Day Tripper: Riding CTtransit For The First Time

Day Tripper: Riding CTtransit For The First Time

  April 12, 2020    Kareem W

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Welcome to my first Day Tripper, a series where I will be recounting my transit experiences with other transit agencies or the PVTA, typically done in just one day. Day Trippers will be lengthier and more picture focused than Route Focuses. This post is about my first time using CTtransit, which is the first transit system I’ve explored other than the PVTA.

I decided to spend a day exploring CTtransit on the Friday between Christmas and New Year’s in 2019. Going into the trip, I was prepared with a schedule of routes and places I wanted to go, and a Go CT fare card loaded up with enough fare for a day-pass and a one-way express bus.

Waking up early and still dark on the day, I first had to take the PVTA’s 6:15 AM G5 from Springfield Union Station to the MassMutual campus in Enfield, Connecticut. There, the CTexpress Route 905 bus was waiting to take me to Hartford. Boarding the 2010 MCI D4500CT commuter bus, I realized I had the entire bus to myself. There would be no other passengers until a commuter parking lot further in Enfield. CTexpress commuter buses are equipped with reclining seats and USB-charging ports, so it was easy to be comfortable on the fast and smooth trip to Hartford, avoiding traffic with the HOV lane of I-91.

Onboard the dark commuter bus – It’s cozier than it looks

The bus arrived in Downtown Hartford earlier than expected, so I had a little more time to familiarize myself with the street that most of CTtransit’s buses depart from in Hartford before catching the bus I needed. The first local bus for me was Route 37 – New Britain Avenue on a 2005 New Flyer D40LF. My destination was the West Hartford Chick-fil-A, conveniently located at the end of the relatively short route. Riding the 37, I found nothing out of the ordinary, but it was interesting riding an older style New Flyer bus. Once at Chick-fil-A, I made the mistake of not realizing that they only serve breakfast items before 11 AM, so getting the spicy chicken sandwich I desired would have to wait another time. Instead I had a chicken biscuit and I was still able to get a delicious peppermint chocolate chip milkshake.

The weirdest breakfast I’ve had in a while – Still delicious though

The next bus I took after my Chick-fil-A break was the 153 – Flatbush/Copaco. This is a CTfastrak route, but it does not run on any of the BRT right-of-way, so I consider it more of a crosstown route. I specifically wanted to ride this route because of the interestingly small 2015 Gillig BRT HEV 29’ buses this route uses. Even though the route was winding and lengthy, riding this bus was still fun because of the vehicle and its odd configuration.

Another CTtransit bus displays “Happy Holidays” as it passed the bus I was on

Upon arriving at the Copaco Shopping Center in Bloomfield, I had very little time to catch the next bus that would take me back to Downtown Hartford. As soon as the 153 made its first stop at the plaza, a hopped off the bus and ran to another stop in the plaza to ensure I’d catch the 76 – Ashley Street. I caught the bus in time, and with a 2007 New Flyer D40LF, I found nothing remarkable about the 76, similarly to Route 37 I took earlier. Nevertheless, the bus got me back to Downtown Hartford on time and brought me to the next route, which I was more excited about and would be one of the highlight rides of the day.

I was finally riding CTtransit's Route 101 – Hartford/New Britain, which is the main route of the CTfastrak bus-rapid transit system. This is the route that is the most frequent, makes all the stops along the BRT corridor, and uses articulated buses. I had been waiting to ride this route since I first heard about CTfastrak in 2015, and admittedly this was my first experience with BRT.

I love the interior of this Nova Bus LFX Artic HEV

Sure enough, the CTfastrak did not disappoint. More detail will provided when if and when I eventually do Route Focuses on CTfastrak routes, but I can say that it was a neat ride to New Britain on the BRT bus (aside from a conversational fare inspector who was convinced that the current president is the "Antichrist" and the world is ending “very soon”).

A CTfastrak Route 121 bus passes us on the BRT corridor

Arriving at the Downtown New Britain Station, I gave myself plenty of time to explore the bus hub and spot buses before heading off again. With an interesting outdoor station design, New Britain Station has plenty of bus berths for BRT, express, and local buses.

Welcome to the Downtown New Britain station

The station from the Harry Truman Overpass

CTfastrak #1465 on layover

The next route I would be taking was the 128 – Hartford/Westfarms-New Britain. This route is another CTfastrak route, but this one serves the Westfarms Mall in West Hartford and only some CTfastrak stations. I wanted to make a stop at Westfarms Mall to check it out. The New Flyer XDE40 that Route 128 was filled with passengers, most of whom were going to the mall like me. Once at the Westfarms, I checked out the mall layout and some of the many stores it has to offer, used the restroom, and relaxed for some time before catching the Route 128 bus again, but this time continuing to Hartford.

Westfarms Mall, all festive for the holidays

Back in Downtown Hartford, I gave myself a little more time to spot buses and enjoy some of the architecture of the buildings.

This bus is heading to Bradley International Airport via I-91

Looming office towers

Before I knew it, I was catching the Route 32, a quieter route that would take me North to the town of Windsor. Luckily enough, the bus that I got on was a brand-new 2019 New Flyer XD40. I am very familiar with the New Flyer XD40 buses the PVTA uses, so it was fun spotting the similarities and differences between the newer CTtransit ones and the ones PVTA use.

