Greater Hartford Transit District DECEMBER 09 www. bus- ex. com 49 bus stoppingO n a dollars- per- head basis, Connecticut's Greater Hartford Transit District is a highly effective transit organization and seems to be uniquely different from other systems throughout the country. Director Vicki Shotland, with a staff of just eight, oversees the ADA paratransit service with a fleet of 115 vehicles and $ 20 million a year in funds for various other transit- related projects. It's not your normal transit authority, providing mass transit services. Rather, it's one of a rare breed of quasi-governmental agencies formed under state statute 38 years ago with the broad charge of " providing bus-related transportation and support services, as well as securing the attainment of capital items crucial to viable transportation systems, within the Greater Hartford region and within the District's urbanized zoning area." If you think that sounds a little broad, you're absolutely right. There's another little twist in the plot also. While primarily involved with ADA paratransit transportation, secondary bus and rail ventures can- and often do- become part of the mix. Being definitive about what the District does, or rather what it could do, is far from straightforward. So what are the 115 vehicles used for? " For approximately 20 years," explains Shotland, " the District has provided the complimentary paratransit service for individuals unable to use the fixed- route system. The actual driving is currently contracted to First Transit, but the service is overseen directly by one of District's senior managers. On an annual basis, over 250,000 customers are given a greater degree of mobility by providing them with a door- to- door service." Shotland is justifiably proud of the freedom the District provides to the elderly and disabled community, and soon the service will get even better through advanced technology. Approximately $ 1 million is being invested in state- of- the- art AVL/ GPS vehicle location equipment. A combination of hardware and software will not only know exactly where every single vehicle is to within a few yards, it will also be able to calculate the most We often associate bureaucracy with inefficiency, but as Alan Swaby learns from Greater Hartford Transit District's director, that's not always the case

efficient use of the buses to provide a tighter and more precise service to passengers. Another of the District's interests is the grand old Union Station, a Hartford landmark but something of a mixed blessing. Although Hartford's Union Station is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, it is relatively small, and though it houses several tenants and provides various passenger amenities, the station currently offers few opportunities for generating additional income. It's currently too small for a true mass transit bus hub and therefore handles only long- distance services such as those offered by Peter Pan Bus Lines and Greyhound. Similarly, with only Amtrak using the station, there are very few train services each day. Consequently, the building is underutilized and is financially draining at times rather than a revenue source. Nevertheless, Shotland believes strongly that this can be turned around. " Hartford is just outside the commuter belt for both New York and Boston," she explains. " We're hoping to see commuter rail and bus rapid transit in Hartford within the next several years, thus linking a stronger network of transportation to the surrounding towns, so that it offers residents a reliable and flexible way of commuting by public transport. Once in place, a better mass transit service would attract more residents to the Greater Hartford area, increasing usage at the station, which in turn would encourage more development there." In the meantime, it's Shotland's job to attract federal funds to make running repairs on the station and to add a touch of green to the way it works. At present she is waiting to hear whether $ 15 million in funds will be granted to do the most pressing makeover. In fact, it is at the oversight and administration of federal funds that the District believes it really shines. It knows where to go and how best to structure applications- a service it willingly performs for any of the 16 towns that make up the Greater Hartford Transit District. " Our board is made up of 27 directors representing the various member towns," explains Shotland. " They are all volunteers but have a deep passion to see transit initiatives come to fruition; however, it's the charge of the executive director to deal with the day- to- day operation and the bureaucracy of the position. The towns affiliated with the District can, of course, apply directly for various grants, but when it comes to Federal Transit Administration dollars, many seek the assistance of the District to be that resource. The District staff understands the difficulties and stipulations that need 50 www. bus- ex. com DECEMBER 09