Improved Routes and Schedules

The Greater Bridgeport Transit Authority will be the operator of the new bus station. With its new digs, a lot of new, exciting things will be happening with GBTA.

The transit system operated by GBTA is almost exactly the same as the one that was operated by private bus companies from the 1920’s until GBTA consolidated the routes into one system in 1979. Things are different today. The places people live and travel to have changed a lot since then. We are taking a good look at our routes and making some improvements to better meet your needs.

GBTA has carefully evaluated its routes over the last few years and compared them to the places where people live and need to go to. Now, we are ready to make the change and update our routes to serve everyone better.

Everyone will have a chance to learn about and comment on these changes through an extensive series of public information sessions and public hearings held this spring. The service improvements will be implemented when the new bus station opens.

 

Route and Schedule Changes

Earlier this summer, a series of public hearings were held to provide input on proposed route and schedule changes prior to relocating to the new Bus Station, located at the corner of Stratford Ave. and Water Street. The proposal was approved in June and what follows is an overview of those changes which will go into effect on September 2, 2007.

All schedules are changing and most service will “pulse” at the new Bus Station at ten minutes before and twenty minutes after the hour. Below is a brief description of the coming route changes. More detailed information, along with complete schedules, will be available at the downtown terminal and on buses on August 28. Internet users may view them now at www.gbtabus.com.

Route 1 - PT Barnum Apartments to City Line – The east portion of Route 1 (Barnum Ave.) will be modified and extended to The Dock Shopping Center. The west portion of Route 1 (PT Barnum Apartments/Black Rock) will be replaced by the New Route 8 (see below). The new Route 1 will serve the University of Bridgeport and Seaside park operating in a loop via Broad, Waldemere and Park.

Coastal Link/Route 2 – No route changes, except modified to serve the new Bus Station. Coastal Link buses heading toward Milford will make a minor route adjustment to better serve Stratford Square. The Route 2 designation will no longer be used – all buses will be designated Coastal Link.

Route 3 - Downtown Bridgeport to Westfield Shoppingtown Trumbull via Madison Ave. – No route changes, except extended to serve the new Bus Station.

Route 4 – Downtown Bridgeport to Westfield Shoppingtown Trumbull via Park Ave. - No route changes, except extended to serve the new Bus Station.

Route 5 – Seaside Park to Hawley Lane Mall via Seaview Ave. - This route will be discontinued. The western portion of the route now serving Iranistan Ave and Atlantic St. will be served by Route 9 (see below). The remaining Bridgeport portion of route would not be replaced due to overlapping with other routes (Route 13/15/17). The Stratford portion of route will be replaced by Stratford flexible service (see below).

Route 6 – Seaside Park and Trumbull Ave. via Noble Ave. - Route 6 will be combined with Route 12 to form a new Route 6 providing 30 minute service all day from the new Bus Station to Westfield Shoppingtown Trumbull via Trumbull Ave. Service on Park Ave. to the University of Bridgeport and Seaside Park is being replaced by a new loop that will operate south on Broad St. (toward Seaside Park) and north on Park Ave. (toward Downtown). This loop will be part of the revised Route 1. Service on Noble Ave., north of Boston Ave. will be discontinued. However, Route 9 will provide more frequent service on East Main St. to serve these neighborhoods. Service on East Main St. (north of Huntington Tpk.) and Old Town Rd. will be discontinued due to low ridership. Service will also be discontinued on Woodrow Ave., and parts of Sylvan Ave. and Chopsey Hill Rd. These stops will be in walking distance of the restructured Route 6 which will provide two-way service (instead of the current one way loop) in this area. The revised Route 6 will also serve the business area along Boston Ave., which currently has no bus service.

Route 7 - Carolton Hospital via Commerce Drive - No route changes, except extended to serve the new Bus Station.

Route 8 - Downtown Bridgeport to Westfield Shoppingtown Trumbull via Main Street - The south portion of the current Route 8, which provides service two-way on Broad St., will be replaced by a “loop” operating south on Broad and north on Park (part of the new Route 1). The new Route 8 will include service from PT Barnum Apartments/Black Rock (currently Route 1) to the new Bus Station continuing on to Westfield Shoppingtown Trumbull via Main Street.

