City Councilor David Mills sent this to me this afternoon:
When I decided to run for public office last year, I committed to the principle of “What is best for Bristol” I read the article in the Bristol Press concerning the proposed busway and in my opinion, it definitely is not what is best for our city.
The plan is shortsighted and will continue to keep our city isolated from the rest of the state and definitely hinder our ability to connect to the major cities in the area and the country.
After attending the Central Connecticut Regional Planning Agency meeting a few weeks ago, it was apparent that Bristol would once again get the “Short end of the stick.” Our needs were totally overlooked and despite a terrific presentation by Chamber of Commerce President, Mike Nicastro on the benefits of rail, the Agency completely ignored his presentation.
Let’s look at this proposal and see how it affects Bristol, then you decide if it is best for us.
Does anyone really think that many people will drive to Forestville to get on a bus that will go to New Britain and then on to Hartford?
Is it worth nearly $60 million per mile (for only 4000) new riders to remove some traffic from route 84 and the surrounding highways?
The busway is supposed to facilitate the trip from Bristol to Hartford. What if a person works in a location in the other direction? How about if they wish to go to Waterbury, Bridgeport, Stamford, or New York? Does the busway allow for that? Is it short sighted for the people of New Britain to believe the only direction they wish to travel is to Hartford, and that Bristol residents only want to travel to Hartford
What about our commitment to ESPN and their need to have their employees traveling to New York on a regular basis?
Will the busway enable people to walk to the station and connect with the entire country? This could be especially important if our Depot Square project is a success. With housing for an entirely new demographic of our community, i.e. the young professional, will the busway benefit them? They will have disposable income and supply new talents our city will need. It also increases the value of the properties surrounding the station.
Will the busway enable freight to be transported into the region, therefore making use of storage facilities along the route? Think of all the potential warehouses between Bristol and Bridgeport or NYC that could be utilized. Also think of how many trailer trucks would be off the roads on I 95, 91, and 691, making it safer and easier to drive.
There is the potential for federal money to spend on alternative transportation projects now. The thought process from our Congressional leadership appears to be that because this project is “ready to go” it should be built even though it does not benefit our entire region .It will create much needed jobs, but will it be what’s best for Bristol and the surrounding towns?
Lastly, we must realize that if the busway is constructed, it will replace a portion of the rail line needed for rail service. This will forever diminish the value of rail service between Waterbury, Bristol New Britain and Hartford. Is this what we want? Is this what is best for Bristol?
I say no!
*******
Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
23 comments:
Sixty, 60, Million per mile, this has to beat the Big Dig!!!!!
Sounds like Big Dave is running for mayor already.
Thank you Dave. You're 100% correct. I am with you all the way.
Dave mills is Mike Nicastros puppet he cant think for himself. wHO WILL TAKE THIS BUS the hookers and drug dealers. Try usisg your head. Even the state is trying to forget about bristol.
Was dave mills out thee shoveling snow for the elderly. Another plan he came up with that went knowere.
Nobody in Hartford or Washington gives a rat's ass what Dave Mills thinks. This is blatant pandering to the home crowd. "What's best for Bristol", Dave, is for you to spend your time making Bristol a better place instead of feathering your re-election nest. The half-hour you spent writing that letter would have been better spent reading up on GASB 45.
And now back to the budget!
At the rate we are going, there won't be anyone to take the Rail OR the bus.
Actually if there's a connection to Forestville then Bristol's not "isolated". It's probably faster than a train anyway, and certainly less expensive to incorporate and operate. But the majority who'll use it will be the poor and the welfare class.
Mills is correct in the fact that it is his right to have an opinion on this, to be a leader and to urge support whom he thinks is right. He's probably right on the issue too. The train is the best idea for the distant future when/if personal transportation become much more costly.
Um dave, you are a little late on this.
Mills is only a pawn for Mike Nicastro. He cant think for him self. Now Nicastro has two says. the w3ord is mills is trying to get a job with the chamber. He sure has his head up mikes ass. Watch a the next meeting at city hall you would think these guys were dating.
crudeanonwestconnmoronwhofailedtograduate:
The "goal" you speak of is unattainable because no one but the poor and the welfare class will use it.
I'd tell you to pull you're head out of your ___, if you had a head in the first place with anything i it. Why don't you concentrate on your studies so you can graduate and so you will stop wasting our tax dollars subsudizing an eduaction for a moron and a waste like yourself?
Instead of attacking the person how about address your opinion on the issue. Does it make sense to spend a ton of money on the busway? How else could this money be spent in regard to improving transportation? Is rail the better alternative? Try putting the energy you waste on attacking good people to better use like addressing the issue.
Is this the best the gop could find a dem wantabe.
February 18, 2010 10:58 AM:
Agreed. The bus-way is a ridiculous waste of the tax payer's money as well as being practically worthless and wrong-headed.
Mills is correct in rallying opposition to this and we all in Bristol should support him and especially Mike Nicastro as well in their efforts.
AGAIN! Instead of attacking the person, how about addressing your opinion on the issue. Does it make sense to spend a ton of money on the busway? How else could this money be spent in regard to improving transportation? Is rail the better alternative? Try putting the energy you waste on attacking good people to better use like addressing the issue.
Your personal attacks our of no use and make Bristol look bad.
Steve Im sorry your blog turned into a blog filled with negative people. It must make you sad ?
Wow it's good to see a Republican with a brain.
It can't make Steve too mad because he still prints it!
What will come out of dave mills mouth next. Or should we say mayor mike nicastro.
mills needs an identity but stealing mike nicastro's ego amounts to nothing more than identity-theft.
mills needs to grab some ideas of his own.
Mills is right! Its a waste of money!
Mills is fighting no one this is Nicastros words using his puppet. Mills proved hes just a big horses ass. Dave how much snow have shoveled for the elderly. Is it none.
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