Broad Coalition Thanks Malloy for Bus Rapid Transit Bonding

CTLCV joined with a broad coalition of 27 signatories from entities representing everything from CCSU to developers, chambers of commerce, the League of Women Voters, labor and environmental groups, who took note of the Bond Commission’s recent decision to release funding to get the Hartford-New Britain bus rapid transit project.  The coalition’s thank you letter to Governor Malloy appears below.

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May 2, 2011

The Honorable Dannel P. Malloy
Governor, State of Connecticut
State Capitol
Hartford, CT 06106

Dear Governor Malloy,

Please accept our thanks and appreciation for your steadfast support and leadership of the New Britain/Hartford Busway project.

We believe that the New Britain/Hartford Busway project represents the future for both Connecticut’s economy and transportation infrastructure.  The benefits of investing in the Busway are multifold for the state.  The construction of the Busway will generate thousands of construction and associated jobs; millions of dollars to be invested in transit-oriented development projects surrounding the Busway will create new jobs and business opportunities; the Busway will offer congestion-free travel to transit riders and help decrease traffic on the most congested part of I-84; and harmful carbon emissions will be decreased.

We commend you for your leadership and support and thank the Bond Commission for releasing the funds needed for the Busway to proceed. If you have any questions please contact Karen Burnaska, Transit for Connecticut or Lyle Wray, Capitol Region Council of Governments. We look forward to working with you as the Busway becomes a reality.

Sincerely,

Tim O’Brien, State Representative, New Britain and Newington
Pedro E. Segarra, Mayor, City of Hartford
Timothy T. Stewart, Mayor, City of New Britain
Scott McBride, Deputy Mayor, Town of Newington
Lyle Wray, Executive Director, Capitol Region Council of Governments
Gerry Amodio, Executive Director, New Britain Downtown District
Lori Brown, Executive Director, CT League of Conservation Voters
Karen Burnaska, Coordinator, Transit for Connecticut
Tom Colligan, Interim Executive Director, CT Coalition for Environmental Justice
Cheryl Dunson, President, League of Women Voters of CT
Oz Griebel, President, MetroHartford Alliance
David Kooris, Vice President, Regional Plan Association
Avner Krohn, President, Jasko Development
Charles LeChonce, Business Manager, CT Laborers District Council
Ryan Lynch, Connecticut Coordinator, Tri-State Transportation Campaign
Jeffrey Merrow, Business Manager, Laborers Local 611
Jack Miller, President, Central Connecticut State University
William F. Millerick, President, New Britain Chamber of Commerce
Don Strait, Executive Director, CT Fund for the Environment
Mary Tomolonius, Executive Director, CT Assoc for Community Transportation
City of Hartford Neighborhood Revitalization Zones:
   Bernadine Silvers and Jackie McKinney, Co-Chairs, Board of Directors, Hartford 2000, Inc.
   David Corrigan, Chair, Frog Hollow NRZ
   Donna Thompson Daniels, President, Blue Hills NRZ
   Lynn Ferrari, President, Hartford’s CSS/CON NRZ
   Brandon McGee, Vice President, Northeast NRZ
   David Morin, Secretary, Parkville Revitalization Association
   Tomas Nenortas, Chair, South Downtown NRZ

CONNECTIONS: Linking Transportation and the Environment in Connecticut

 – by Kirsten Griebel (kirsten.griebel@ctlcv.org)

CTLCV is rolling out a new e-letter called CONNECTIONS: Linking Transportation and the Environment in Connecticut, to provide brief updates on transportation news, issues, policies and legislation that impact your quality of life here in Connecticut.   We welcome your feedback and news tips and hope you find it interesting and informative.

At the LOB

• Bill 720, Vulnerable Users Bill passed favorably in a 41 to 4 vote in the Judiciary Committee last week and we have high hopes that this is the year for the bill to finally become law.  CTLCV supports this bill as a smart growth bill that makes our roads safer and encourages non-motorized transportation by imposing penalties on drivers that “fail to use due care”.
  
