Many in Bristol are disappointed that House Speaker Chris Donovan of Meriden and environmental activists yesterday jumped aboard the proposed $573 million busway between Hartford and New Britain.
Donovan said the fight to block the busway is over.
Well, maybe.
Environmentalists bought the tale that a state study back in the 1990s found the busway to be the most cost-effective solution to congestion in the region.
But that's only partly true.
The study never even looked at Bristol or anywhere west of New Britain -- the very area served by the rail line.
It also laid out a fairly small price difference between rail and the busway. At the time, the busway was cheaper at $80 million or so. But the price tag has skyrocketed.
It's not clear that the price of rail has risen nearly as much. It could well be that a more environmentally friendly option -- rail -- would serve more riders in a wider region and cost less.
The truth is that nobody knows if that's so. It will take a comprehensive study to find out.
But if the busway goes ahead, the utility of rail immediately plummets. And Bristol will wind up with nothing, rail advocates insist.
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
10 comments:
This is an expensive waste of taxpayer money and needs to be re-examined for the actual value (if any) it will bring.
Where is Frank????
We hear and read about the Busway and the Railway, and the cost of each.
What we don't hear ANYTHING about is the ongoing operating cost, which would come from the taxpayers at the state and/or local level!
If it was profitable, let the private sector do it like it was done years ago!
And, what is the benefit of either option: please someone, spell it out.
Ecology, economy, environment etc: has anyone done any research on this?
Or is this another cost rammed down our throat?
I'm not a big rail advocate, I'm a fiscal conservative. This bus-way is a road to (and from) no where. In other words this is a waste of the tax-payers' money.
I'm excited, I can't wait to use the busway for my Hartford commute.
What are the leaders of Bristol doing to promote and justify the Rail concept?
Let's see what the census tells us .
The population may have dwindled to the extent either will not be needed.
I seems quite possible the only need for either rail or bus lines would be for a speedy escape from the Bluest of states , ( widely known as the highest taxed and least efficient in the Nation ) Connecticut .
Thank You Tom Colapietro for NOT helping Bristol and doing what you do best nothing!!!
"I'm excited, I can't wait to use the busway for my Hartford commute.
April 2, 2010 10:20 AM"
--Sure you are. But you work for the DPW in New Britain, so when are you going to use it?
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