Credit: CATHERINE McLAUGHLIN / MonitorThe connector bus was launched in February 2024 by Concord Area Transit (CAT), the transportation arm of Community Action Program for Belknap and Merrimack Counties. “We just fiscally couldn’t justify continuing to run it with those numbers.”Even though the connector was fare-free – like all Concord Area Transit lines – ridership tallies matter. Meanwhile, public transit ridership within Concord continues to steadily climb. During last year’s budget cycle, state officials initially proposed slashing the money the state provides to local transit agencies as matching support for federal dollars. Still, the local transit network relies on municipalities – including Concord – to piece together matching dollars.