Connections: Connecticut Wins $15 Million in Federal Transportation Funding

Connecticut won $15.7 million in grants for transportation from the Federal Highway Administration.  On August 17, US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced a new round of federal grants for state transportation projects.  Compared to some of our neighbors, Connecticut fared pretty well this time.  Massachusetts received $6.1 million, Rhode Island received $1.6 million, Vermont received $4.2 million, New York received $16.2 million and New Jersey received $4.5 million.

Two of the projects that will be funded through these grants are for tolling studies-a $1.1 million grant to study congestion pricing for I-95 corridor from New Haven to NY and a $644,000 grant to study "pricing strategies" (i.e., tolls) for I-84 in Hartford related to the rebuilding of the I-84 viaduct.

It was very encouraging to also see a $1.3 million grant awarded to New Britain to implement a complete street strategy for the downtown area.  With the New Britain-Hartford Busway project moving forward this kind of funding is very timely.  Ensuring safe and accessible streets for pedestrians and bikers in the downtown area that connect with the stations for the new bus rapid transit system, will further enhance the community for developers, businesses, residents, and visitors. 

To view the press release and complete list of projects, visit  http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pressroom/fhwa1137/fhwa1137ct.htm

Kudos to ConnDOT for applying for and receiving these grants!

Connections: Putnam Bridge Renovation Offers Great Chance for Walking, Running & Biking Across River

The Putnam Bridge connecting Glastonbury and Wethersfield over the Connecticut River is up for a major renovation providing a golden opportunity to finally add bike lanes and a walkway to this 52- year-old bridge. ConnDOT is planning a $33 million rehabilitation project to fix safety and structural deficiencies with construction starting in 2012 and completed in 2013.  The estimated construction cost of this bridge project is $33 million with 80% coming from federal funding and 20% from state funding.

Historically, there has not been any pedestrian or bike access over the Putnam Bridge but ConnDOT staff, town officials, and bike/pedestrian advocates now are working together to develop a plan for linking the two sides of the Connecticut River for people who want to walk or bike between the two communities.  It would allow people to ride from Somerset Square in Glastonbury to Old Wethersfield town center.  The Putnam Bridge is also a critical piece of a larger bike route for people who want to commute to Hartford by bike.

The town councils in Glastonbury and Wethersfield have unanimously approved resolutions supporting the idea, and support has come from the Capitol Region Council of Governments, Bike Walk CT, Glastonbury Bikeways and Goodwin College in East Hartford.

At recent public meetings, ConnDOT stated that there is limited space and no funds yet allocated for bike/pedestrian access on the Putnam Bridge.  ConnDOT has determined that the rehabilitated bridge can support a six foot wide sidewalk on just one side of the bridge at a construction cost of $5-$10 million.  ConnDOT has informed the towns and public that this amount does not include funding for construction of the town-side approaches to the bridge sidewalk, an undertaking that ConnDOT states is the responsibility of the towns, not the state.  That's troubling to hear when we have a Governor who stresses bike/pedestrian initiatives as a priority for Connecticut's transportation infrastructure and a state legislature that passed the Complete Streets law in 2009 that requires 1% of all new transportation projects to be dedicated to bike/ped improvements.  

Take action and tell the decision makers how you feel.  Their email addresses are:

• Scott A. Hill, DOT's manager of bridges and facilities:  scott.hill@ct.gov
• State Rep. Jason Rojas:  jason.rojas@cga.ct.gov
• State Rep. Russ Morin:  russell.morin@cga.ct.gov
• State Rep. Prasad Srinivasan:  prasad.srinivasan@housegop.ct.gov
• State Sen. Paul Doyle:  paul.doyle@cga.ct.gov
• State Sen. Steve Cassano:  steve.cassano@cga.ct.gov

Connections: State Budget Impact on Transportation Projects Still Uncertain

With the state labor unions voting to accept the concessions package, Connecticut now has a state budget in place.  It is still unclear how transportation funding will shake out.  Governor Malloy's initial budget, Plan A, left most transportation funding intact.  Unfortunately, it seems likely that public transit riders will see fare hikes and/or service cuts.  This is the time when the state should be working to attract more riders; fare hikes and service cuts takes us in the wrong direction and will put more people back in their cars and add more cars to our already congested highways.

