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Transit planner urges board to support extension of microtransit pilot and student reduced‑fare program
Summary
Rich Donovan briefed the board on two state bills: SB 9 would extend a microtransit pilot another year, and SB 237 would fund reduced‑fare passes for students (proposed $3 million) and a separate $1 million allocation for veterans; Donovan encouraged board testimony and direct contact with legislators.
Rich Donovan, director of transportation planning, told the Greater Waterbury Transit District on March 11 that two state bills could affect local transit operations and asked board members to consider submitting testimony.
Donovan described Senate Bill 9 as an extension of the state’s microtransit pilot program for one additional year and said the Valley Transit District pilot has shown growing ridership — including high school students using the service for after‑school trips. “We think that the pilot program in Valley has been very successful,” Donovan said, and an extension would allow additional documentation of outcomes to support a more permanent request to the legislature.
Donovan also reviewed Senate Bill 237, which contains several transit proposals and would, if enacted as discussed at the hearing, create a $3 million grant fund through the Department of Education to enable school districts to buy reduced‑fare passes for students; a separate $1 million bucket is proposed for veterans through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Donovan described reduced fares as a proven way to introduce riders to transit and increase longer‑term ridership.
Donovan asked the board to consider submitting written testimony or contacting state legislators and said the staff would circulate notices and recommended language before the next hearings. Board members responded positively and asked staff to provide instructions for submitting testimony and contacting representatives.
No formal board position was recorded at the meeting; Donovan asked for board member support and offered to circulate hearing dates and testimony guidance.
