After a year of free service, Connecticut bus riders will soon have to start paying again.

Bus fares will return across the state starting April 1, one year after the Connecticut Department of Transportation announced all public transit buses would be fare free.

It was part of Connecticut's Fare-Free Transit Pilot program, to provide financial relief to residents who use the bus as a means of travel.

The initial policy made was only meant to be from April 1, 2022 through June 30, 2022. But after two extensions, the program will officially end March 31 of this year.

"Now is a good time to purchase those weekly or monthly bus passes, skip those lines, avoid that hassle," said Josh Morgan, a spokesperson for the state Department of Transportation.

Fares vary depending on transit providers. Bridgeport and Norwalk's are similar in price.

"There is an all-day fare for $4, there's a 7-day pass it's $17.50 and there's a $70 pass for 31 days," said Doug Holcomb, chief executive officer for Greater Bridgeport Transit.

For information on routes, schedules and fares click here for Norwalk Transit and here for Bridgeport.