ConnDOT is holding a series of six public hearings around the state over the next week about transit fares and services.  The first public hearing is Monday, August 22, in New Britain.  It is important that the public shows up and speaks out to keep public transit in the forefront of the state's transportation priorities for funding.  For a complete list of the public sessions, visit www.ct.gov/dot/farecomments.

To submit your comments by email on the proposals, visit dot.farecomments@ct.gov.

$30 Million > 0

It’s all over the Connecticut news, but in case you missed it, the federal government reallocated Florida’s spurned $2.4 Billion (yes, with a B) in high-speed rail funding yesterday.

The good news is that Connecticut got a $30 million piece of it, especially since Congress’ recent budget agreements suggested that the Florida money might not be reallocated at all.  But the less good news is that our award was significantly less than what we had strenuously advocated for ($100 million).

According to the Connecticut Mirror,

DOT Secretary Ray LaHood announced his agency had received almost 100 applications for various rail projects around the country, totaling $10 billion.  From those, DOT chose 15 states and Amtrak to receive $2.02 billion for 22 high-speed intercity passenger projects. The investment in the Northeast corridor to speed up trains is "unprecedented," DOT said in a news release, and includes a $450 million award to Amtrak to expand capacity and reliability in the region. In all, the Northeast corridor is slated to get $795 million for a range of projects.

And as the New York Times editorial puts it, Florida voters will get some time to think about their governor’s decision to spurn the rail money “as they sit in traffic jams, burning up $4-a-gallon gasoline. In fact, some of them clearly have thought about it because Mr. Scott now has some of the worst approval ratings of a Florida official in the last decade.”

Take your pick of a few of the articles covering the rest of the story:

• CT Mirror
• Hartford Business Journal
• Hartford Courant
• CT News Junkie
• CBS News
• NY Times Editorial

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.

So Where Does This Leave CT High Speed Rail?

The CT Mirror's Washington reporter, Deirdre Shesgreen covers the eye-opening news of what the federal spending deal, reached by top congressional negotiators on Friday to avert a government shutdown, actually means.

Among other things,”it would slash high-speed rail funding… including a $2.9 billion cut in high-speed rail dollars” which Congressman Joe Courtney calls "counterproductive" for the economy in general and for Connecticut in particular.

“The high-speed rail provision includes a $400 million rescission from the $2.4 billion pot of money Florida's governor rejected earlier this year. Connecticut has applied for $227 million of that money for its proposed New Haven-to-Springfield line, but so have two dozen other states. They will all now be competing for part of a smaller pie, if this spending agreement is approved.”

The $40 million funding just wrapped up last week for double-tracking part of the New Haven – Springfield line is a separate award that appears to be unaffected by the federal spending agreement.

See Budget deal is a mixed bag for Connecticut, by Deirdre Shesgreen for the CT Mirror.

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.

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.

Bus Rapid Transit Makes for a World’s “Most Visionary City”

Travel + Leisure magazine’s recent feature on the “The World’s Most Visionary Cities” put Curitiba, Brazil on the list for its Bus Rapid Transit system.

In most metropolises, walking is faster than taking the crosstown public bus. Not so in Curitiba. In the 1960s, city planners examined their growing town and, to curtail congestion, implemented a comprehensive public-transportation scheme: Bus Rapid Transit. To speed up loading of the long, centipede-like buses, passengers—more than 80 percent of the population—pay low-cost fares beforehand (about 40 cents a ride, with unlimited transfers). The frequently arriving fleet speeds down dedicated streets unimpeded.

It's often cited as the ideal public transport system.

 

Other cities make the list for green reasons, like urban farming, bike-share programs, and electric vehicle charging stations.

The proposed Hartford-New Britain busway would include bus rapid transit.

More at:  http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/worlds-most-visionary-cities

Research Confirms President Obama's SOTU Remarks: Smart Transportation Spending Creates Jobs, Grows the Economy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 4, 2011

Susan Merrow, Chair, 1000 Friends of Connecticut 860-367-1687, amerrow@snet.net Kirsten Griebel, CTLCV Education Fund 860-670-0621, 860-236-5442, kirsten.griebel@ctlcv.org Alex Goldschmidt, Smart Growth America 202-207-3355 x112, agoldschmidt@smartgrowthamerica.org

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CT Ranks First in report that shows investing in repair and maintenance projects and public transportation can help Connecticut revitalize America's transportation system and rebuild the economy.

