STATE OF CONNECTIC UT
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
2800 BERLIN TURNPIKE, P.O. BOX 317546
NEWINGTON, CONNECTICUT 06131-7546

Phone: 860 594-3007
3/30/2020
CTDOT Guidance for Connecticut’s Bus Service Providers
The services you continue to provide during the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency are
both essential and valued by the State of Connecticut. Your frontline workforce, especially your
drivers, play an instrumental role in helping get healthcare workers and other essential personnel
where they need to go during this challenging time. We thank you and your employees for the
outstanding job you have done to minimize risks and to keep our bus transit system operational
across the state.
Like you, safety is our top priority while we maintain core bus service for essential travel.
The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) will continue to work with each of
you, to hear your feedback and urgent requests and to provide support during this public health
emergency. We are here for you. We are in this together.
We know the COVID-19 public health emergency is an unprecedented event on an uncertain
schedule. Operating conditions and direction from public health officials can and often does
change quickly. Therefore, CTDOT has established the following strategic framework to support
all of you.
1. DRIVER SAFETY – CTDOT has initiated a daily e-survey to determine and track
inventory of critical cleaning supplies and personal protective equipment. We have
already distributed 200 face masks to paratransit drivers and ordered an additional 14,000
face masks, cleaning supplies and other personal protective equipment through the state’s
emergency command. Changes in boarding and suspension of fare collection, to provide
the CDC-recommended 6 feet of social distancing, and daily sanitizing of buses are ways
in which driver safety has been prioritized. Many of you have also closed driver break
rooms and modified dispatching to minimize person to person contact.
As your team members balance responsibilities between work and family, we urge you to
remind them about your leave policies and their eligibility for additional leave under the
Families First Coronavirus Response Act. Those in higher risk groups may want to take
advantage of paid leave.
Looking forward, CTDOT is expediting the purchase and installation of additional driver
barriers on CTtransit buses. CTDOT stands ready to assist transit districts as well with
the purchase of additional driver barriers where they are feasible.

 2. PUBLIC SAFETY – Our collective external communications have focused on public
health and public safety. Signs have been installed on buses to encourage social
distancing. Some of you are testing seat back signs to show customers where to sit to
maintain social distance. Cash payments have been suspended not only onboard buses,
but at ticket offices. Additional “helper buses” are being dispatched on busy bus routes to
reduce potential overcrowding.
3. COMMUNICATION – CTDOT will continue conference calls to receive feedback and
offer guidance on how to respond to emergent issues. Coordination on public messaging
such as the shift to rear door boarding and social distancing on public transportation will
continue to be handled through these daily calls. It is important we continue to coordinate
on operational decisions across service areas and review any decisions with the state’s
Joint Information Center, which is charged with approving all public communications on
the state’s COVID-19 response.
4. CONTINGENCY PLANNING – CTDOT is evaluating options and alternatives to
maintain essential bus services. CTDOT is using GIS to map all bus routes statewide and
critical medical facilities to determine which routes must continue should a reduction in
service be necessary. These contingency plans will be shared with each of you for your
input. We are also asking you to look at ways to increase your workforce, recognizing
there is a substantial lead time to retain and train additional bus drivers. Again, the lead
time is significant, so we ask that you begin working on these contingency plans
immediately.
5. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE – Federal aid for public transportation is forthcoming,
with up to $489 million available to the State of Connecticut. CTDOT is working closely
with the Federal Transit Administration to understand the eligibility and documentation
requirements to access the funding. The initial priority for funding will be on operating
assistance to cover immediate expenses and revenue losses caused by the public health
emergency. We ask that you keep extensive ridership and financial records, which will be
needed to demonstrate your funding need. In the interim, please advise CTDOT if you
have any funding issues which would prevent you from carrying out your response to the
ongoing public health emergency.
We are grateful for the service you continue to provide in these unprecedented times. The state’s
response and recovery to COVID-19 most certainly depends on the continuation of bus service.
Individuals who must get to critical medical care or to reach employment most certainly depend
on your services. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us at any time day or night for further
assistance. Thank you for all you are doing to keep Connecticut moving.

Rich Andreski
Bureau Chief, Public Transportation

Dennis Solensky
Transit Administrator