At the start of COVID, Connecticut’s Governor Ned Lamont made buses fare free across the state. Started as a preventative measure against the spread of COVID, the program lasted until April 1st, 2023. Since then, thousands of transit riders in CT have been paying to use the severely neglected transit system, despite cuts in service across the state.

Recently we have also seen fare hikes on Metro North, and service cuts to the Shoreline East, Metro North and Hartford Line train routes. Overall, transit riders in CT are paying more for less service.

We demand that Governor Lamont and our state legislators take immediate action to improve service and reimplement the popular fare-free program for not only buses, but for trains and all public transit in the state.

CTtransit has claimed that free bus fares for one year would cost only between 40 and 45 million dollars. This is a fraction of the state’s 50 billion dollar budget, but spent wisely it can impact millions of Connecticut residents. Transit riders are the working class, the poor, the unhoused, and others who are denied access to quality transportation by the unequal distribution of wealth under capitalism. Most do not choose to use the bus because it is convenient, cheap, or accessible: it is often none of these things, particularly outside of major transit hubs like New Haven or Hartford.

We are organizing riders in solidarity with transit workers who deserve better compensation and working conditions. This will improve their livelihoods and encourage more people to pursue transit careers, addressing understaffing and thus improving service for riders as well.

Free fares and better service will help the economic conditions of current transit riders, and encourage more people to choose transit over personal vehicles, with widespread benefits. Fewer cars means reducing carbon emissions that cause climate change and air pollution. Replacing cars on the road with transit also reduces congestion and traffic violence, so that pedestrians and cyclists are able to travel safely. Free transit and expanded service will not just benefit our cities, but rural and suburban areas as well. Currently bus and train service does not exist in many parts of the state, making car ownership mandatory by necessity despite its dangers and considerable expenses.

Transit riders can win a future with free, sustainable, and convenient transportation by joining Transit Riders Union CT (TRUCT). We must stand up to politicians and the global fossil fuel industry who wish to keep us all dependent on cars or a transit system that does not meet our needs. We can only do this by coming together as TRUCT and working collectively to advocate for our own best interests.

Join us in fighting for fare-free public transit in Connecticut!