  A special thanks to Senator Beth Bye who championed this bill, even donning her bike helmet during the Judiciary meeting to reinforce her support.  Thanks also to Judiciary Chairs, Senator Coleman and Rep. Fox for amending the agenda on the final day to place the bill first on the agenda, allowing it to come for a vote before the clock ran out.  Kudos to Bike Walk CT and Tri-State Transportation Campaign for tirelessly working this bill!
  
  Relevant Facts:
        -     A ‘Vulnerable User’ is a pedestrian, highway worker, person riding or driving an animal, riding a bike, using a wheelchair, skateboard, skates, or riding a farm tractor
        -     ConnDOT 2010 pedestrian accident reports highest number of ped. accidents were in the cities Bridgeport (128)  Hartford (127) Waterbury (105) Stamford (81) New Haven (75).
  
  This bill does not automatically assume the driver is at fault and does not remove responsibility from the vulnerable user.  State law already has provisions that subject bicyclists and pedestrians to safe use of roads. 
  
• Bill 6200, Tolls to build new highways or highway extensions was amended to add “for the purpose of new expansion of Route 11 from Salem to I-95” and approved in the Finance committee this week in a 37 to 15 vote primarily on party lines with the D’s unanimously in favor of it.  There is a need for new sources of revenue dedicated to transportation infrastructure repair and mass transit projects and tolls need to be considered. Projects that involve building new roads or bridges need to be carefully evaluated through a smart growth prism to assess the net environmental benefit.  Both sides of the ‘completing Route 11’ environmental debate need to be heard and CTLCV will work to get that information to you over the next few weeks.

Around the State

• Office of Fiscal Analysis projects the CT Special Transportation Fund will have a cumulative deficit of $35.1 million by FY 14.  Yikes!

Around the Nation

• Transportation for America (www.t4america.org)  reports that there is reason for alarm among transportation advocates as the House approved FY12 GOP budget calls for cuts of $633 billion for transportation over the next ten years.  Read the article “Path to Prosperity or Road to Ruin? Either Way, the House Says Yes” on Streets Blog Capitol Hill here.
• In CT those cuts could be bad news for the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield rail line project which is waiting for an additional $227 million in federal funding.  The federal New Starts funding for the New Britain-Hartford Bus Rapid Transit project however looks to be intact and especially promising as this project is considered shovel-ready for late spring or early summer this year. The busway is a win for the environment with an expected daily ridership of 16,000 people and decreasing road congestion and a win for the economy with an expected creation of 12,000 construction related jobs.

Transportation Advocates Rebut NH Register’s Editorial on Busway

CTLCV and sustainable transportation advocates from the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, Connecticut Fund for the Environment,  the Regional Plan Association, and the Capitol Region Council of Governments issued this rebuttal to the New Haven Register’s editorial on the Hartford – New Haven Busway:

LETTER: Studies show busway is most effective plan

The Register’s editorial on Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s decision to support the Hartford-New Britain busway goes off the tracks.

Contrary to the assertions in the editorial, studies have shown it would be the most effective transit mode for the corridor; be complementary to the evolving statewide rail network; have greater levels of ridership and service than a rail line along the corridor; and generate both short- and long-term benefits for central Connecticut.

In fact, even without shovels in the ground, nearly $85 million in private transit-oriented development has lined up to provide the housing and downtown development that will keep young people in the state and foster a more business friendly environment.

Malloy should be applauded for supporting this project, laying the groundwork for a more sustainable economy, a more healthful environment and more livable communities while exploring the best way to connect Waterbury, Bristol, New York City and Hartford.

Editor’s note: This letter was signed by Ryan Lynch, senior planner, Tri-State Transportation Campaign; Lori Brown, executive director, Connecticut League of Conservation Voters; Karen Burnaska, Connecticut Fund for the Environment; David Kooris, vice president, Regional Plan Association; and Lyle Wray, Capitol Region Council of Governments.