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92 | DOING BUSINESS IN CONNECTICUT | 2018 2018 | DOING BUSINESS IN CONNECTICUT | 92 or more ahead of schedule, said Redeker, and construction has minimally impacted traffic congestion in that area. Also this year, DOT will fully implement "positive train control," a federally mandated safety initiative to ensure trains can't exceed the speed limit. And the last remaining section of the East Coast Greenway in Connecticut will be completed, making that 35-mile stretch the longest paved section of the entire greenway, which stretches from Florida to Maine. The state also plans to introduce smart cards that can be used to pay fares on all state-operated buses. The cards will reward frequent riders by giving them automatic discounts the more they ride, said Redeker, and will give DOT access to useful data about where and when people are taking buses – all while bringing convenience to riders. "Our strategy is to move into a much higher level of customer amenities," he said. The Connecticut Airport Authority also continues to find ways to enhance customers' experiences, most notably at Bradley International Airport. The airport had a 6-percent increase in passengers in 2017, its fifth straight year of growth, according to Connecticut Airport Authority CEO Kevin Dillon. "We continue to have a good level of success here at Bradley. Business travel and leisure travel are both up," he said. "It's a continued testament to the work that we're putting into route development. That continues to be a primary focus." Officials want to ensure the non-stop Aer Lingus service between Bradley and Dublin, which launched in 2016, remains successful, so are wary of expanding too much too quickly, said Dillon. "It's been very well received, particularly during the spring and summer months," he says of the Aer Lingus service, which connects passengers to 26 major cities throughout Europe. "It's a lot more than just Dublin." But there is still room to expand, he noted, both internationally and domestically. "We're constantly reviewing the market," he said. "What we're working on is getting more point-to-point service, to [help people] avoid going through some of the bigger hubs." On his current wish list: flights to Seattle, Phoenix, Austin, Milwaukee and Jacksonville. Bradley's business continues to be an even mix of business travel and leisure travel, Dillon said. "That's rather unusual for a regional airport," he said. "We feel very good about that mix here. It is business travel that typically sustains a lot of these routes." On the ground, the airport has various physical improvements under way, including redoing the entrance roadway and traffic flow to accommodate the construction of a new transportation center. There also is ongoing work to bring new concessions and amenities, such as valet parking, Dillon said. The authority is constantly working to let people who live within a 90-minute radius of Bradley know that the airport can be an easier alternative to New York or Boston airports. To that end, officials know they have to ensure arriving at and departing from Bradley is as seamless an experience as possible. "We know what we're selling here at Bradley is convenience," said Dillon. Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks has been the focus of ongoing upgrades. TRANSPORTATION [Photo courtesy of Connecticut Airport Authority]