Connecticut’s Bridges: Are Yours Safe?

If being stuck in traffic atop a bridge has ever made you shudder, Transportation for America’s new report on the condition of our nation’s bridges assures that your fears are not necessarily exaggerated.

The Fix We’re In: The State of Our Nation’s Bridges is one report you’re going to want to look at.  And you might want to plot a detour for your daily commute after entering your address at http://t4america.org/resources/bridges/ to see which bridges near you are structurally deficient. (Scroll down below for maps of structurally deficient bridges in the Hartford and Stamford areas.  Quick tip:  red bridge = bad.) 

“The Fix We’re In” finds that  69,223 bridges – representing more than 11 percent of all U.S. highway bridges – are classified as “structurally deficient,” requiring significant maintenance, rehabilitation or replacement.  The report also features an interactive online map allowing readers to see all the bridges, including structurally deficient bridges, within a ten-mile radius of any US address that is entered. Structurally deficient bridges appear as red icons. Clicking on any bridge provides more details on it, including its safety rating.

4.5 Million Trips Per Day Made Across Connecticut’s Deficient Bridges
Pennsylvania ranked first as the state with the greatest percentage of structurally deficient bridges, and Nevada ranked last as the state with the lowest such percentage. California, however, ranks first as the state with the most daily traffic traveling over structurally deficient bridges, at a total of 82.6 million trips per day.

While Connecticut’s 32nd place rank in the bad bridges category is not bad compared to other states, that’s not saying much.  As of 2010, 9.2% (383) of Connecticut’s 4,182 highway bridges were structurally deficient. Relatively speaking that may not seem so bad, except that those structurally deficient bridges carry a total of almost 4.5 million vehicles every day – one of which might be yours.

Investments in Bridge Upkeep
Connecticut’s record for investing its federal transportation funds on bridge upkeep is also not bad in comparison to other states’ records.  In 2008, all states spent $8.1 billion of federal funds
on repair and rehabilitation of bridges, or about 13 percent of total funds. In 2008, Connecticut
spent $111 million, or 21.0 percent of total federal funds, on bridge upkeep. 

Sealing the Case for “Fix it First”

“Fix it First” is an approach that invests in infrastructure repair and preventive maintenance before building new roads or expanding existing roads.  The theory is that if you can’t afford to fix what you have, you have no business building more of what you can’t maintain.

Moreover, most bridges are designed to last for 50 years.  According to the Transportation for America report, 1775 of Connecticut’s 4182 bridges are more than 50 years old, with the average age of  Connecticut’s bridges at 47.2 years. 

Connecticut’s rank among other states notwithstanding, the vast numbers of people traveling over the state’s deficient bridges every day combined with the number of its bridges nearing the end of their 50-year lifespan, make an indisputable case for adopting a much more robust “Fix it First” approach to managing the state’s infrastructure. 

Tell your US Senators and Congressmen and women, and tell your state legislators that after decades of deferring maintenance on our bridges, it’s time to pay the piper:  safe bridges are essential.

Two Examples:  Structurally Deficient Bridges in Stamford and Hartford Areas

Fairfield County is home to the greatest percentage of Connecticut’s structurally deficient bridges, a fact that is explained—and compounded—by high traffic volume, with nearly 1.4 million vehicles traveling over structurally deficient bridges each day. 

Structurally Deficient Bridge Locations in Stamford Area

Structurally Deficient Bridge Locations in Greater Hartford

For more information, see:

• U.S. states, ranked by percentage of deficient bridges (scroll to lower portion of page)
• Download the National Report
• Download the Connecticut report
• Connecticut bridge data page

Creating the Climate for Green Jobs

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If you missed the Connecticut Mirror’s March 16 forum on Creating the Climate for Green Jobs, you can tune in here.   The program featured:

• Kevin Walsh, GE Renewable Finance
• Elizabeth Karter, Connecticut Venture Group
• Catherine Smith, CEO of ING US Retirement Services and Commissioner-Designate for Economic & Community Development
• Elliot Ginsberg, CT Center for Advanced Technology
• Michael Meotti, Commissioner of Higher Education
• Bryan Garcia, Yale Center for Business & the Environment , and
• Daniel Esty, Commissioner of Environmental Protection

Stewart Hudson, President of the Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation, moderated.

Is Environment Committee Poised to Miss Opportunity to Enable Community Green Fund?

Your Calls in support of the Community Green Fund bill are needed now.

SB834, the Community Green Fund bill, is in danger. The Environment Committee raised the bill for a hearing on January 31, but has taken no action on the bill to date. 

