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

StreetFilms.org: Cars were then, this is now.

Tom Swarr, Chair of the CTLCV Education Fund, passes along this very cool link to StreetFilms.org, a site that documents livable streets worldwide in short films that show how smart transportation design and policy can result in better places to live, work and play. Their nearly 350 videos have been viewed over 3.5 million times and have inspired action and behavioral change worldwide.

Street Films produced Moving Beyond the Automobile,  “a ten part video series that explores solutions to the problem of automobile dependency.  It's a visual handbook that will help guide policy makers, advocacy organizations, teachers, students, and others into a world that values pedestrian plazas over parking lots and train tracks over highways.  Cars were then, and this is now.  Welcome to the future.”

Still wondering about the bus rapid transit project coming to Hartford & New Britain? Check out this 3-minute video:

Moving Beyond the Automobile: Bus Rapid Transit from Streetfilms on Vimeo.

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.

Malloy Green Lights Bus Rapid Transit Line

Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy got right to business after striding in to the press conference he called to announce his decision on the New Britain - Hartford busway.  The verdict: while he respects the opponents and their views, Malloy believes we should go forward on the bus rapid transit project.

Playing into part of his decision was the federal government's position that abandoning the busway project, already ten years in the making and in cooperation with the federal Department of Transportation, would not enhance Connecticut's position in future grantmaking rounds.

April 4, 2011 Press Conference

The Governor said that he does not believe the busway and revitalizing the rail line from Waterbury to Hartford  to be an either/or proposition, as some do.  As a result, Malloy will aggressively pursue the construction of the New Britain-Hartford Bus Rapid Transit project and a parallel initiative to study and plan for the Bristol/Waterbury commuter rail line.  That rail line would link to the Hartford-New Haven line in Berlin under Malloy’s proposal, increasing travel time by only three minutes from the original Waterbury/Bristol rail proposal. Malloy has directed a study of the Central Connecticut Rail Alternative to be included on the April Bond Commission Agenda for $1 million.

The Governor’s press release appears in full below.  Click here for a copy of Malloy’s letter announcing his decision to opposing parties, and a letter from FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff to Malloy.

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.