Complaining about your commute is a sort of badge of honor for most of us in Connecticut. To be honest, if you compare our traffic to what people face in major East Coast cities or over on the West Coast, it’s really not so bad. And let’s face it: There are a lot of benefits to living in Connecticut.

Of course, that doesn't mean we don't deal with it. For many of us dealing with the daily commute is a fact of life. So here are a few tips that can help you conquer that CT commute.

• Better Together: This isn’t exactly a new idea, but carpooling can be a great way to reduce stress and costs. Even if you only share the ride with one other person you can cut the cost of your commute by half. On top of that, you can reduce the amount of wear and tear on your car. Add another rider to your "club" and you're down to one-third to the cost and stress. There is even a free online ride-matching program that shows you who else may be taking the same route—including the potential of co-workers right in your area! For additional information, check out nuride.com/CTrides.

• Leave Your Vehicle at Home: You don’t have to use your own car to get to work and back. Taking a VanPool is an idea that’s really caught on. Essentially that’s when a somewhat larger group of people (between seven and 15) combines their commute in a mini-van or passenger van. The group splits the monthly cost (that includes van rental, insurance, maintenance, and fuel) and gets the added benefit of roadside assistance, and even an emergency ride home. You can find more information at com.

• Get On the Bus, Gus: Bus services in Connecticut include a variety of local and express routes throughout most major metropolitan areas, plus regional and inter-regional services between different areas of the state. One big advantage to taking the bus is that you don't have to worry about finding a parking spot (or paying for it) when you arrive. Click here to find buses in your specific area.

• Forget the Pain and Take the Train: Here’s good news for people living in the Wallingford area! According to the New Haven, Register commuter rail service is expected to begin in January of 2018. There will soon be commuter rail service between New Haven, Connecticut, and Springfield, Massachusetts. This will impact other areas as well. The number of daily round-trip trains between New Haven and Hartford will increase from six per day to 17. In addition, 12 will provide continuing service to Springfield. The southbound elevated platform for the new station is located near the intersection of North Cherry and Parker streets, and the northbound platform is located on the other side of the tracks.

No one says you can’t drive your own car to work. And if that works best for you, that’s great. But if you’re growing weary of the daily commute, you can try one of the suggestions above to conquer that CT commute!