If the bill is not voted favorably out of committee, it does not proceed this session, and the opportunity to fund air, water and land protection projects in your town will be lost for yet another year. 

About the Bill
SB 834 enables, but does not require, towns to enact a conveyance fee on buyers of real estate. The fees would be placed in a dedicated fund for land conservation and green projects -- creating green jobs as well as seed money for leveraging matching grants on major projects. (Read more on the Community Green Fund concept at CTLCV’s wiki.)

What Can You Do? 
If you want your town to have the option to create funding for green projects where you live, please call or e-mail your representative and the environment committee's leadership today, March 21, and ask them to bring the community green fund bill for a vote to enable the option of creating green jobs at the local level. 

Cities and towns have very limited options for raising revenue, and this one can’t wait another year.

Contact Environment Committee Members Today

Title	First Name	Last Name	District #	Phone	Email Address
Rep.	Terry	Backer	121	860-240-8585	terry.backer@cga.ct.gov
Rep.	Fred	Camillo	151	860-240-8700	fred.camillo@housegop.ct.gov
Rep.	Clark	Chapin	67	860-240-8700	clark.chapin@housegop.ct.gov
Rep.	Paul	Davis	117	860-240-8585	paul.davis@cga.ct.gov
Rep.	Leonard	Greene	105	860-240-8700	len.greene@housegop.ct.gov
Rep.	John "Jack"	Hennessy	127	860-240-8585	jack.hennessy@cga.ct.gov
Rep.	Bryan	Hurlburt	53	860-240-8585	bryan.hurlburt@cga.ct.gov
Rep.	Tony	Hwang	134	860-240-8787	tony.hwang@housegop.ct.gov
Rep.	Geoff	Luxenberg	12	860-240-8585	geoff.luxenberg@cga.ct.gov
Sen.	Andrew	Maynard	18	860-240-0591	maynard@senatedems.ct.gov
Rep.	Robert	Megna	97	860-240-8585	robert.megna@cga.ct.gov
Sen.	Edward	Meyer	12	860-240-0455	meyer@senatedems.ct.gov
Rep.	Lawrence	Miller	122	860-240-8700	lawrence.miller@housegop.ct.gov
Rep.	Phil	Miller	36	860-240-8585	philip.miller@cga.ct.gov
Rep.	Craig	Miner	66	860-240-8700	craig.miner@housegop.ct.gov
Rep.	Edward	Moukawsher	40	860-240-8585	edward.moukawsher@cga.ct.gov
Rep.	Mary	Mushinsky	85	860-240-8585	mary.mushinsky@cga.ct.gov
Rep.	John	Piscopo	76	860-240-8700	john.piscopo@housegop.ct.gov
Sen.	Andrew	Roraback	30	860-240-8800	andrew.roraback@cga.ct.gov
Rep.	Kim	Rose	118	860-240-8585	kim.rose@cga.ct.gov
Rep.	Richard	Roy	119	860-240-8585	richard.roy@cga.ct.gov
Rep.	Kevin	Ryan	139	860-240-8585	kevin.ryan@cga.ct.gov

Point : Counterpoint on Bringing Bus Rapid Transit to Central Connecticut

Last month we posted a story about how bus rapid transit  put one city on the map as a “World’s Most Visionary City.”  Because it’s fast and flexible, bus rapid transit (BRT) is often cited as the ideal public transport system.

Bus rapid transit is close  to coming to central Connecticut in the form of the New Britain–Hartford busway--if a ten year planning effort and the promise of 80% federal funding are allowed to proceed.

Despite the features of bus rapid transit, strong federal support for the busway project, and the number of construction jobs and other work the busway project would generate, the project has developed a few vocal detractors.

What is “Bus Rapid Transit,” anyway?
If “bus rapid transit” makes you think of a regular city bus, think again.  

Originally developed in Brazil, BRT is a high speed bus with a dedicated lane intended to give many of the benefits of a light rail system without the cost.

BRT combines the quality of rail transit and the flexibility of buses. It can operate on bus lanes, HOV lanes, expressways, or ordinary streets. A BRT system combines a simple route layout, frequent service, limited stops, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) technology, passenger information systems, traffic signal priority for transit, cleaner and quieter vehicles, rapid and convenient fare collection, high-quality passenger facilities, and integration with land use policy.

According to AltTransport and MarketPlace, cities across the country are investing in Bus Rapid Transit over rail as a way to meet the increasing demand for public transportation in the time of devastating budget cuts . Rapid transit buses are hundreds of millions of dollars cheaper than the alternative.

