Transportation (Rail)

SB 237 requires the Department of Transportation to restore Shore Line East rail service to pre-pandemic levels by July 2026 and expand bus rapid transit routes connecting Hartford to Storrs, increasing frequency on the Naugatuck Valley-New Haven route, and extending the Danbury branch to New Milford. It also establishes new programs: free bus passes for high school students (grades 9-12) through a state grant program, and free bus passes for veterans, both requiring annual reporting on usage and impact. The bill revises fare change procedures to mandate public hearings and advance notice, and allocates $3 million from the General Fund to fund the student pass program for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. These provisions directly affect commuters, students, veterans, and public transit operators across Connecticut.

SB 12 appropriates funds from the Special Transportation Fund to increase Shore Line East rail service between New Haven and Mystic during summer peak season. Specifically, it funds additional Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and holiday trains from late May through early September 2026. This directly affects commuters traveling this corridor and supports tourism along Connecticut's shoreline. The bill aims to reduce traffic congestion on I-95 by providing alternative transportation during the summer months.