Connecticut Coalition Urges Gov. Lamont to Continue Microtransit Funding as Pilot Program Nears Expiration
Why It Matters
Connecticut’s microtransit program faces an uncertain future, with more than 10,000 riders across 15 service zones at risk of losing transportation access if state funding is not secured before the pilot expires. For many of these riders — the majority of whom report having no access to a personal vehicle — the program represents a critical link to employment, medical care, and daily essentials.
The funding debate arrives as Connecticut lawmakers weigh competing budget priorities, and the outcome could set a precedent for how the state approaches subsidized transportation in communities underserved by traditional transit options.
What Happened
A newly formed coalition of transit districts, municipal groups, and transportation advocates is pressing Gov. Ned Lamont and state leaders to support continued funding for Connecticut’s microtransit services. The group sent a formal letter to the governor’s office on April 20 urging action before the two-year pilot program expires at the end of June 2026.
The Connecticut Appropriations Committee has proposed allocating $10.5 million to extend the microtransit program for one additional year. The Transportation Committee had previously put forward a similar proposal through Senate Bill 9 earlier in the spring legislative session, requesting $9 million in state funding for the extension.
The program launched in spring 2024 when Lamont and the Connecticut Department of Transportation awarded $19.5 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to support ride-hailing services across nine transit districts and municipalities. That federal funding has now been fully exhausted.
Notably, Lamont did not include microtransit funding in his initial budget proposal, leaving the program’s continuation dependent on legislative action.
By the Numbers
$10.5 million — Amount proposed by the Appropriations Committee to extend the program one year.
375,000+ — Total rides provided statewide over the past two years, according to Via, one of the contracted service providers.
10,000+ — Riders across 15 microtransit zones who face service elimination without continued funding.
60% — Share of current riders who report having no access to a personal vehicle, per the coalition’s April 20 letter.
$0.85 to $4 — Rider fares for microtransit services, kept low through state subsidies and designed to align with standard public transit pricing.
What They’re Saying
Sen. Christine Cohen, chair of the Transportation Committee, expressed support for the Appropriations Committee’s recommendation. “I am grateful the Appropriations Committee recognized what we heard loud and clear in the Transportation Committee with SB9: overwhelming public support for continuing this service,” Cohen said in public remarks. “I am hopeful the full legislature will act to keep these rides running.”
Cathryn Vaulman, a spokesperson for the Lamont administration, said the governor recognizes the program’s value but stopped short of committing to full funding support. “The administration recognizes the value these services provide to the communities they serve,” Vaulman said. “The governor looks forward to continuing to work with the legislature as they weigh this and other priorities in the budget process.”
Vaulman also noted that Lamont’s existing budget proposals include provisions for free bus service for veterans and reduced-fare transit passes for high school students, signaling the administration’s broader interest in accessible public transportation.
Zoom Out
Microtransit programs — app-based, on-demand ride services operating similarly to Uber or Lyft but at subsidized public transit rates — have expanded across the country in recent years as states look for cost-effective alternatives to fixed-route bus lines in lower-density areas. More than half of Connecticut’s microtransit riders use the service to connect to other forms of public transit, underscoring its role as a mobility bridge rather than a standalone solution.
The expiration of ARPA funding is forcing states nationwide to determine whether programs launched with federal pandemic-era dollars can be sustained through state budgets — a challenge that is testing fiscal priorities across the country. Connecticut’s ongoing debates over government spending and taxation make the microtransit funding decision a particularly visible test of the Lamont administration’s budget commitments.
What’s Next
The full Connecticut legislature must act before the end of June to prevent service eliminations. Lawmakers are currently weighing the Appropriations Committee’s $10.5 million proposal as part of broader budget deliberations. The Lamont administration has signaled openness to working with the legislature but has not committed to a specific funding level. Transportation advocates are expected to continue lobbying for the program’s survival as the legislative deadline approaches.