Connecticut Plan Would Offer Free Transit for Veterans

Lamont Proposal Targets Transportation Barriers for Veterans and Students
Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont announced a new proposal aimed at expanding access to public transportation by offering free bus passes to U.S. military veterans and discounted fares for K-12 students across the state. The plan, unveiled Tuesday, would apply to CTtransit, CTfastrak, and various transit districts throughout Connecticut. The $3.5 million investment is part of the governor’s proposed state budget introduced last week and is now under consideration by the legislature’s Appropriations Committee.

Recognizing Service With Tangible Support
Under the proposal, the state’s approximately 153,000 veterans would receive free bus passes, distributed through the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs. Gov. Lamont framed the initiative as a way to honor military service with meaningful, everyday support. “Our veterans have provided so much to every person in our country, and this is another way we can show how much we appreciate and value their service,” Lamont said. He added that Connecticut’s statewide bus network provides a practical opportunity to remove cost barriers for veterans who rely on public transit for daily needs.

Making School Transportation More Affordable
The proposal would also provide K-12 students with a 50% discount on CTtransit bus fares. State transportation officials say the goal is to ease financial burdens on families while expanding access to educational opportunities and extracurricular activities. “It’s about increasing affordability and increasing access to all that Connecticut has to offer,” said Josh Morgan, a spokesperson for the Connecticut Department of Transportation. “Transportation can be a barrier for certain communities, and we want to remove those barriers.”

Veterans Face Ongoing Transportation Challenges
Leaders at the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs note that transportation remains a significant hurdle for many veterans, particularly in larger cities. Commissioner Ron Welch pointed to limited access to reliable transportation as an ongoing challenge, especially when veterans need to attend medical appointments or get to work. “Many of the veteran population do not have reliable transportation, so it comes back to the basic fundamentals of having transportation to get to a medical appointment, to get to employment,” Welch said. While the department operates a bus and a few vans at its Rocky Hill campus, those resources are limited in meeting the broader statewide need.

Transit Access as a Pathway to Opportunity
Transportation officials emphasized that the proposal is about more than just lowering fares. Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto said reliable transit plays a central role in connecting residents to essential services. “Providing discounted bus fares for students and veterans isn’t just about increasing affordability, it’s about access,” Eucalitto said. “Reliable transportation ensures people can reach essential destinations like health care, jobs and school.” As lawmakers review the proposal, supporters argue that investing in transit access for veterans and students could produce long-term benefits for workforce participation, education, and community engagement across Connecticut.