TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL TAP!

System-wide

Mon Nov 12, 2018
The Go CT Card provides the same discounts you’d receive with a pass.
The Go CT Card provides the same discounts you’d receive with a pass.

The Go CT card is “powered” by an electronic chip within the card. Just like bank cards you may use with chip technology, it takes the card chip a few moments to activate when held on the card reader.

Go CT customers will have the most success with their taps of the card if they remember these tips:

  1. Place the Go CT card directly on the orange target of the card reader.
  2. Hold it there for a few moments.
  3. A green “transaction complete” message indicates the card chip has been successfully read and the card balance is sufficient.
  4. Express route customers must also remember to hold their card on the card reader at the fare box to ‘tap off” when they exit.

Many of the red “error” messages the fare box may display for a Go CT card simply indicate the card was not held on the reader long enough for a complete reading of the card chip. If you encounter these messages, please just try again and hold your Go CT card on the target a little longer.

If you get a “Misread Media”, “3rd Party Card”, or “Declined-Try Again”  message, please tap and hold the card again.

Reminders:

  •     Do not punch holes in, bend, fold, or otherwise mutilate your card.
  •     Do not laminate your card.
  •     If you plan to store your card in a protective plastic sleeve, please remove the sleeve before tapping your card on the card reader.

Connecticut Receives $38.9 Million Grant from Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to Upgrade CTfastrak to All-Electric Fleet

Connecticut Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto (second from the left), Governor Ned Lamont (center), and the Federal Transit Administration’s Peter Butler (farthest right) present the milestone award grant.

CTtransit is excited to share that Governor Ned Lamont and the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) recently announced a $38.9 million Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant to help convert our CTfastrak to an all-electric bus fleet.

“This significant investment showcases our commitment to sustainable transportation and underscores our dedication to fostering skilled professionals for the future,” said Thomas E. Stringer Jr., General Manager. We look forward to this initiative’s positive impact on our community, environment, and local economy. Thank you to the FTA and the CTDOT for their continued support.”

L to R: Peter Butler, FTA Region 1 Administrator, and Thomas E. Stringer Jr, CTtransit General Manager.

This significant grant, awarded through the FTA's Low or No Emission Grant Program, will facilitate the purchase or lease of zero-emission transit buses and the necessary facility upgrades.

CTtransit will use these funds to acquire 46 battery-electric buses and install 29 chargers for the CTfastrak bus rapid transit service. The grant will also cover the cost of installing 25 depot chargers at the Hartford facility, four on-route chargers at the CTfastrak New Britain Station, and the required electrical infrastructure. This initiative is backed by over $17 million in matching state funds and $30 million from federal formula funds.

This milestone represents a monumental leap towards Governor Lamont's objective of transitioning the entire statewide public transportation bus fleet from diesel to zero-emission models by 2035. It's a testament to our collective commitment and the potential for a greener future.

Governor Lamont.

“The new battery-electric buses and chargers will help us meet the growing demand for reliable, efficient, and environmentally friendly transit options, and will greatly benefit the thousands of residents and commuters who rely on CTfastrak services every day,” said Governor Lamont. “Thank you to the Biden-Harris administration for continuing to invest in green technology that will modernize Connecticut’s public transit system and spur new economic opportunities across the state.”

Around $5.6 billion in funding has been allocated through President Joe Biden’s recently enacted Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support the replacement of thousands of public transit vehicles nationwide.

 

Connecticut Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto addresses the media.

“Investing in electric buses for the CTfastrak fleet is a forward-thinking move that highlights Connecticut’s dedication to sustainability and innovation,” said Connecticut Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto.

CTfastrak was recently recognized as the best bus rapid transit system in the United States by the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy.

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