Free, Expanded Summer Bus Service Will Connect CT Parks & Beaches

CONNECTICUT — A new program offering fare-free shuttles and enhanced existing transit service to various state parks and beaches will begin Saturday.

The ParkConneCT program will run from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.

All buses will operate without collecting fares on Saturdays, Sundays (if operating), Memorial Day, Independence Day (observed July 5), and Labor Day as part of the Weekend Wheels program promotion. The Silver Sands Shuttle, Madison Shuttle, and Clinton Trolley will also be fare-free on weekdays.

The parks included in the ParkConneCT pilot program are Silver Sands State Park, Hammonasset Beach State Park, Sleeping Giant State Park, Bluff Point State Park, and Fort Trumbull State Park.

Service Schedule

Hammonasset Beach State Park (Madison):

New Service

• Hourly Sunday service on the Estuary 641: Old Saybrook/Madison
• Saturday and Sunday service every two hours on the Estuary 645: Madison/Middletown that will now stop at Middle Beach
• Free hourly daily service on the Clinton Trolley that now stops at Middle Beach
• Free 30-minute daily service on the new Madison Shuttle that stops at Middle Beach

Existing Service

• Hourly Monday-Saturday service on the Estuary 641: Old Saybrook/Madison
• Monday-Friday service every two hours on the Estuary 645: Madison/Middletown that will now stop at Middle Beach
• Shore Line East to Madison Train Station connects with the Madison Shuttle

Silver Sands State Park (Milford):

New Service

• Free hourly daily service on the new Silver Sands Shuttle

Existing Service

• Hourly Monday-Friday service on the Milford Route 3
• 30-minute daily Coastal Link service to Milford Train Station
• New Haven Line to Milford Train Station connects to Milford Route 3 and the Silver Sands Shuttle

Bluff Point State Park (Groton):

Existing Service

• Hourly Monday-Saturday service on the SEAT Route 11: Groton Local Service

Fort Trumbull State Park (New London):

Existing Service

• Hourly Monday-Saturday service on the SEAT Route 13: New London to Lawrence, Memorial Hospital and Ocean Beach
• Shore Line East to New London Union Train Station connects with SEAT Route 13
• Thames River Heritage Park River Taxi Harbor Cruise (service begins June 12th)

Sleeping Giant State Park (Hamden):

Existing Service

• Hourly Monday-Sunday service on the New Haven Route 228: Whitney Ave
• Hourly Monday-Sunday service on the New Haven Route 229: New Haven – Waterbury
• Farmington Canal Heritage Trail

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection continues to hire for seasonal positions at beaches, campgrounds, parks, forests and boat launches. Positions are available in customer relations, facilities and grounds maintenance, environmental conservation and education, lifeguarding, office administration and more. Those interested in lifeguard positions should apply by June 1.

ParkConneCT is a collaboration of DEEP and the Connecticut Department of Transportation. The initiative is part of the "Weekend Wheels" program, which offers fare-free summer weekend CTtransit bus service as part of the state’s COVID-19 pandemic recovery.