Route 9 – Downtown Bridgeport to Trumbull Center and Monroe via East Main Street. – The new Route 9 will be extended to Hawley Lane Mall and also serve the western portion of the current Route 5 (Atlantic St., Iranistan Ave. and State Street) to the new Bus Station continuing on to Hawley Lane Mall via East Main Street and Huntington Turnpike. Service on Broadbridge Ave. White Planes Rd., Churchill Hill Rd. and Quality St. will be served by new Route 18 (see below). Route 9 express trips will be designated Route 19X and operate as they currently operate.

Route 10 - Downtown Bridgeport to Stratford Square/Lordship – The new Route 10 is a combination of the current Routes 10 and 11. At the Stratford end, the branch to Stratford Square is discontinued and replaced by the new Stratford Flexible Service. At the western end, the existing Route 11 will become part of the new Route 10 and be rerouted from North Ave. to Pequonnock St.., Golden Hill St. and into the new Bus Station. The portion of North Ave. served by the current Route 11 will be served by the new Route 17, a new cross-town service (see below). Service on Wood Ave. will be discontinued with the new Route 10 operating on Maplewood Ave. to Park Ave.

Route 11 - Downtown Bridgeport to Fairfield Woods Road via North Ave. – Combined with Route 10 (see above).

Route 12 - Downtown Bridgeport to Westfield Shoppingtown Trumbull via Trumbull Ave. - Combined with Route 6 (see above). Service will be discontinued on the following streets: Housatonic Ave. (parts served from North Ave. by the revision to Route 17), Capitol Ave. (served from North Ave. by the revision to Route 17), Lindley St. (walking distance to Route 8 on Main St. ) and Summit St. due to low ridership.

Route 13 - Downtown Bridgeport to Success Village via Stratford Ave. - No route changes, except modified to serve the new Bus Station.

Route 14 – Local Trumbull Service – Route 14 service will be split into two routes, 14 and 18. Route 14 will provide two-way service from Westfield Shoppingtown Trumbull to the Monroe McDonalds via Main St., Trumbull. See Route 18 below for service on White Plains Rd.

Route 15 – Downtown Bridgeport to Derby Train Station via Nichols Ave. and Bridgeport Ave. - Route 15 will be rerouted to provide service from the new Bus Station to Hawley Lane Mall via Stratford Ave., Kossuth St., Boston Ave., Main St. in Stratford (Paradise Green) and Huntington Rd. Continuing service to the Derby Train Station will be unchanged.

Route 16 – Downtown Bridgeport to the Dock Shopping Center via Barnum Ave. – Discontinued - portions of the current Route 16 will be served by the new Routes 1 and 15 (see above) and Stratford Flexible Service (see below).

Route 17- Downtown Bridgeport to Success Village via Boston Ave. and Bond St. – Rerouted from East Main St. to provide a cross-town service from Success Village to Downtown Bridgeport via Boston Ave, North Ave., Park Ave. and State St. Service on East Main St. will be provided by the new Routes 9 and 6. Note Route 17 will deviate via Wells and Housatonic to service People to Jobs and DSS. The timetable maps do not show this – this will be corrected in the next printing.

New Route 18 – Westfield Shoppingtown Trumbull to Hawley Lane Mall - This new route will provide service between these two regional malls via Main St., Church Hill Rd., White Plains Rd., Broadbridge and Huntington Turnpike. Note Route 18 will not operate on Unity Rd., but will operate on Broadbridge Rd. instead. The timetable maps do not show this – this will be corrected in the next printing.

New – Stratford Flexible Service – The GBTA will be introducing two new local Stratford routes providing a flexible community bus service known as a “point deviation” service. These buses will operate on a schedule between time points but do not have a regular route. Riders will be able to board the buses at any time point according to a published schedule, and will also be able to make reservations, up to one day in advance, for a pick-up at a location other than the time points.

Additional Information - GBTA realizes these are big changes for a lot of people. We will do everything to keep you, our valued rider, informed. New system timetables will be available at the Downtown Terminal and on buses starting August 28. Internet users may view them now at www.gbtabus.com.

Also, look for the new schedules and maps in a different form. We will no longer be issuing individual timetables. Instead, to help passengers have all the information they need, we are issuing a Riders’ Guide. When you see this book, grab it – it will have all the information about the new routes and schedules inside.