Once in Windsor, it was past noon, and it was time for me to have lunch. I chose to have lunch at the Siam Corner Thai Kitchen & Pho, because its right at the end of the route and I love Thai food. I had a delicious plate of Drunken Noodles with beef, an eggroll, and Boba Coffee. I thoroughly enjoyed the meal and friendly customer service, and the lunch was reasonably priced as well!

DELISH!!!

After lunch, I walked to the nearby Windsor train station, hoping to spot the arrival of a CTrail train. Unfortunately, I had to miss the arrival of the train so I could catch my bus back to Hartford. This time, I took Route 36 from Windsor, which is a very similar route to the 32, once again using a New Flyer XD40.

Back in Hartford, I gave myself plenty of time – more than an hour – to explore more of Downtown Hartford and spot more buses. During this time, I visited the CTtransit customer service kiosk next to the Old State House, with the intent of getting paper schedules for the routes I rode that day. Unfortunately, the kiosk was short on bus schedules and I couldn’t get a schedule for every route I used.

A Nova Bus LFS Artic HEV waiting for its next run

My attempt at a panorama from the Phoenix Gateway Bridge

Connecticut’s Old State House surrounded by towers

Next, I embarked on the longest route I took that day. This was the 41 New Britain/Hartford. Instead of taking the easier and much faster CTfastrak to New Britain, I decided to take the long and grueling 41 for some reason. The hour-long trip, on a 2005 New Flyer D40LF, was so long and boring that I fell asleep at times, but that was aided by the soft seats that CTtransit use and my lack of sleep the night before.

Once again in New Britain, I only gave myself 15 minutes before the next bus, so this time I decided to go to the top of a nearby 10-story parking garage. At the top, I got some fantastic views and pictures of the CTfastrak station, Downtown New Britain, and a neat bridge that goes over a highway.

Downtown New Britain and CTfastrak station, from above

Focusing on the “Beehive” bridge. Its art and functional

Running back to the Downtown New Britain Station, I caught the 101 – CTfastrak once again, but this time I would only be riding it 6 minutes north to the East Street station.

Some amenities at East Street station

From here, I briefly waited for the next bus I would be taking; the 140 – CCSU Connector. This route, operated by a 2014 Gillig BRT HEV 29’, was a short trip from East Street station to the Cedar Street station in Newington via the Central Connecticut State University campus. Since CCSU was out for holiday break, the trip was fast and empty.

A CTfastrak – Route 102 bus departs Cedar Street station

From Cedar Street station, I took the 101 – CTfastrak once more, riding all the way back to Hartford. By the time I got to Hartford, it was dark as night, but that didn’t stop me from exploring Downtown Hartford more. I got some pictures from the footbridge over State Street, as well as the Connecticut Science Center as I walked past it.

The Phoenix Building, my favorite building in Hartford

The Connecticut Science Center, Convention Center, and I-91 in one shot

My destination was the Connecticut Convention Center, where I’d catch my last CTtransit bus of the day. Walking into the center and looking around, I eventually found the Hartford dash Shuttle, which is a route that loops around Hartford’s downtown. I wasn’t riding the entirety of it today; I was only using it to get to Hartford Union Station, where I’d catch a train back to Springfield.

On the dash, operated by a smaller New Flyer XDE35 bus, there was only one other passenger, a woman who was also heading to Union Station. On the way there, me, the other passenger, and the driver got into a conversation of how it seems like hardly anyone knows about the dash.

Arriving at Hartford Union Station, I had ample time to explore the station before catching my train. I found the departure waiting room quite busy and cramped with passengers waiting for intercity buses and trains. Closer to my departure time, I went up to single platform the station has and waited for the train with others.

On the platform, a CTrail train prepares for departure to New Haven

Arriving about 10 minutes late, Amtrak Regional 476 roared into the station. This is an Amtrak train that shares fares with the state subsidized CTrail, thus the fare was cheap, costing just $6 dollars to travel from Hartford to Springfield. Finding a seat on the Ex-Metroliner Cab Control Car, I got comfortable and enjoyed the 30-minute ride to Springfield. The car I was on was not packed at all, with there only being a family heading home from a holiday trip and a couple of single travelers.

Onboard the train

Downtown Springfield as the train pulled into the station

Finally arriving at Springfield Union Station, it was a simple walk from the platform, through the station, and to the PVTA bus terminal. There, the G2 bus was already there, waiting to take me home.

A wet and moody night at Union Station

And that concludes my first experience with transit in and around Hartford, including CTtransit, CTfastrak, and CTrail. My day went perfectly, without a single hitch. I was impressed by the CTfastrak BRT corridor and the simplicity of Go CT fare card, and CTtransit’s bus service in general. That said, I can’t wait to use the services of CTtransit again. I still haven’t decided if should do route focuses on every CTtransit route (there’s 58 local routes serving Hartford alone, not counting for the CTtransit systems of New Haven, Waterbury, and Stamford) but I will be sure to let you know if I do start.