Routes were previously identified with letters. Many routes consisted of two portions, connected through downtown. In later years some route letters were followed by numbers to identify route branches, these numbers are not listed. Little information is available on when new bus routes were created, except that the presence of a route letter in the 1968 column indicates a route formed before 1968.
Because of the dense population in Connecticut, some routes historically were more like "interurban trolley" lines. Interurban railway routes generally did not have letters. In the bus era, surviving interurban routes were assigned letters. The Connecticut Railway & Lighting Co. (CR&L) was leased by the Connecticut Co. from 1905 to 1936. In 1936, after the Connecticut Co. was failing to make its lease payments to Connecticut Railway & Lighting Co., the courts allowed Connecticut Railway & Lighting Co. to repossess the leased lines. And several interurban bus routes became jointly operated, with companies alternating with runs. Some interurban bus service was discontinued after Connecticut Railway & Lighting Co. ceased operations in 1972. But most such service was eventually restored.
Not listed are certain recently created express and shuttle bus routes.
Route Route Bus Letter Streetcar Streetcars
Number Name Before 1968 After Route Letter Discontinued
Canner Street A 7/10/48
201 Madison (DATTCO) S New Bus
204 East Haven F F H 3/ 8/47
204 Branford F F F 3/ 7/47
206 East Chapel Street G G Y 11/15/47
206 Lighthouse Park G G G 11/15/47
212 Grand Avenue D D 7/18/38
213 North Branford L New Bus
215 New Haven-Wallingford-Meriden C C 3/ 1/37 Interurban
223 Lombard (State Street) Q Q M 7/17/48
224 State Street M M M 7/17/48
228 Whitney Avenue J J Z 11/15/47
229 New Haven-Waterbury W J 12/ 6/36 Interurban (CR&L)
234 Winchester Avenue O O O 7/17/48
237 Shelton Avenue G G E 7/17/48
238 Dixwell Avenue D D D 9/25/48
241 Goffe Street Z Z New Bus
243 Whalley Avenue B B B 11/15/47
246 Edgewood Avenue Q Q Q 10/28/36
254 West Chapel Street F F E 11/22/47
255 Ansonia-Seymour (Derby) N F 6/19/37 Interurban (CR&L)
261 Boston Post/Milford (Sylvan) O O 11/27/37 Interurban (CR&L)
265 Congress Avenue B B D 9/25/48
265 Second Avenue B B R 11/15/47
268 Washington Avenue M M O 11/15/47
271 Kimberly Avenue J J J 7/17/48
271 New Haven-Milford U J 11/27/37
272 Union New Bus
274 Sargent Drive Z Z New Bus
274 City Point Z Z B 11/15/47
278 Connector Downtown Loop New Bus
The remnants of the Canner Street route was discontinued some time after 1968.Route 201, previously S, is a recently created route operated under contract by DATTCO.
The interurban route beyond Wallingford, historically was part of the Meriden Division. With streetcars replaced with buses 9/22/29.
Route to Waterbury historically included operation over Waterbury Division from Cheshire to Waterbury, leased from Connecticut Railway & Lighting Co. (CR&L) from 1905 to 1936. With streetcars replaced with buses 8/ 5/34.
Route to Ansonia and Seymour historically included operation over Derby Division from Yale Bowl beyond Derby to Naugatuck, leased from Connecticut Railway & Lighting Co. (CR&L) from 1905 to 1936.
Route via Boston Post to Milford historically included operation over Bridgeport Division beyond Milford to Bridgeport, leased from Connecticut Railway & Lighting Co. (CR&L) from 1905 to 1936. With streetcars replaced with buses 8/ 5/34.