Can We Get Bus Rapid Transit Too?
Read the Point : Counterpoint
The Sunday March 20 edition of the Hartford Courant featured opposing viewpoints on the bus rapid transit project as well as a Courant editorial in favor of keeping the project moving.

Read them here:

• Op Ed - Forward On Busway: Benefits Of Transit Corridor Are Clear
• Op Ed - Whoa On Busway: Project Would Block Rail, A Better Option
• Courant Editorial - Green-Light The Busway: Bus Rapid Transit Gov. Malloy should push ahead on regional transit project

The Courant editorial nicely summarizes the reasons for going forward with the bus rapid transit project for central Connecticut.  CTLCV supports the project as well.

Today Governor Malloy hears presentations from both camps – proponents and opponents of the New Britain-Hartford busway project. Stay tuned for the decision.

Malloy Officiates as Esty Sworn in as DEP Commissioner

CTLCV was pleased to be in attendance at the swearing in ceremony of DEP Commissioner Dan Esty on Friday, March 18.  The ceremony took place in the Phoenix Auditorium at the DEP headquarters in Hartford. Governor Dannel Malloy officiated, underscoring his commitment to the environment and the Department of Environmental Protection.

Watch both their remarks, and read more at Pomp, Circumstance and a New Era at the DEP (CT Mirror).

How Busway & Commuter Rail Will Serve Central Connecticut

With the federal government on the brink of awarding eighty percent of the funding to build the New Britain-Hartford Busway, the Regional Plan Association (RPA) explains how the Busway and Commuter Rail will work together to serve New Britain and Bristol and how rail services can be added to the region as demand for transit grows. 

Watch the video, then read more here.

Missed the Esty Confirmation Hearing? Watch it here.

On March 10, the Executive & Legislative Nominations Committee held a hearing on the appointment of Yale Professor Dan Esty, as Commissioner of the proposed Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

Following his address to the Committee (below), Esty took questions from a handful of legislators for nearly three hours, with Senator Len Fasano questioning the nominee for the better part of an hour.

Without exception, Esty responded with graciousness, respect, and intellectual agility throughout the proceedings.

According to unofficial reports from the Executive & Legislative Nominations Committee, all committee members voted in favor of Esty’s nomination, save Reps. Stephen Dargan and Matt Ritter, who were absent.

HR 21, the resolution confirming Esty’s nomination as Commissioner of Environmental Protection, is expected to be voted on in the House on Wednesday, March 16.

Read CTLCV’s support for Esty’s nomination here.  Watch Esty’s remarks to the committee below (13 min.)

 

CTLCV Offers Testimony in Support of Dan Esty for March 10 Confirmation Hearing

 

March 8, 2011

Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee
Room 1000, Legislative Office Building
Hartford, CT 06106

Dear Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee Members:

The Connecticut League of Conservation Voters is delighted to support Daniel Esty’s nomination as Commissioner of the proposed Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

Professor Esty’s legal and management background, his internationally acclaimed expertise in energy and the environment, his prestigious academic and scholarship accomplishments at Yale and as a Rhodes Scholar, and his stellar reputation among businesses who have consulted him on sustainability, undeniably render him an inspired choice for this post.

The State of Connecticut is most fortunate that Professor Esty is willing to take on this challenge and lead the Department of Environmental Protection in a new direction, which will logically incorporate and address Connecticut’s longstanding neglect of energy policy.

We stand ready to help Professor Esty build a bridge to an innovative, prosperous and environmentally-enlightened business community. Moreover, we fully believe he can help establish Connecticut as a highly competitive leader, both nationally and internationally, as we move into the clean energy economy that undoubtedly awaits.

We emphatically support Professor Esty as the right person, at the right time, for Connecticut’s Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, and we urge you to confirm his nomination.

Sincerely yours,

G. Kenneth Bernhard, Co-Chair (R-Westport)

David B. Bingham, MD, Co-Chair (D-Salem)

Say what? Oil Company CEO Suggests a $1 gas tax Increase and Higher Fuel Economy Standards

At a March 8 conference held by IHS Cambridge Energy Research Associates in Houston, Hess Oil Company CEO, John Hess, made some pretty remarkable statements.  For starters:

• The U.S. should consider imposing a $1-a-gallon gasoline tax and boosting average auto fuel economy to 50 miles a gallon to help avert a global energy crisis;
• The U.S. also needs to “get serious about climate change once our economy recovers; and
• The $140-per-barrel oil price of three years ago was not an aberration -- it was a warning.

