Mayor Wants to Extend CTfastrak Into East Hartford

East Hartford Mayor Marcia Leclerc is calling on state officials to extend the new CTfastrak busway east of the river.

Leclerc proposed "Fastrak East" after joining the governor and other state leaders for the busway's inaugural ride on Friday, the day before it opened to public.

The extension would bring CTfastrak service to East Hartford, Manchester and, ultimately, the University of Connecticut campus in Storrs, according to a news release from Leclerc's office.

"Fastrak East would bolster job access not only for our residents, but also for those students and workers who reside and work east of the river," Leclerc said in a statement Tuesday. "With a modest investment of $100 million, the next phase can be completed and extend the program to tens of thousands of employees that work in this region."

Although the current busway was specially built for bus traffic only, Fastrak East would use pre-existing HOV lanes. Leclerc said the service would benefit 40,000 employees east of the Connecticut River, including those at Pratt & Whitney and Goodwin College.

"Connecting those two portions of the region, from New Britain to Manchester, reflects unity and solidifies the connection of our citizens to businesses that are the backbone of our economy," Leclerc stated. "Not only will Fastrak East provide easier access to tens of thousands of jobs in the area, but it will provide East Hartford with a rapid transportation system that will spur economic growth for the future."

The mayor's office said Fastrak East is included in Malloy's five-year transportation plan, but no date has been set for the start of construction.

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