The Windham Region Transit District (WRTD) bus facility in Mansfield is set to be modernized and expanded thanks to a $35.7 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration, the state recently announced. The award is part of a competitive program that gives money to agencies for buses and bus facility improvements.
“This infrastructure investment will significantly enhance the public transportation WRTD serves across eastern Connecticut,” Corrie Washington, executive director of the WRTD, said in a press statement. “I’m excited for what this project means for our employees, passengers, and our region.”
The grant was awarded to the Connecticut Department of Transportation, which administers local bus operators in the state.
WRTD provides local bus service in Willimantic and Mansfield with regional connections to the Quiet Corner and Norwich areas, and also operates the on-campus “Husky Go” shuttle system for the University of Connecticut.
The funding will be used to expand the agency’s current complex, located on South Frontage Road in Mansfield near the Route 6 and 195 junction. The upgraded facility will include a bus wash, 25 new electric bus chargers, improved administrative space and indoor storage space — with enough new capacity to support a fleet of 50 electric buses, the announcement said.
“The new facility will increase storage and charging capacity. It will also allow us to operate more efficiently, strengthen regional mobility, and provide cleaner, quieter, and more reliable transportation for the communities we serve,” Washington said.
The Connecticut Department of Transportation is matching the federal grant with $13.3 million in state funding to help complete the $49 million initiative. The upgrades are just one component of the state’s “Battery Electric Bus Commitment,” which aims to electrify Connecticut’s vehicle fleets by 2030.
“By modernizing this facility, we’re not only reducing emissions and improving service, but also creating jobs and expanding access to opportunity in eastern Connecticut. This is exactly the kind of forward-thinking infrastructure our state needs,” Gov. Ned Lamont said.
The WRTD facility modernization proposal was the only project in Connecticut as part of the Federal Transit Administration’s competitive grant program, which saw over $2 billion collectively awarded to 165 projects nationally. The program is designed to help local transportation agencies reinforce low- and zero-emission technologies.
“This project reflects CTDOT’s commitment to a cleaner, more efficient transit future,” State Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto said in the announcement. “We’re proud to work with our transit partners to deliver a facility that meets the needs of our communities today and into the future.”
Earlier this year, WRTD added two electric buses to its UConn fleet as part of a statewide initiative to transition to a zero-emission transportation model. Those vehicles were purchased as part of a Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection grant program, with an additional order for hybrid-electric buses.
“This is a smart investment in climate friendly transportation that will reduce emissions and help prevent air pollution,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal said. “I am thrilled that DOT funded this critical project and will keep fighting for strong federal support to improve Connecticut’s infrastructure.”
WRTD is one of the only local transit districts in eastern Connecticut, with nearly 90 employees and serving 23 towns offering nine fixed routes, with ADA paratransit and dial-a-ride services.
According to the DOT, more than 50% of residents in WRTD’s service area also indicated they have “one vehicle or no access to a vehicle.”
“So many people in eastern Connecticut, particularly college students and rural seniors, don’t have reliable access to transportation, which can make it impossible for them to consistently get to work, medical appointments, or class,” Sen. Chris Murphy said. “But with these federal dollars, we are going to majorly upgrade and expand the UConn and WRTD transit networks to make it much easier for eastern Connecticut residents to get where they need to be – and we’re going to create a lot of good paying jobs in the process.”
According to the DOT, WRTD provided more than 1.1 million passenger trips in 2024.