Hartford has a relatively well-organized transportation infrastructure, typical for a state capital in Connecticut.

However, like many other small to mid-sized cities in the U.S., living without a car can be challenging. Public transportation exists, but it shouldn't be compared to the levels found in New York or Boston. Let's take a look at the transportation reality in Hartford with actual data.

The center of public transportation is CTtransit. The Hartford division of Connecticut Transit is the largest in the state, operating 43 local routes, 5 flyer (limited stop) routes, and 18 express routes. Services are provided to 27 cities in Hartford County, including Bloomfield, East Hartford, Farmington, Glastonbury, Manchester, Middletown, Newington, New Britain, Wethersfield, and Windsor, all centered around Hartford. Service runs seven days a week. Starting in March 2024, four new routes will be added, expanding connections to a wider area including New Britain, Berlin, Meriden, and Plainville.

Hartford also has a bus rapid transit system called CTfastrak. This dedicated lane BRT connects downtown Hartford and New Britain and is Connecticut's first bus rapid transit system. It offers faster service and better punctuality compared to regular buses, and starting in August 2024, route 125 will be added to connect Hartford, Newington, and the Berlin Turnpike. If commuting downtown is your main goal, you can utilize either CTtransit or CTfastrak, but traveling to suburban areas can be less practical due to longer wait times between buses.

From a road traffic perspective, I-91 and I-84 are the main highways passing through downtown Hartford. I-91 connects New Haven and Springfield in a north-south direction, while I-84 runs east-west towards Boston and New York. Significant congestion occurs on these highways during peak commuting hours, from 7 to 9 AM and 4 to 7 PM. In particular, the Hartford section of I-84 has been under discussion for improvements due to traffic volumes exceeding design capacity for a long time. It is quite common for people working in Hartford to live in suburbs like West Hartford, Glastonbury, or South Windsor and commute by car daily. This is similar to commuting from the outskirts of Seoul in South Korea.

If you prefer a lifestyle that relies heavily on public transportation, living in downtown Hartford is honestly the most advantageous option. In the downtown area, most errands can be handled on foot or by bus. However, if you plan to move to the suburbs, having a personal vehicle is essential. For immigrants, whether or not you have a car can significantly impact your quality of life in the city, and it's advisable to be aware of this and prepare accordingly.