Bloomberg News reports here:  http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-08/u-s-should-mull-1-gas-tax-boost-auto-efficiency-hess-says.html

Thumbs Up to Reps Haddad, Becker, Perone on Good Enviro Votes in Commerce Committee

– By Margaret Miner

In the single-minded Commerce Committee, on March 8, two members broke the ranks of unanimity and voted against that amazingly bad bill SB 1020, AAC Water Resources and Economic Development.   In other words, they voted FOR moving ahead with streamflow protections in Connecticut. These heroes are: Rep. Gregg Haddad (D-Chaplin and Mansfield) and Rep. Brian Becker (D-Avon, Farmington, West Hartford). The vote was 15 to 2, with 2 absent. On another anti-DEP bill, Rep. Chris Perone (D- Norwalk), joined the heroic minority.

                
                  From left: Reps. Gregg Haddad, Brian Becker and Chris Perone

I read many eloquent and forceful messages from environmental leaders to members of the committee. It is a sign of the times that these pleas were rejected. I am surprised that even two votes went our way. These days, legislative meetings and hearings echo with various formulations of the opinion that environmentalists and the DEP have brought the state to the brink of ruin.

So I want to offer the contrarian view that the state has brought itself to the brink of ruin. DEP Commissioner Amey Marrella stood up for several difficult but righteous causes, including streamflow regulation, higher water quality standards, and a review of the propriety of the Haddam land swap (details available on request). She did a good job of increasing efficiency and speeding up permitting. She didn't sell out the environment.  Thank you, Amey.

Meanwhile, a hearing in the Environment Committee yesterday included Bill 6505, An Act Concerning Stream Flow Regulations. This bill clarifies that the law calling for the creation of flow standards (Public Act 05-142) was intended to provide the state's rivers and streams protection from excessive withdrawals whether by damming, pumping, siphoning, or other means. Several important legislators said that they did not understand that groundwater pumping would be regulated and that new legislation was needed that specifically used the word "groundwater."  Therefore, this bill adds the word "groundwater" for clarity. (Attorneys for the legislature and the executive branch did not feel this was necessary, but it can't hurt.) There was a lot of negative testimony on the idea of regulating anything, especially well fields. The record is still open, so you can submit testimony. The Environment Committee chairs are Sen. Ed Meyer and Rep. Richard Roy. Your comments can be sent by email to Jason.Bowsza@cga.ct.gov.

Negotiations on streamflow protection are inching along. Several months ago, we thought in terms of a phase one for surface water and a phase two for groundwater. Now we are contemplating a sort of phase one half, phase three-quarters, etc. But still, we are talking.

- Margaret Miner is a Director of the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters and the Executive Director of Rivers Alliance of Connecticut .  She may be reached at rivers@riversalliance.org

Fix to 10 Mill Property Tax Program for 14,000 Acres of Forest Land Needed this Year

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– By Eric Hammerling, Executive Director of the Connecticut Forest & Park Association

Enacted in 1913, the "10 Mill" program is the name of the first forest conservation law enacted in Connecticut.

The 10 Mill program provided landowners with more than 25 acres of forest with a low property tax rate of 10 mills based on the original value of the land. Landowners had to: 1) make a 100-year commitment to preserving their land as forest; 2) be subject to severe penalties if they changed the use of their properties out of forestry before the conclusion of their 100 years; and 3) be subject to taxes to their town if they ever conducted a commercial harvest on the property.  It was an amazing program that was decades ahead of its time.

However, a significant but oft-overlooked catch for 10 Mill landowners has become a problem. Upon participating in the program for 50 years, the 10 Mill landowner's property and standing timber is re-assessed at current "developable" values. In most cases the value of the land has increased dramatically over time. 

By re-assessing the land and timber at their current, developable values, 10 Mill landowners’ property tax bills will likely increase by a factor of 20 or more. A conservative example of the property tax increase provided by the DEP Forestry division projected property taxes increases from $1/acre to $24.50/acre at the 50 year anniversary. Meanwhile, owners of comparable forest land who participate in the Public Act 490 program (which has become the preferred choice for forest, agricultural, and open space landowners since its inception in 1963), are paying only $2.73/acre.

Not only is this unfair to the landowners of 14,000 acres of forest who made both an earlier and long-term commitment to protecting their forests, it could be an incentive to sell. House Bill 6263, being heard by the Environment Committee on Monday March 7, would address this situation by:

1. Capping the property taxes of 10 Mill landowners at the P.A. 490 rate at their 50-year anniversary in the p program;
2. Providing 10 Mill landowners who are willing to place a conservation easement on their properties with the flexibility to keep their lands in 10 Mill or transition into P.A. 490 without a financial penalty; and
3. Maintaining the penalties associated with changing use out of forestry to both protect the forest values of the 10 Mill lands and ensure that towns would benefit financially if the landowners decided to develop.

