From Doctor Visits to Fine Dining and Entertainment, CTfastrak is Definitely Popular with Central Connecticut Seniors

With the number of passenger trips often exceeding 16,000 each weekday, CTfastrak is proving to be a vital economic and social transit link for residents, business professionals, communities -- and especially for seniors living in central Connecticut.

"Since its inception, CTfastrak has quickly become a genuine and dependable resource for seniors and the disabled. Providing discounted fares to seniors and the disable along with smart service routes into local communities to reach popular destinations, CTfastrak has been a winner from the start. It even includes a publicly accessible five mile leisure walking and biking trail from Newington to New Britain for all to use for exercising as well," said Mike McGarry, a longtime Hartford resident.

CTfastrak travels to a variety of destinations throughout central Connecticut. The popular Route 101 serves as the main transit line running every several minutes through New Britain, Newington, West Hartford and Hartford (this also includes a circulation loop in downtown Hartford). The CTfastrak Route 121 stretches its services from points in Manchester and East Hartford through Hartford, West Harford, and Newington and then proceeds to UConn Health in Farmington, CT. The very popular Route 128 and Route 144 (via Wethersfield) travel to Westfarms Mall several times each hour and the Route 153 bus offers travel from the New Park Avenue/Flatbush Avenue area in Hartford through West Hartford's Blue Back Square then proceeds north through Bishop's Corner past Cigna and onto the Copaco Shopping Center in Bloomfield.

The CTfastrak Route 161 serving St. Francis Hospital and Hartford Hospital is especially popular with seniors. This important CTfastrak route also has stops along Asylum Street, Woodland Street, Ashley Street, Sigourney Street, Capitol Avenue, Washington Street, Jefferson Street and Retreat Avenue -- all where many health care provider offices are located. The Route 161 connects with all CTfastrak routes at the CTfastrak Sigourney Street Station and also serves Aetna, Lincoln Culinary, State Capitol area, Lafayette Square and Connecticut Children's Medical Center.

"With the CTfastrak Elmwood Station directly across the street from our restaurant, we've become the first choice for the lunch and dinner crowd. I've seen seniors and all ages stopping in to our restaurant before or after their visit to the Wadsworth Atheneum, XL Center, Hartford Stage or Theater Works," said Chris Foley, The Corner Pug Restaurant, Elmwood, CT.

"As Connecticut's newest minor league baseball club, we draw all ages to our ballpark -- and the seniors seem one of the most loyal team audiences. CTfastrak has definitely helped to attract a wider audience,” said Patrick Day, New Britain Bees.

"CTfastrak has already enhanced the popularity of our New Park Avenue neighborhood in West Hartford and Elmwood. It's brought people to our location from points throughout central Connecticut. We're located near the CTfastrak Flatbush Avenue Station that will also be the location of a future Hartford Line rail stop. In fact, our bakery is also participating in the CTfastrak Rewards program that offers discounts and incentives to CTfastrak riders," said Beth Bolton, A Little Something Bakery, West Hartford, CT.

For information about CTfastrak, visit www.ctfastrak.com, connect via Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ctfastrak or via Twitter at @ctfastrak. Route timetables are available at http://www.cttransit.com under the “Schedules/CTfastrak” tab and the latest CTfastrak Rewards information is available at www.ctfastrak.com/rewards.