Malloy Looks to Complete Route 11

The New London Day's new political reporter, Matthew Collette, who succeeds Ted Mann, reports that the Route 11 project appears to be moving toward the Malloy administration’s front burner.

As a general principle, advocates for sustainability take the position that spending our exceedingly limited funds on building new roads is exactly the wrong route to a sustainable, competitive green economy. Governor Malloy has tended to subscribe to this notion.

In the business world, we talk about "making the business case" for doing project x, y or z. As a parallel, what's the sustainability business case for proceeding with expanding Route 11?  Are decision makers using a common set of criteria to make go/no-go decisions on transportation projects? If so, what are they?

What do you think?  What's the sustainability business case for expanding Route 11?

Here are some criteria by which we might evaluate projects going forward.  Will the project:

• Resolve safety problems?
• Create viable alternatives to driving?
• Reduce VMT (vehicle miles traveled)?
• Reduce greenhouse gas pollution?
• Discourage sprawl?
• Avoid runoff pollution?
• Induce transit-oriented development?
• Create long-term good, green jobs?
• Reduce congestion? 
• Create some other quantifiable benefit that exceeds that cost?

Our partner, Transportation for America has a good set of similar performance objectives here.  The site at http://www.nycroads.com/roads/CT-11/ makes for interesting reading, discussing the Route 11 Greenway concept that was funded in 2003.

What do you think?  What's the sustainability business case for expanding Route 11?  Let’s hear it.

New Haven – Hartford – Springfield rail line gets regional support. “A win-win-win for the economy, the environment, and jobs”

By Kirsten Griebel

January 28, 2011, 10:00 AM, Union Station, Hartford, CT

Four members of CT’s congressional delegation, Congressman Larson, Courtney, Murphy and Congresswoman DeLauro, CT Governor Malloy, and Senator Blumenthal held a joint meeting with PA Congressman Bill Shuster, and MA Congressman John Olver and DOT reps from MA and VT, to champion the development of the Northeast Rail Corridor and specifically the New Haven – Hartford – Springfield rail line.  This rail line presents a unique opportunity for CT, one that unites a number of different stakeholders, political, business and environmental, in support of a major transportation project, that will benefit the environment and the economy while simultaneously create jobs.

Congressman Shuster, Chair, Sub-Committee on Rail, US House of Representatives Transportation Committee, said the investment in rail is critical to the nation and in particular to the NE corridor. The NE has the population and the congestion, both on roads and in air.  70% of delayed flights nationally originate in the NE airports causing a negative ripple effect on the rest of the nation. Shuster noted that President Obama said in his recent State of the Union address that his goal is to get rail to 80% of the nation. Today, Shuster said we could get rail to 20% of the country by developing the NE corridor rail line. He also said that FLA Congressman John Mica, Chair of the Transportation Committee is “fully committed” to the NE corridor.  And he said President Obama indicated he wants “robust rail” included in the Highway Re-Authorization Bill which will be coming in late spring.

Governor Malloy said his top two goals were to reduce energy rates in CT and to improve the ability to move people and freight efficiently through the state.  He said “to compete with emerging economies” transportation is the “most strategic investment we can make” and he pledged to work hard to secure federal monies to make the New Haven- Hartford-Springfield rail line a reality. He also stressed the importance of connecting CT to NY, MA and VT saying he will work with the Governors of those states on regional transportation  initiatives.

Governor Malloy stated clearly that CT needs to stop borrowing to pay for operating expenses but that it is appropriate to borrow for infrastructure such as transportation projects and to leverage federal investments.  He will be more specific about how to pay for these investments in his upcoming “economic blueprint” - his budget proposal on Feb. 16.

Congresswoman DeLauro said high speed rail is desperately needed in the NE corridor and the NH-H-S line is the “top priority” of the CT delegation.  She stressed that high speed rail is an economic driver and is one of the best job creators.  Rail projects as a job creator was consistently echoed by all speakers. 

Congressman Courtney spoke of the challenges of CT’s 100 y.o. draw bridges as an impediment to high speed rail.  CT received ARRA  federal monies to repair the Niantic River draw bridge which will not only improve rail service but also create construction jobs.

Congressman Murphy focused on the opportunity for transit oriented development, citing the Meriden rail station and surrounding area as a good example of TOD just waiting to happen once the rail line is complete.  He went on to say that the rail branch lines to Danbury and Waterbury, have been underfunded and underutilized as the state has had to direct rail funding to the main rail lines.  With federal funding of the main rail lines, CT may be in a position to re-direct funds to develop the branch lines and help move people out of cars and on to rail.

Speaker of the House, Chris Donovan, said that the NH-H-S rail line is “an opportunity to preserve the rural areas in CT while revitalizing our urban areas”.

Senator Blumenthal summed it up saying rail projects are a win-win for the economy, the environment and job creation and that he will fight for federal transportation funding for CT.

