HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — Governor Ned Lamont and Connecticut transit workers were out at bus stops Tuesday handing out free masks to passengers.
Masks are required on public transit in the state. Governor Lamont and state Department of Transportation officials picked one of the hottest days of the year to give out free face masks to bus riders.
Governor Lamont was Downtown Hartford at the CT Transit customer service outlet. But that is just one of 17 locations statewide where transportation officials are holding events Tuesday giving out free masks to riders. With an emphasis on the cities: Hartford, New Haven, Stamford.
The pandemic allowed DOT to get a head start on road projects the governor said but it has also been hard on the department.
“We continue to make sure we are doing everything we can to make sure that this is as safe as possible. We are cleaning these buses twice a day at midday, in the evening,” said Joe Giulietti, CT DOT, Commissioner.
“Now’s the time to take a second look at that bus. Take a second look at that rail. We’re providing these free of charge, sanitizing at least twice a day, doing everything we can to build confidence,” said Lamont.
The pandemic has been hard on the transportation department. Ridership was down 60 percent at the height of the pandemic. It’s back up 30 percent but the department has lost two employees.
Those masks were made available from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and then again from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Below is where to pick one up:
- Hartford – CTtransit Customer Service and Sales Outlet located at State and Market Streets, adjacent to the Old State House
- New Haven – CTtransit Customer Service and Sales Outlet located on the New Haven Green at Chapel Street
- Stamford – CTtransit Customer Service and Sales Outlet located on the lower level of the Stewart B. McKinney Transportation Center in the passageway from North State Street
- Waterbury – Exchange Place (Downtown Center)
- Meriden – Meriden Railroad Station
- Estuary Transit District – Old Saybrook Train Station
- Greater Bridgeport Transit District – GBT Bus Station, 710 Water Street, Bridgeport
- Greater Hartford Transit District – One Union Place Hartford (Hartford Union Station)
- Greater New Haven Transit District – 1014 Sherman Ave location in Hamden
- Housatonic Area Regional Transit – 3 Kennedy Ave., Danbury
- Middletown Area Transit District – Middletown Bus Terminal
- Milford Transit District – Bus hub at the Post Mall 1202 Boston Post Rd, Milford
- Northwest Connecticut Transit District – Torrington Municipal Parking Lot (12 Daycoeton Place)
- Norwalk Transit District – Norwalk Transit Wheels Hub, Burnell Blvd.
- Southeast Transit District – 7AM – 9 AM at the New London Water Street Bus Stop (adjacent to AMTRAK/Shore Line East); 3 PM – 5 PM at the Norwich Transportation Center (10 Falls Avenue, Norwich)
- Valley Transit District – Derby/Shelton multimodal train station
- Windham Regional Transit District – 3 PM – 5 PM at the Norwich Transportation Center (10 Falls Avenue, Norwich)
For more information, visit this ct.gov website.
