purposes.

A second accessible vehicle to better serve disabled riders during the week would be a useful addition to the program. The implementation of service on Saturday and Sunday is a further goal.

· Long term, coordinate operation of the Town provided service with regional service provided by HART. The First Selectman stated in 10/2007 that "while Sherman is meeting its transportation needs adequately at the present time, we believe that the need for a connection with HART will be essential in the near future as our community ages."

FUTURE REGIONAL TRANSIT IMPROVEMENTS

Interregional HART Bus
· Current HART Harlem Line Shuttle buses are timed to meet peak period trains during the weekday. There are limited opportunities to make rail-bus connections during the off peak at Brewster Station, and none at Katonah or Ridgefield.

Provide midday buses on Danbury-Brewster, Ridgefield-Katonah and New Fairfield Southeast Shuttle services timed to meet MTA Metro-North Railroad Harlem Line arrivals and departures.

· The Danbury-Norwalk Route 7 LINK is a regional bus route between Danbury and Norwalk serving employments sites and retail centers in the Route 7 corridor. The route provides 4 round trips during the morning and evening weekday, with a significant midday gap where no buses operate. Service should be provided throughout the course of the weekday on this route.

· Create a new Danbury-Bridgeport bus route serving Newtown via Routes 6 and 25. The Bridgeport to Danbury service would provide trips for people working and living on either end of the route and provide local service to points along the corridor at retail, office and manufacturing locations.

The service could also act as a shuttle from the park and ride lot at the junction with Route 111 in Trumbull to the MTA Metro-North Railroad’s New Haven Line station in Bridgeport.
Current proposals are for a three bus service during the weekday peak travel period. The service would be operated jointly by the Greater Bridgeport Transit Authority and the HART system.

Interregional Peter Pan Bus
· Peter Pan bus operates a New York to Hartford route with stops in Danbury, Southbury and Waterbury. The company provides seven daily trips Monday- Thursday, and Saturday from Hartford to Danbury, and eight on Fridays and Sundays.

From Danbury to Hartford, seven daily trips are provided Monday through Thursday and Saturday, with an eighth on Friday and Sunday. Between New York City and Danbury, eight trips are provided in each direction Monday through Thursday and Saturday, with an extra bus on Friday and Sunday.

Proposals call for additional buses on the Danbury-Hartford segment of Peter Pan’s service to improve connectivity for commuters between Danbury and Waterbury.

· Restore a stop in the Church Hill Road area of Newtown on the Danbury-Hartford run to allow for express bus connections to Newtown. This stop location could also be served by a future Danbury-Bridgeport bus route.

· Create a single intercity bus/local bus discount pass option, analogous to the MTA Metro-North Railroad UniTicket. This would facilitate commuter travel between the intercity buses operated by Peter Pan and local bus operations in Greater Danbury and elsewhere.

Danbury Branch Line Commuter Rail
· The Danbury Branch Line is a 23.6 mile single track, non-electrified rail line running between Danbury and Norwalk. The line has passing sidings in Branchville, Wilton and Norwalk and stations in Danbury, Bethel, Redding (West Redding, a new station is planned for Georgetown), Ridgefield (Branchville), two in Wilton (Cannondale and Wilton), and two in Norwalk (Merritt 7 and South Norwalk).

Current rail service provides for 11 round trips during the weekday and six on Saturdays. The Region has long advocated for improvements to the line, originally constructed 1852. The line has an antiquated signal system, finally scheduled for an upgrade by 2011 after decades of delay.

- The ongoing study of improvement of the line by ConnDOT will develop detailed recommendations to provide more reverse commute trips and shorten headways.

- Passenger service north of Danbury ceased in 1971. HVCEO supports restoration of passenger rail approximately 13 miles along the Berkshire Line to New Milford.

As part of the extension to New Milford, additional station stops in Danbury in the vicinity of Berkshire Corporate Park, and in Brookfield may be instituted. Extension to New Milford and the evaluation of additional stops, as well as the final location of the New Milford station stop, will be determined by the ConnDOT study.