For reports and agenda presented at today’s joint meeting go to:

• http://conservationeducation.org/Documents/Vision_for_the_New_England_High_Speed_Intercity_Rail_Network.pdf
• http://conservationeducation.org/Documents/NHHS_Rail_2011-01-28.pdf 
• http://conservationeducation.org/Documents/Roundtable_Agenda_2011-01-28.pdf

Is Connecticut ready for tolls?

There is no question that Connecticut needs to find new revenue streams for the transportation budget when the annual cost just to maintain our roads and bridges is about $485 million and it is estimated that there is a total of almost $3 billion in infrastructure needs. 

Installing tolls in Connecticut has to be considered.  But today’s tolls are very different from the ones taken down in the mid 1980’s.  They are electronic and don’t require motorists to slow down or stop, to pay.  One caveat, toll revenue must be directed entirely to the transportation budget and the priorities for ConnDOT must be on “fix it first” to repair/maintain and not expansion of our roads/bridges and improving our public transit options. Co-chair of the transportation committee, Representative Tony Guerrera D-Rocky Hill will be introducing legislation to kick off the debate about tolls in CT.

Read Rep. Guerrera’s comments in today’s Hartford courant article about tolls:http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-highway-tolls-0119-20110118,0,5638342.story

Green Fund Bill Goes to Planning and Development Committee

– By David Bingham, CTLCV Co-Chair (dbbingham@sbcglobal.net)

Senator Meyer has filed Proposed SB 46 which embodies the essence of previous “green fund” bills. The bill now goes to the Planning and Development Committee for consideration.

Details on the Local Option Community Conservation Fund Proposal

The Problem: Conservation suffers when funded only by local property taxes. Cities and towns need alternative revenue to leverage funding for smart growth, clean air and water projects, and energy conservation.

The Solution: The Local Option Community Conservation Fund is enabling legislation that allows municipalities to levy up to a 1.5% conveyance fee on purchasers of real estate to provide dedicated funding for conservation projects specified in the legislation (see below).

This year, "green jobs" will be a legislative priority for many legislators, and this proposal is among those with the greatest potential for funding green jobs and smart growth throughout the state, for local conservation initiatives with regional benefits such as:

• Brownfield planning and reclamation
• Storm sewer infrastructure
• Energy efficiency (weatherization of municipal buildings, "green building" retrofits, etc)
• Alternative energy infrastructure (solar, geothermal, etc.)
• Alternative transportation infrastructure (trails, bikeways, bus terminals, rail, etc.)
• Diesel retrofits/natural gas conversion
• Historic restoration
• Open space and farmland preservation
• To minimize the effect on buyers of affordable housing, the fee would be waived on the first $150,000 of real estate value. Note that buyers currently are purchasing real estate at a 20-30% discount from historic highs.

Desired Outcome: $100-$300 million of new funding yearly for smart growth projects throughout the State (depending on the number of communities that adopt this funding tool), leveraging additional matching grants from private and public sources (local, state and federal).

Fiscal Impact to the State Budget: This proposal requires no fiscal note.

Supporters: Support comes from municipalities, planning agencies and the environmental community. Opposition has come from builders and realtors in Connecticut, but not in other states where this tool for local conservation funding has been very popular. Real estate values in sustainable communities in New York, Rhode Island and Massachusetts, for example, have increased.

What You Can Do: There are two things you can do to support this bill.

1. Please ask your legislators to cosponsor the bill. Conservation of water, air, land, and energy begins at home. This bill can make it happen on the local municipal scale!

2. If your group would like to support this bill, please contact David Bingham, Co-Chair
CT League of Conservation Voters, directly at dbbingham@sbcglobal.net.

Joan McDonald Named By Governor Andrew Cuomo As Next State Transportation Commissioner In New York State

Now there’s some news.

Many would not have been surprised if McDonald stayed on board as Commissioner of Community & Economic Development.  Now her chair position on CT Innovations opens up too.

The Courant’s Chris Keating reports at http://blogs.courant.com/capitol_watch/2011/01/joan-mcdonald-named-by-governo.html.

Tri-State has some good stuff here, possibly reporting it first at  http://blog.tstc.org/2011/01/14/joan-mcdonald-is-nominee-to-head-ny-state-dot/

Further details at http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20110114/FREE/110119899.

Stalled: Fed Funding for Transit & Highway Projects

The Highway Trust Fund, which provides about $41 billion annually to the states for transit and highway projects each year, has been without a funding plan for more than 15 months, and now House Republicans want to appropriate funding for it on an annual basis.

Through legislation, Congress has historically allocated money to the fund for a period of years, instead of through an annual appropriations process, because transportation projects are long term endeavors that need stable, predictable funding.

Senator Chris Dodd championed a National Infrastructure Bank concept that would have created a pool of public and private funds for critical, high priority transportation projects.  But with Dodd out of office, new, persuasive champions need to be recruited for that initiative to go anywhere. Massachusetts Senator John Kerry seems to be stepping up to the plate, with his call for the US to keep pace with the rest of the world or get left behind. 

