What's Happening in Enfield, CT…

Plans are in the works for a public bus service that would transport Enfield residents to shopping centers, health care facilities and Asnuntuck Community College. Town leaders are keeping their fingers crossed that a yet to be finalized federal grant that would help fund a two-year-pilot program will go through. The federal dollars would be combined with an equal amount of state funds to get the test transit project off the ground.

In the meantime, Enfield is asking for public input to come up with the most desirable bus routes and schedules:

"We really want to be sure we get a route that meets the needs of the community so it's utilized in the best way," explained Social Services Director Pam Brown.

A public hearing is scheduled Wednesday February 15 at 6 p.m. in the city council chambers. Residents may also share their service and schedule preferences by completing an online survey at http://www.enfieldtransitsurvey.info. The deadline to responds is February 13th.

Initial plans call for running two small buses six days a week. Service would be available every 30 minutes for 12 hours Monday through Friday and hourly on Saturdays. No bus service is currently planned for Sundays. Enfield residents often talk about the need for public transportation and the test program would be a perfect opportunity to determine the specific transit needs of the community, explained Mayor Scott Kaupin.

Buses could be rolling by July. Printing companies would stay busy running off bus schedules for local commuters. Community Development Director Peter Bryanton is confident that the two-year program will demonstrate the need for permanent bus service in Enfield.