Connecticut, February 4, 2011 - A new report released by Smart Growth America (SGA) provides Connecticut with a roadmap to pursue President Obama's call to repair our crumbling roads and bridges and invest in public transportation to jumpstart the economy. The report, which highlights how well states created jobs using American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) flexible transportation dollars, provides Governor Malloy, the Department of Transportation, and the legislature with a smart investment strategy to get more jobs from the same number of transportation dollars and help rebuild the economy effectively.

Connecticut ranked first, based on how well we used our portion of the $26.6 billion in flexible ARRA transportation dollars to create jobs. The report was released two years after the passage of ARRA and a week after President Obama's State of the Union Address and his clarion call to rebuild America and create jobs.

"Smart Growth America commends Connecticut for using its federal stimulus funding to maximize job creation," Geoff Anderson, President/CEO of Smart Growth America said. "Connecticut should continue on this same path of smart, fiscally responsible transportation policies when it considers its 2011 transportation budget. If Connecticut continues to allocate the majority of its transportation dollars in its new budget to the repair and maintenance of roads and bridges, and expanding access to public transportation, the state can save money and put people back to work."

Connecticut leaders understand that rebuilding our economy is the most significant challenge of our generation. As the President said in his address, "To attract new businesses to our shores, we need the fastest, most reliable ways to move people, goods and information...America is the nation that built the transcontinental railroad, brought electricity to rural communities and constructed the interstate highway system. The jobs created by these projects didn't just come from laying down tracks or pavement. They came from businesses that opened near a town's new train station or the new off-ramp." This report analyzes state-reported ARRA data and finds that wise spending of transportation dollars produces immediate results in terms of jobs.

The states that made the best use of funds invested in public transportation projects and maintained and repaired existing roads and bridges. The states that ranked poorly focused on building new roads and bridges.

Connecticut spent 100 percent of its ARRA transportation funds on repairing and maintaining roads and bridges; nothing on building new ones; and 9.1 percent on public transportation and non-motorized projects such as trails, bicycle projects and pedestrian projects.

"We're proud that Connecticut "fixed it first" and created jobs critical to our state's recovery. We urge even greater emphasis on mass transit funding, which has a triple benefit: it creates jobs, gets people to their jobs, and improves the quality of life for all of us," said 1000 Friends of Connecticut Chair and CTLCV Director Susan Merrow.

. . . . .

"We have seen a gradual shift in Connecticut toward investments in public transit where we get the biggest bang for the buck - dollar for dollar, public transportation projects create the highest percentage of jobs. These investments are good for both the economy and the environment," added Lori Brown, Executive Director of the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters.

SGA determined its rankings by assessing how states invested their ARRA flexible transportation dollars, as reported by the states themselves to Congress.

Historically, repair work on roads and bridges generates 16 percent more jobs per dollar than new bridge and road construction. Repair and maintenance projects spend money faster and create jobs more quickly than building new roads because they employ more kinds of workers, spend less money on land and more on wages, and spend less time on plans and permits.

Additionally, historical investments in public transportation have generated 31 percent more jobs per dollar than new construction of roads and bridges. SGA's analysis of ARRA spending shows that even more jobs were created with public transportation spending - these projects generated 70 percent more jobs per dollar than new highway construction.

"Our new administration in Hartford and new leadership at Department Of Transportation have a chance now to build on this good news and firmly establish the connection between wise spending on transit, fixing existing infrastructure, and growing smart," Merrow concluded.

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For the complete report, go to http://smartgrowthamerica.org/documents/lessons-from-the-stimulus.pdf.

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Smart Growth America is the only national organization dedicated to researching, advocating for and leading coalitions to bring smart growth practices to more communities nationwide. From providing more sidewalks to ensuring more homes are built near public transit or that productive farms remain a part of our communities, smart growth helps make sure people across the nation can live in great neighborhoods. For additional information, please visit www.smartgrowthamerica.org.

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A Fiscal Conservative, Congressional Transportation Committee Chair Mica Sees Transit as Efficient Investment

Could the tides be turning on high speed rail?

Our partner, Transportation for America, reports that Florida Republican John Mica could be a key ally on high-speed rail.

T4America turned up this impressive 2009 statement from Mica:

“If you’re on the Transportation Committee long enough, even if you’re a fiscal conservative, which I consider myself to be, you quickly see the benefits of transportation investment. Simply, I became a mass transit fan because it’s so much more cost effective than building a highway. Also, it’s good for energy, it’s good for the environment – and that’s why I like it.”