Your testimony in support of H.B. 6263 would be most appreciated. If you cannot attend the hearing Monday but would like to submit testimony via email, it can be emailed to Environment Committee clerk Jason.Bowsza@cga.ct.gov .

For more information contact Eric Hammerling, Executive Director of the Connecticut Forest & Park Association, at 860.346.2372 or EHammerling@ctwoodlands.org.

DECD Appointment Another Win for the Environment

Governor Dannel Malloy is making good on his December 2010 declaration to environmental advocates when he said, “Your issues are my issues.”   On the heels of appointing energy and environment expert Dan Esty as Commissioner of Environmental Protection, today Malloy appointed another commissioner with strong ties to the environmental field:  Catherine Smith, now CEO of ING US Retirement Services, is on the Board of Directors for Connecticut Fund for the Environment, Trust for Public Land, and Outward Bound USA.

Excerpts from the Governor’s press release:

(HARTFORD, CT) – In one of his highest profile appointments to date, Governor Dannel P. Malloy today named ING executive Catherine Smith to lead the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD). Smith, who lives in Northford, has worked for ING for the past 10 years; prior to that, she worked at Aetna for 17 years.

…  Smith is currently the Chief Executive Officer of ING U.S. Retirement Services, a position she’s held since 2008. In this capacity, Smith helped ING weather the recession and retain customers, while helping them to navigate the economic storm. Smith managed 3,000 employees and had oversight of sales, marketing, operations, customer service, product development, risk management and finance.

…  Smith graduated from Hampshire College and received her Masters in Public and Private Management from Yale University. She is on the Board of Directors for the Connecticut Fund for the Environment, Trust for Public Land, and Outward Bound USA. She has been recognized by the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame.

DECD Commissioner Appointment Coming Today

Governor Malloy is expected to announce his appointment for CT’s Commissioner of Economic & Community Development today at 2:30 at State Capitol Room 310.

Rumors abound as to whom it will be.  Who’s next - maybe Michael Porter, of industry cluster fame? ;)

The Courant’s Jon Lender and the Mirror’s Mark Pazniokas report.

Esty Confirmation Hearing Rescheduled for Next Week

Dan Esty’s confirmation hearing was rescheduled for next week.  Christine Stuart of the CT News Junkie offers details.  Read the full story at http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/ctnj.php/archives/entry/esty_nomination_delayed/

More Malloy Major Announcements Today

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Governor Malloy is scheduled to make another major announcement today at 2:30 in the Old Judiciary Room, State Capitol.

Malloy has also announced his appointment of Dan DeSimone to be the director of Connecticut's state office in Washington D.C.

DeSimone will work with Connecticut's Congressional Delegation and coordinate Connecticut's federal legislative and policy work on behalf of Governor Malloy.

From the press release:

"Dan has a proven record of success in helping states implement their legislative agendas in Washington," said Governor Malloy. "I've made no secret about the fact I am going to be knocking on doors in Washington frequently to ensure that more federal tax dollars come back to Connecticut for transportation and other capital investment projects.  Dan's experience in this arena will be critical.  His expertise will help Connecticut aggressively re-position itself and ensure we are taking every opportunity to make Connecticut strong again."

"I'm honored that Governor Malloy has seen fit to hire me in this new and challenging capacity," said DeSimone. "Connecticut is a small state, but its Congressional delegation has always been strong. I look forward to working with them to help implement Governor Malloy's agenda in Connecticut."

For the past two years, DeSimone has been the Director of the State of Oregon's Washington Office, where he offered strategic advice to Governor Ted Kulongoski and other state officials to achieve policy goals for Oregon and the northwest region.  He helped the state navigate major policy issues including the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Affordable Care Act, and the Dodd-Frank Financial Services reform. DeSimone worked closely with Oregon's Congressional Delegation to push state-specific priorities in Washington, including projects such as the pivotal West Coast Governors Agreement on Ocean Health, and a major bi-state transportation project - the Columbia River Crossing.

Prior to his work for the State of Oregon, DeSimone was the Director of the Office of Federal Relations for the National Association of State Treasurers where he advised State Treasurers on developing federal policy goals.  

From 2001-2003, DeSimone spent two years as the Assistant Director at the Government Finance Officers Association, helping to implement the Government Finance Officers national policy agenda and working with various committees to build best practices and stronger public policy.  He was also a legislative aide to a midwestern Congresswoman.  DeSimone graduated from James Madison University and lives in Washington D.C.