[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6321873,"mediaKeyId","2348647-6419f20614378bbfd4eb094bf341f6ce","parentId",2348647,"title","Public Transportation Council tells lawmakers it has no state appropriation and relies on volunteers","audioSeconds",2935,"startMs",526000,"endMs",3461000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2348647-6419f20614378bbfd4eb094bf341f6ce&start=526&end=3461","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2348647-6419f20614378bbfd4eb094bf341f6ce/thumbnail_526000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6321873/Connecticut/Public-Transportation-Council-tells-lawmakers-it-has-no-state-appropriation-and-relies-on-volunteers","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6321873-6da78cdf88e0404a4cd1338454137946/orig.mp4?Expires=1771209854&Signature=AkXq12T18X5uh7fr9LUHNZ~ecP7AgmLLM2c1JPhS7-~B7YwPiHd-YJquCZc0alP0VHiTTnV6kbNbvdJkUn2ttA7ULuGcvBCFhSI5BwisI96DLGdiefaVaVtXg4ISSNhDbpir5GthVWG40H6zXZyBMUuFnQ~2E1jYO4vkWEHSXTTFh~b7KPimyoDlgtrrLiH9~zG3knTX~AOn~u-QLINhIYpnfQ3i3iYueGxEGZu6Dt75nK3VEN9FXn7gYscagIb7dHzazOhkh6QKgA83D8sWNEZ9LT3Kfp7GARO7PeYJGT-VipM9hR2whOStkMlG7ZG8aQlImQEwaJPe21~9JD6KvQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","CGA - Transportation Committee","date","2025-02-19T00:00:00Z","article","Members of the Connecticut Public Transportation Council told the legislative transportation committee that the council performs statutorily assigned duties but has no state appropriation to support basic operations such as an accessible website, hybrid-meeting equipment and outreach.

The gap matters because the council is statutorily empowered to monitor and advocate for commuter rail systems and public transit funded by the state, yet members said they currently cover administrative costs themselves.

\"We continue to struggle from an administrative perspective,\" council Chair Jim Gilday said. \"I paid for the website for the for the first number of years... We continue to pay, you know, for all administrative fees, website hosting, postage, whatever advertising we do. At times, you know, we struggle.\" Vice chair Kate Rosen added that the council's website is a third-party, volunteer-run site and not hosted on the state platform, which limits public findability and accessibility.

Senator Wong read statutory language on the council's powers and duties — \"Connecticut General Statute section 13 b dash 2 12 c\" — and asked whether the council receives any appropriations. The council answered no. \"To do the tasks that we have statutorily empowered you to do. No, sir,\" the committee chair confirmed after the council's reply.

Council members described modest, concrete needs: state-hosted meeting pages to meet Freedom of Information posting practices and ADA requirements; better hybrid-meeting equipment such as an OWL camera for on-site hybrid participation; and a small annual budget to cover hosting and outreach. Douglas House and other council members suggested training opportunities and a small operating allocation would allow the council to be more professional and reach riders across the state.

Committee members discussed potential paths to provide support. The chair suggested the appropriate vehicle would likely be a bond authorization routed through DOT and finance committees to allocate modest funds for council operations; no final commitment was made. Lawmakers encouraged the council to prepare a concise list of needs and potential annual costs to inform any grant or budget request.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Connecticut Public Transportation Council Informational Forum 2025-02-19","oneSentenceSummary","Council members said they pay for website hosting and meeting costs out of pocket, lack a formal funding mechanism despite statutory duties, and outlined modest equipment and hosting needs lawmakers could address.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature CT, Connecticut","taxId",77677,"location","Connecticut","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6321878,"Public Transportation Council opposes fare hikes, points to surge on Shoreline East",1514,265000,1779000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2348647-6419f20614378bbfd4eb094bf341f6ce&start=265&end=1779","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2348647-6419f20614378bbfd4eb094bf341f6ce/thumbnail_265000.jpg","/articles/6321878/Connecticut/Public-Transportation-Council-opposes-fare-hikes-points-to-surge-on-Shoreline-East","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6321878-edfb65f4eecafa22a7b1ac5a18fa980a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771209854&Signature=Yv0oy2IsphmrjxIzEA9y60oU-CIYrOYqe1H7QU8QN2ACjEwTlrecfXD61FZ-~K4iojS3hEp1A0Wzq92wqfoVMAIZRicrb1WFwKqh72IzT~YxQR6yXw~jLB8Q~QRY8LXB4t8lMT1rpZtXY2JGPDD4g3dUe6fk~4dxKj~djglsGB9Sif5U4Qnrq29Ea9aFL4XoockcWmcahNZt8Dy1e9dIPSSiejLoodxq9TeHkAjTCUJ5M9kRcDMl7cDYZSYN5tdui0m0XL45rBAxUOY~K-kxI-g88fLbYMV~ZCN-CaXYrVJ9OSVqLAHGpKMNMVO0pKejV836g1TzcXB20Waeyc0s5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During an informational meeting with the legislature's transportation committee, Connecticut Public Transportation Council Chair Jim Gilday and vice chair Kate Rosen urged caution on proposed fare increases and asked lawmakers to sustain or expand investments in rail service, citing recent ridership gains on Shoreline East.

The message matters because fare policy affects commuters and workforce mobility across the state, and modest investments in service have coincided with substantial ridership increases on some lines, the council said.

\"There's 2 bills, 5460 and 7 22, which concern public transportation and fares with regards to high school seniors and veterans,\" Jim Gilday said, adding that he had read the governor's budget material mentioning a possible increase in bus fares. \"Raising fares for them, is certainly a slippery slope,\" Gilday said, and he warned that higher fares could impede workforce development.