Read the full T4America article here:  Florida Republican John Mica could be a key ally on high-speed rail.

Because of its impact on climate change, greenhouse gas pollution, energy security, sprawl, public health and the nascent green jobs sector, promoting sustainable transportation options is one of CTLCV’s current focus areas.

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

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

CT to Get Major Fed Investment for High Speed Rail

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 25, 2010

Contact: Caren Auchman

202-747-4973

or

Rebecca Kaplan

860-383-6362

DODD, GOVERNOR RELL, CONNECTICUT CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO ANNOUNCE MAJOR FEDERAL INVESTMENT IN HIGH-SPEED RAIL

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Monday, Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) will be joined by Governor Rell, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3), Congressman John Larson (CT-1) and Congressman Chris Murphy (CT-5) to announce a major federal investment in the high-speed rail connecting New Haven, Hartford and Springfield, MA at the Amtrak Station in Meriden.

This funding from the Department of Transportation (DOT) will be added to the $260 million that the State Bond Commission has approved to help finance the project and will be used to establish faster, more frequent intercity and commuter rail service and encourage transit-oriented development throughout central Connecticut.

As the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, which has jurisdiction over public transportation, Dodd has been a longtime advocate for high speed rail service in Connecticut. Dodd, DOT Secretary LaHood, Connecticut’s Congressional Delegation, Governor Rell, and state officials have been working together to deliver federal funds to Connecticut to complete the Tri-City Corridor that will provide residents of central Connecticut with better access to New York City, western Massachusetts, Vermont, and eventually Boston.

WHO: Senator Chris Dodd

Governor Rell

Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro

Congressman John Larson

Congressman Chris Murphy

Speaker Chris Donovan

ConnDOT Commissioner Jeff Parker

WHERE: Meriden Amtrak Station

60 State Street

Meriden, CT

WHEN: MONDAY, October 25, 2010

3:00 p.m.

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More Transit Cuts Coming, Unless Public Transportation Preservation Act Intervenes

– By Michael Wysolmerski, Summer Intern from Yale, 
michael.wysolmerski@ctlcv.org

Just last week, the New York Daily News reported that the MTA has cut the Metro-North 1:34 p.m. express from Grand Central to New Haven, the 2:33 express from New Haven, and the 1:15 a.m. train from Grand Central to Stamford—even though Connecticut, according to a Hartford Courant article, will pay $200,000 to avoid further Metro-North cuts in the state.

The federal Public Transportation Preservation Act (S 3412/HR 5418) could come to the rescue. The bill, which was introduced by Senators Chuck Schumer, Kirsten Gillibrand, Frank Lautenberg, Robert Menendez, and Chris Dodd, would provide $2 billion in federal aid to transit agencies across the country that are cutting service and raising fares.

The Public Transportation Preservation Act, according to a press release on Senator Schumer’s (D-NY) website, would provide approximately $345 million for the NYC-NJ-CT urbanized area, which includes southwestern Connecticut, and prevent cuts and higher prices on the Metro North Railroad. More specifically for Connecticut, according to calculations done by Michelle Ernst, TSTC’s staff-analyst, the Connecticut Department of Transportation stands to receive approximately $36 million, while other Connecticut transportation agencies would receive around $2 million, bringing the total funding to the state to around $37 or $38 million.

According to TSTC, the money from the bill could only be put towards transit operations. No capital construction projects could receive funding.

Not only would the bill help preserve public transportation systems, but it would create approximately 72,000 high quality green jobs, according to figures from the American Public Transportation Association.

The bill is rapidly gaining momentum in the Senate, as it now has 11 co-sponsors, yet there are currently only two co-sponsors in the House. According to the TSTC, New York advocates of the bill are urging their representatives to co-sponsor the bill in the House.

Transportation for America urges voters to “keep flooding our senators with letters and calls,” and released an action alert that calls for senators to cosponsor the bill.

Click here to tell your senators to support emergency transit funding and keep America's transit systems running.

Secretary LaHood on High Speed Rail Prospects: “Connecticut Has Its Act Together”

– Kelly Kennedy

US Senator Chris Dodd and US Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood made a special appearance at Connecticut’s capitol this morning to discuss the future of the rail corridor connecting New Haven, Hartford and Springfield, MA.

Along with Governor Rell, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, Congressman John Larson, Connecticut Commissioner of Transportation Joe Marie, and Massachusetts  Transportation Secretary Jeff Mullan, Dodd and LaHood rode the Amtrak shuttle along part of the proposed rail line from New Haven to Hartford.

