The Connecticut Department of Transportation (DOT) held a CTfastrak project construction briefing and tour of the Flatbush Avenue Station and bridge site in West Hartford. It was the first construction tour and update of the CTfastrak bus rapid transit project (BRT), slated for completion in late 2014.

The CTfastrak Flatbush Avenue Station will include a large center island platform where all CTfastrak shuttle buses will stop, an express lane on the dedicated roadway for buses that bypass this station, a local bus stop on New Park Avenue and a limited number of parking spaces and a convenient drop-off location inside the parking area for riders. The new bridge will be realigned approximately 75 feet south of the existing Flatbush Avenue surface roadway to minimize traffic disruption during construction.

This Flatbush bridge segment of the project is being completed for an estimated $17.5 million as part of an overall $130 million contract. At peak construction, about 50 workers will be employed at the Flatbush Avenue bridge site, which is expected to be completed in the summer of 2014.

The bridge work is being paid for with 80% federal highway funds and 20% state funds. The overall project will mean 4,000 construction jobs and 100 permanent jobs.

The 9.4 mile CTfastrak route is being constructed on an abandoned railroad corridor from New Britain to Newington Junction and from Newington Junction to Hartford's Union Station alongside the active Amtrak rail right of way. The segment that includes the Flatbush station and overpass is part of a 5.8 mile stretch that begins near Cedar Street in Newington and runs north to Sigourney Street in Hartford.