Night Bus Service To Continue Through End of UConn Semester

UConn students who rely upon the late night I95 Express service that provides transportation from the campus to Willimantic have received a reprieve.

The Windham Region Transit District (WRTD) announced Thursday afternoon the 8:30 p.m. trip will continue through May 9, the end of the semester.

As part of ongoing efforts to control operating costs, the WRTD had proposed reducing service on its Storrs/Willimantic bus route by eliminating the 8:30 p.m. trip.

Back in February, the WRTD held a series of public hearings on the proposal and UConn students came out in large numbers to save the trip, which they said was necessary to continue their studies and graduate work.

The pleas from riders helped spur talks between UConn’s administration and WRTD. UConn offered $10,000 in funding for the current fiscal year. Even though it is still short of the estimated $30,000 needed to operate the service year-round, the $10,000 would allow WRTD to operate the trip through the end of the semester.

Matt Hart, one of Mansfield’s representatives to the WRTD, said in a statement, “I applaud the UConn students and other riders for their testimony, and thank the UConn administration for its financial contribution to maintain this important service through the end of this academic year.”

WRTD’s board of directors decided Tuesday to accept the offer and continue operation of the night trip through May 9. The district will continue to work with UConn, the Connecticut Department of Transportation and the towns of Windham and Mansfield to secure funding to operate the service for the 2015-2016 academic year.

More information on the I95 Express route and all WRTD services including route maps and schedules, log on to www.WRTD.net or call 860-456-2223.

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Photo credit: Windham Region Transit District.