Asked by one reporter what his presence in Connecticut signified, LaHood stated that

“Connecticut has its act together.  This corridor has its act together.  I can’t say that everywhere I go.”

- US Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood

Much of the officials’ remarks at the morning press conference emphasized the role that the high speed rail line will play in moving people and products in a more competitive regional economy.  “Connecticut will contribute its fair share” toward making it happen, in proportion to the benefits it will receive, said  DOT Commissioner Joseph Marie.

With other states in the region, Connecticut will compete for a piece of the next round of stimulus funding for transportation, which is $2.5 billion in 2010.  The Obama administration has proposed, but Congress has not yet approved, an additional $1 billion for transportation funding for 2011.

Dodd is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, which has jurisdiction over public transportation. According to Dodd’s office,  Dodd, LaHood and state officials have been working together to deliver federal funds to Connecticut to complete the Tri-City Corridor, which would establish both faster, more frequent intercity and commuter rail service connecting New Haven, Hartford, and Springfield, providing residents of central Connecticut with better access to New York City, western Massachusetts, Vermont and eventually Boston.

New Britain – Hartford Busway: Not Another Stalled Project for Connecticut

 – Kelly Kennedy

Will Connecticut get out of its own way and actually complete a project and deploy some vision?  It seems the opposition to the New Britain to Hartford busway, some ten years in the works,  is again on the rise.

This is what 21st century buses look like.

Completing the busway is not a vote against rail.  Connecticut needs multi-modal transportation:  that means bus and train service.  Preferably coordinated.  

Transit is becoming an extremely important factor in business site selection decisions.  That means if we want to attract businesses to Connecticut, we need to get our transit act together.  As fast as possible.  Decent transit might also go a long way toward keeping the 18-35 demographic in Connecticut too.

Want to know more about the New Britain to Hartford busway? Listen to our  discussion with Ryan Lynch from the Tri-State Transportation Campaign about the New-Britain to Hartford busway project (our initial foray into audio interviews and podcasting).

And here’s a fact sheet from the Regional Plan Association.  Check it out .

A Primer on the Proposed New Britain Busway Project

We talked to Ryan Lynch, senior planner with the TriState Transportation Campaign, about the proposed New Britain Busway project.

It would be a roughly 10 mile route that runs between New Britain and Hartford, carry about 16,000 riders a day, reduce traffic on and around  I-84, and connect with local “feeder routes.”   But the effort has been facing opposition in some camps.

Listen in for a primer on what the New Britain Busway could mean for central Connecticut.  (Please allow a moment for the audio file to download).

For more on the busway project, see www.ctrapidtransit.com.  For more on the Tri State Transportation Campaign, see www.tstc.org.

CLICK HERE to listen, or use the new Yahoo Media Player below (press the play button).

The Future of Cars

If you’re interested in the connection between transportation, energy, and the environment, you’ll like the recent Bob Edwards Weekend interview with Paul Ingrassia, author of "Crash Course: The American Automobile Industry's Road from Glory to Disaster."

Ingrassia, who spent 31 years with the Wall Street Journal, talks about the evolution of the auto industry, the bailout packages, and the future of electric and hybrid vehicles.

Ingrassia comments that

“A lot of what’s going to happen with alternative car technologies depends on American federal policy.

You tell me what gas prices are going to be, and I’ll tell you what kind of cars Americans are going to buy.”

Confirming what a lot of us already suspected, Ingrassia says, “Americans have only switched to smaller, more efficient cars, when confronted with gas prices of $3.50 or $4 a gallon or above.  If gas prices drop down to $2 a gallon in the next couple years, I wouldn’t bet on electric cars.”  You can listen to the full  Bob Edwards Weekend interview with Ingrassia at http://podcast.com/episode/49804010/32910/?cp=1125 (audio only).  You’ll learn about the likes of “inverse layoffs,” GM’s restroom segregation system and much, much more!

Or if you prefer video, watch Jon Stewart’s interview with Ingrassia here.   (Skip ahead to about 13:15 for the interview.)

And speaking of what’s going to happen with American transportation policy, try to make tomorrow’s panel discussion at on “Transportation in Connecticut: Strengthening the Federal Investement in Your Ride."  1:30 at Union Station in Hartford.  For further information contact Gloria Mills at gmills.cact@snet.net.