SB 281 — AN ACT CONCERNING PROPOSED FARE AND SERVICE CHANGES TO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

Senate General Assembly RaisedFile Bill No.

281212 February Session, 2024 LCOSubstitute Senate Bill No.

1981281 ReferredSenate, toApril 3, 2024 The Committee on TRANSPORTATIONTransportation Introducedreported by:through SEN.

(TRA)COHEN ANof ACTthe CONCERNING12th SERVICEDist., CHANGESChairperson TOof PUBLICthe TRANSPORTATION.Committee on the part of the Senate, that the substitute bill ought to pass.

AN ACT CONCERNING PROPOSED FARE AND SERVICE CHANGES TO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

(a) The Department of Transportation shall provide for changes in fares and the level of service for mass transportation by land in accordance with the provisions of this section and shall not be required to conform to the procedures in chapter 54.

(b) Prior to adopting any change in fares or the level in service for mass transportation by land, the department shall (1) give notice of (A) the proposed fare change, [its]its the amount of the proposed fare and the date it is proposed to take effect,effect and (B) the proposed service change, a description of such change and the date it is proposed to take effect, by advertising, at least once, in one or more newspapers having general circulation in all areas of the state that may be affected by such farechange orin servicefares, changeand [in(2) fares]in andsuch bynotice, postingprovide information on the Internettime weband siteplace ofa thepublic LCOhearing No.is to be held on such proposed change.

1981Such 1notice ofshall 2be Raised[posted] BillsSB281 / File No.

281212 department,1 andsSB281 (2)File inNo. such notice and such post, provide information on the time and place a public hearing is to be held on any such proposed fare or service change.

Such212 notice shall be [posted] provided at least fifteen days prior to such public hearing.

The department shall, at least fifteen days prior to such public hearing, send a copy of such notice to the chairpersons and ranking members of the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to transportation and [to] finance,finance revenue and bonding.to the Connecticut Public Transportation Council, established under section 13b-212b.

A public hearing on the proposed fare or service change shall be held at such time and place as will be convenient for public attendance,attendance. provided in the case of a proposed change in the level of service for a rail line, a public hearing shall be held in the municipality with an intermediate transit station that serves a significant percentage of the line's ridership.

(c) When the department is required to hold a public hearing regarding a proposed major service change to commuter rail service in accordance with the Federal Transit Administration Title VI Circular 4702.1B, as amended from time to time, the department shall, at least fifteen days prior to such public hearing, provide notice of such public hearing to the chairpersons and ranking members of the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to transportation and finance and to the Connecticut Public Transportation Council.

Section 1 July 1, 2024 13b-38h StatementTRA ofJoint Purpose:Favorable Subst.

TosSB281 require/ aFile publicNo. hearing regarding a proposed service change to a rail line in a town with an intermediate transit station that serves a significant percentage of the line's ridership.

[Proposed212 deletions2 aresSB281 enclosedFile inNo. brackets.

Proposed212 additionsThe arefollowing indicatedFiscal byImpact underline,Statement exceptand underlined.]eBill entireAnalysis textare prepared for the benefit of athe billmembers orof resolutionthe orGeneral aAssembly, sectionsolely offor apurposes billof orinformation, resolutionsummarization isand new,explanation itand isdo not LCOrepresent No.the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose.

1981In 2general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of 2informational sources, including the analyst’s professional knowledge.

Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.

OFA Fiscal Note State Impact:

None Municipal Impact:

None Explanation The bill expands the notice requirements that the Department of Transportation must follow prior to holding certain public hearings regarding fare or major service changes.

It does not have a fiscal impact because it can be accomplished through existing resources.

The Out Years State Impact:

None Municipal Impact:

None sSB281 / File No.

212 3 sSB281 File No.

212 OLR Bill Analysis sSB 281 AN ACT CONCERNING PROPOSED FARE AND SERVICE CHANGES TO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

SUMMARY This billrequirestheDepartment ofTransportation(DOT),whenever it must hold a public hearing on a proposed major service change to commuter rail service according to federal requirements (see BACKGROUND), to provide notice of the hearing to the (1) chairpersons and ranking members of the Transportation and Finance, Revenue and Bonding committees and (2) Connecticut Public TransportationCouncil (see BACKGROUND).

The department must do so at least 15 days before the hearing.

Existing law requires DOT to provide notice of public hearings related to fare changes for mass transportation by land to these legislative committee leaders.The bill additionally requiresit to provide this notice (1) at least 15 days before a hearing and (2) to the Connecticut Public Transportation Council.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

July 1, 2024 BACKGROUND Connecticut Public Transportation Council By law, the 15-member Connecticut Public Transportation Council is charged with studying and investigating all aspects of the daily operation of commuter railroad systems and state-funded public transit services (e.g., bus transit), monitoring their performance, and recommending changes to improve their efficiency, equity, and quality.

The council serves as an advocate for customers of all commuter railroad systems and state-funded public transit services (CGS §§ 13b- sSB281 / File No.

212 4 sSB281 File No.

212 212b & -212c).

Major Service Changes to Commuter Rail Service Pursuant to federal requirements, DOT generally conducts a Service and Fare Equity (SAFE) analysis any time fare changes or major service changes are proposed to ensure that the changes do not unfairly impact minority and low-income populations (Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Federal Transit Administration Circular 4702.1B).

According to DOT’s Public Involvement Procedures, it conducts comprehensive community outreach to give the public opportunities to provide input and alternatives or request clarification;

this may include a combination of public hearings and community-based organization meetings.

COMMITTEE ACTION Transportation Committee Joint Favorable Substitute Yea 36 Nay 0 (03/18/2024) sSB281 / File No.