[reason180]

Everybody knows about the train and bus options in CT but some people may not know about the other alternatives available:

Easy Street is a statewide commuter van service sponsored by The Connecticut Department of Transportation and operated by The Rideshare Company. Designed to help people who live or work in Connecticut get to their jobs, Easy Street offers over 300 routes daily transporting 3,000 riders. Easy Street benefits riders and non-riders.

easystreet.org

According to the schedule on their website these vans go all run all over the state (also RI, MA, NJ, NY). For example, I was shocked to learn that there are people commuting from Newark NJ to Unilever in Trumbull CT.

For those that want to carpool the state is supporting NURIDE:

NuRide - the Rewarding Way to Go

Also DOT will give first time riders their first 10 rides free. You can call them for more info, schedules, and other commuting options.

860-594-2000

Also don’t forget to talk with HR at your employer, they may provide some options to their employees. You can also let your employer know that DOT will work with them to help them offer a better way to get people to work.

ConnDOT: Regional employer support

And finally, don’t forget to take advantage of the commuter tax benefit program (for both commuters and employers).

Commuter Tax Benefit is Connecticut's program to promote the federal tax law that allows employees to set aside pre-tax income to pay for commuting costs.

Commuter Tax Benefit

[JayCT]

Great information reason180. Thanks fo rposting it. Jay

[reason180]

More Info:

To sign up for the bus rides or the van-pool trial, call 800-FIND-RIDE for Fairfield County, 800-ALL-RIDE for Greater New Haven and Waterbury, and 800-972-EASY for other parts of the state.

[S2000]

I currently use Easy Street's ride share as a commuting option for work. Have been for almost 2 years. Unfortunately the thing I hate about it is how the increase in costs have been making me think of other alternatives. Reason is they charge individual commuters by mileage and the cost per mileage is derived by the ridership as a whole. Not the vehicle ridership. For example when I started we had about 8 riders in a 15 passenger van. We now have 14 passengers which is good but our costs have gone up from $135 to $173 a month. Not saying its a bad alternative but it goes to show you how mass transit is strategically placed in CT.

I would really like to see more Trains and Buses being utilized in CT. Although cost has always been an issue. Maybe when gas goes to $6-$8 a gallon people will start asking for this.