Meanwhile, until we get our House in order, the public’s call to create jobs, shore up our infrastructure and build transit systems that get us out of our cars goes ignored.

Read more at:

• Governing 
• Tri-State Transportation Campaign
• CT Mirror

Hope for Energy Conservation Funds?

Jessie Stratton, a Director of the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters and an advisor on Governor Malloy’s transition team, is quoted in the January 11 CT News Junkie article, Finance Committee May Restore Conservation Funds.

CT News Junkie reporter Christine Stuart writes, “Environmentalists and small businesses are hopeful that since the state doesn’t have to borrow as much money as it initially expected when it passed the budget last year that it will restore some of the $28.5 million it planned on taking annually from the Energy Conservation and Load Management Fund.”

Jessie Stratton of Environment Northeast estimates that taking a portion of the Energy Conservation and Load Management Fund to pay off the debt will cost the state 1,120 jobs a year. She said restoring the money for the fund will help maintain jobs in the state.

The 2010 legislation that raided the energy conservation fund was roundly viewed as bad for Connecticut’s green jobs sector, bad for consumers who want to save money by making their homes and businesses more energy-efficient, and bad for the environment by adding to greenhouse gas pollution.

Bingham and Bernhard Team Up to Lead CTLCV

Hartford, CT (January 10, 2011)—The Connecticut League of Conservation Voters (CTLCV), the state’s bipartisan environmental advocacy group, welcomes David Bingham, a Democrat, and G. Kenneth Bernhard, a Republican, as co-chairs of the CTLCV board of directors for 2011.

As the political arm of Connecticut’s environmental organizations, CTLCV reaches out to both sides of the political aisle to educate Connecticut legislators and other public officials on matters of environmental significance.  “Clean air and clean water are essential to people of all political persuasions; nothing about the environment should be a partisan issue,” notes Bingham.

Ken Bernhard agrees and adds further, “As a Republican, I also believe that the environment can’t get short shrift at the expense of the economy.  A healthy, sustainable environment is part and parcel of the quality of life that keeps people, businesses and jobs here.  Connecticut’s environment is an asset.  We need to be shrewd about preserving it.”

Bernhard, an attorney, is a principal in the Westport Office of Cohen and Wolf where he practices municipal, business, real estate and family law.  From 1997-2005, he was Westport's State Representative and served as an Assistant Minority Leader. Bernhard previously served as Westport 's Third Selectman from 1987 to 1989 and was elected to the Westport Zoning Board of Appeals in 1989.

Bernhard is also active with animal protection organizations.  In 2010 he traveled to Africa where he teamed up with the Kenyan Wildlife Service in a sting operation against illegal ivory dealers.  Bernhard has traveled to Senegal and Ethiopia to participate in anti-poaching patrols and to protect national parks.

David Bingham, a retired physician from Salem and self-styled “amateur naturalist,” continues as co-chair, a role that he has shared with Goshen resident Martha Phillips since 2009.  An elected member of the Salem Planning and Zoning Commission, Bingham has been active with the Audubon Society, the national League of Conservation Voters and The Nature Conservancy.  He serves on the Boards of Rivers Alliance, the CT Land Conservation Coalition, the Salem Land Trust and the Sierra Club’s CT Chapter.

Bingham ran for Congress in 1994 to emphasize fiscal and social responsibility for a sound environment.  His grandfather, Hiram Bingham, was Governor and US Senator.  Bingham is an enthusiastic proponent of legislation that would let cities and towns set up their own funds for environmental projects within their own borders.

Partisanship Out, Partnership In (and GAAP too) with Malloy Inauguration

- Kelly Kennedy

With his inauguration today as Connecticut’s 88th governor, Dannel P. Malloy issued a call for partnership across party lines to put Connecticut’s fiscal house in order and get back on the path to prosperity.

CTLCV staff was among the crowds at the inauguration, held at the State Armory, and at the state capitol for a joint session of the new State Senate and House of Representatives. 

Before addressing the legislature, Malloy followed through on one of his biggest campaign promises:  to sign an executive order calling for the State of Connecticut to adopt Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.  Currently, Connecticut’s budget uses a modified cash basis, according to the Executive Order.

The Executive Order requires the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management to begin to implement GAAP in the budget documents for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2013.

For the full text of Executive Order No. 1, see CT News Junkie at www.ctnewsjunkie.com/upload/EO_1_-_GAAP.PDF.

Paul Newman's Philanthropic Efforts Hit $300 Million Milestone

Happy New Year! 

While we are still in the season of giving and as a recipient of some of the Newman's Own Foundation's generosity, we want to pass along this short video feature that ran on PBS NewsHour. The video was produced by West Hartford's Jennifer Boyd, and narrated by John Dankosky of WNPR’s indispensible Where We Live.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/social_issues/july-dec10/newman_12-30.html