Gilday also highlighted a small, targeted investment in Shoreline East: the legislature secured an additional $5,000,000 for the line, he said, and shortly afterward the branch recorded large year-over-year increases. He gave the monthly comparisons: September saw a 32 percent increase over the previous year, October 58 percent, November 74 percent and December 53 percent. \"When given a chance with just 4 trains, we're talking about a 74% increase in ridership in November,\" Gilday said.

Vice chair Kate Rosen reiterated concerns about fare equity and the administrative hurdles low-income riders face when applying for reduced fares. Rosen also mentioned House Bill 5,461 in relation to \"reserve seating on public transportation for people with disabilities\" and House Bill 5,061 concerning a study of a commuter rail connection to Bradley Airport.

Committee members acknowledged the ridership data and said the legislature will hold public hearings on related legislation. The committee chair noted the state's prior investments on other branches — for example, a $110 million package for the Waterbury branch and added trains — and said where the state made investments ridership returned to or exceeded pre-pandemic levels.

Lawmakers encouraged the council to submit testimony on pending bills and said they would question the Department of Transportation at upcoming hearings about fare impacts and service-level decisions.

","Council leaders urged lawmakers to reconsider fare increases for riders and highlighted sharp ridership gains on the Shoreline East line after a small service investment.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6321883,"Disability advocates tell committee Connecticut transit needs accessible signage, enforcement for service animals",1821,889000,2710000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2348647-6419f20614378bbfd4eb094bf341f6ce&start=889&end=2710","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2348647-6419f20614378bbfd4eb094bf341f6ce/thumbnail_889000.jpg","/articles/6321883/Connecticut/Disability-advocates-tell-committee-Connecticut-transit-needs-accessible-signage-enforcement-for-service-animals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6321883-338d90505336ad2c1870943281fa5575/orig.mp4?Expires=1771209854&Signature=YOviUMiOFvM5YDyao7835dd4fVRx8rDZW1u6aBRQe8K4PHlGzqlJ9rRZHXOlEEaDb6vw1CCStycmxAQl79xutDY-NDJzVqUL4R-fx7bYli7K9VwW9aCp3pDgGGtn~R36wLsVab1WFeNe5t-toRlAaQxYxa2vMq1j1URgT3~lsgjUrhTouCMx7Lx7CAmBrvE8WffkEfHL0gDV95~~UXVcdoRKRk2A5kobPj37LQ-rd8zJ1NbCeAp8Qg-n9kGzheCutO0yQ7LXZaHhei-JnNT9pq9hdBJYUYBuGghWM1iznFngRLaAbaX1xO87D13moqRBQlYIK5s2XThuKFEIZzjdKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At an informational meeting of the Connecticut Public Transportation Council before the legislature, council members and disability advocates said Connecticut transit systems fall short of legal accessibility requirements and practical needs for riders who are blind or have other disabilities.

The issue matters because, council member Philip McGowank told lawmakers, people with disabilities make up \"approximately 20 percent of the population,\" and many rely on trains, buses and paratransit for medical appointments, work and daily life. Without accessible signage, audible announcements and enforcement of service-animal rules, McGowank said, many riders cannot travel independently or safely.

\"There must be an audible component to that, as well as, for instance, the New Haven Train Station going through the corridor,\" Philip McGowank said, arguing that signage changes must be announced and made available in formats usable by people who cannot see printed text. McGowank described missing tactile mats on platforms and the lack of braille or raised-print signage that would let a blind rider locate a platform edge safely.

McGowank also described repeated denials of rides from transportation network companies (TNCs). \"They'll stop by and argue with us that they don't take dogs and don't take pets,\" he said, adding that drivers sometimes cancel trips after learning a rider has a service dog. He told the committee that such refusals violate company policy, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and state law, but that enforcement is weak: \"It is a class c, I believe, misdemeanor in Connecticut to discriminate this way against a person with a disability, but there's no accountability.\"

Advocates asked lawmakers to press state transportation officials on three fronts: ensure the Department of Transportation and transit operators add accessible, audible information where signage or schedule changes occur; improve sidewalks and accessible pedestrian signals at stops; and clarify how state-appointed advisory councils can host accessible websites and meeting notices. Council vice chair Kate Rosen said the council's current, volunteer-run website is not usable with a screen reader and that many state-appointed councils have state-hosted pages that meet accessibility standards.

Senator Wong and other committee members responded that the concerns raised should be part of upcoming bill hearings and oversight questions for DOT leadership. The committee chair said there are bills likely to address some of these matters at public hearing and that staff will ask DOT and other agencies about compliance and enforcement options.

Committee members and council representatives also exchanged examples of other jurisdictions and resources. McGowank named Boston, San Diego and Houston as places with work on accessibility; Rosen and others pointed to Washington state's ORCA card program as an example of fare policy that can be structured to support youth and low-income riders.

The discussion closed with lawmakers and council members agreeing to incorporate these accessibility questions into public hearings and oversight inquiries and to follow up with DOT staff and agency ADA coordinators.

","Members of the Connecticut Public Transportation Council and disability advocates told the legislature's transportation committee the state's transit system lacks accessible signage, usable websites and enforcement for service animals, and urged action under federal and state accessibility law.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Public Transportation Council tells lawmakers it has no state appropriation and relies on volunteers

Public Transportation Council opposes fare hikes, points to surge on Shoreline East

Disability advocates tell committee Connecticut transit needs accessible signage, enforcement for service animals