Like it or not, Bristol should seize busway opportunity

When the argument about whether to build the busway between New Britain and Hartford raged, Bristol's officials mostly lined up firmly against it. They argued that the $575 million busway would do nothing for Bristol. When Gov. Dannel Malloy opted to plunge forward with the new bus-only road, Bristol carped from the sidelines and placed its hope in a $1 million commuter rail study that appears to be stalled on some abandoned tracks somewhere. Meanwhile the busway is drawing ever closer to completion. By next year, it will be operating. Whether that's a good thing or a bad one doesn't really matter now. What does matter is that Bristol find some way to take advantage of its existence. Aside from a few folks with extremely rosy glasses, there's a wide consensus that the new line is going to have a hard time drawing the number of passengers projected. True or not, the state is going to be trying to up the use, because it makes sense, given the buses running up and down the 9.1-mile route all day and much of the night. That's an opportunity for Bristol. Though officials never talk about it in public, they should be eyeing ways to help commuters reach the busway and use it. It's foolish to ignore it, particularly since the state might be willing to help upgrade the availability and quality of the buses serving Bristol commuters. It's not hard to imagine a new "station" of some sort, perhaps at the mall site, which isn't getting used for anything else. It's got plenty of parking and a little bus shelter with some style might actually improve the place a bit. It would certainly bring more folks downtown. No doubt there are lots of other ideas out there. The city should be talking about them, at every relevant board meeting and to anyone who might be able to help. The public will be skeptical, of course, but even busway foes aren't stupid. Let's see how this costly new transit system can boost Bristol. 
Copyright 2014 All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Martin hit for opposition to the busway

Press release from the Connecticut Working Families Party:

Connecticut Working Families Party questions Henri Martin’s judgment on Busway

When Republican Bristol City Councilor Henri Martin announced his run for Connecticut State Senate in the 31st district, he was heavily critical of the New Britain to Hartford Busway. The busway, which will be completed in February of 2015, has created good jobs for workers in central Connecticut. It shows poor judgment on Henri Martin’s part to criticize a project already underway which is on time, on budget, and providing needed jobs in the building trades sector.

This isn’t a partisan issue; it’s about what is best for workers. New Britain’s newly elected Republican Mayor Erin Stewart said of the Busway: “But, whether you supported it or not, it’s here,” she said. “So, the question now is: How are we going to make it work, not only for New Britain but for the residents of the central Connecticut corridor?”

Every year, the Connecticut Working Families Party looks at the records of all the candidates from every party and only endorses the candidates who share our values. That means being a champion for issues like raising the minimum wage, expanding Connecticut's historic paid sick days, and promoting infrastructure projects that put Connecticut residents back to work, like the busway.

Copyright 2014 All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Busway breaks ground today in Hartford

Groundbreaking on the $567 million busway between Hartford and New Britain takes place this afternoon.
And it's not busway anymore. Now they're called it CTfastrak.You have to love that. It takes 15+ years just to break ground on the plan and somebody thinks, "hey, let's name it fast track."While I'll continue to have a reporter's natural skepticism about this whole endeavor, I sure hope its advocates are right. It's be nice if all these millions prove a boon to both transportation and development.
Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Nicastro: Busway 'has already failed'

Steve,

I saw your Blog posting on the Busway and despite trying to talk myself out of responding I just could not resist a short note on Jim Cameron’s article in the Ridgefield News.  To make it short I invite Mr. Cameron to call me or visit with us her at 200 Main so he can see the mountain of information we have collected over three years.  This data doesn’t just validate that the Busway will fail but it confirms that it has already failed. 

It’s only fair that Mr. Cameron see this information so he doesn’t find himself parroting back the boiler plate Busway “rah, rah” that his article contained.  As I read it I was able to close my eyes and continue it word for word, all the while hearing either Lyle Wray’s or Mike Sander’s voice.  His content was the same rote presentation that DOT & CRCOG have been making since 2009.  I wish I had a ten-spot for every time I’ve heard the “Busway is just like a train except it runs on tires and cement.”    

As a side note none of these comments should come as a surprise to Mike Sanders.  I like Mike and consider him a friend.  He’s doing what he has to do to protect his project and he has become a master at spin in doing so.  That’s contrary to the legislative proponents whose only defense on the House Floor the other day was the use of “FUD” or fear, uncertainty and doubt.  Not one word in their comments on the merits.  That about says it all.

Mike

Michael D. Nicastro

President & Chief Executive Officer

Central Connecticut Chambers of Commerce

Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Busway to cost $100M for first decade alone

The legislature's Office of Fiscal Analysis included a mention in its brief write up this week about the proposed $567 million that the finished project would require an $8 million subsidy for Fiscal Year 2015 and that the subsidy would go up 3 to 3.5 percent annually.Do the math on that and you'll find that in its first decade of operations alone, the busway between Hartford and New Britain will require $100 million in taxpayer subsidies. Take it out another decade, and we're looking at a cost of about $250 million for its first 20 years of operation.That's for an anticipated increase of about 2,000 round trip commuters per day, on weekdays anyway.It's not hard to understand why state Rep. Whit Betts and state Sen. Joe Markley were able to draw some Democratic votes for their amendments seeking to block the busway, including the votes of every Democrat from Bristol and most of them from West Hartford, where the project is also unpopular.Those amendments failed, though, and it doesn't appear there's anything left for opponents to do to stop the project.And, hey, maybe that's a good thing. One commuting expert who loves trains had a piece today hailing the busway.
Update at 9 a.m.: Mike Sanders, the transportation department manager who oversees the Busway project, points out that the dollar figures I'm using are in 2015 dollars. That means that in real terms, the dollars down the road are not worth what a dollar is today. They, too, are inflating. The subsidy, in other words, is constant -- about the equivalent of $7 million a year in today's money. Still a lot, yes, but the equivalent of something more like $70-80 million in 2012 dollars over the course of a decade or $150 million in 2012 dollars over 20 years. It all depends on how you look at it, but what Mike is pointing out is as true as what I wrote above. It just explains the figures a bit more deeply.
Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

'Cold Day in hell' before Mudry will apologize to Betts

Open Letter to Mr. Betts’ Demand for an Apology:

I must have touched a raw nerve in Mr. Betts when I asked if it was possible that he might be receiving a kickback or funding for a future campaign for his efforts in opposing the Busway.  I followed that question up with the statement that it was a harsh question; however, in this day and age when politicians are getting caught taking kickbacks and making a living by screwing the taxpayers, I thought it was an honest question.  That’s all it was, a question!!  There were no serious accusations or scandalous remarks or any character-assassinations as Mr. Betts somehow perceived or interpreted from reading my letter.  There were honest and credible questions about why a Representative elected from the city of Bristol, and town of Plymouth, would spend so much time traveling to Washington to oppose something that’s happening in another city?  Why isn’t Mr. Betts spending his time trying to get things fixed right here in his own district?  What about the problems with the Pequabeck River which is prone to flooding even more so now that the flow of the river has been changed due to the big storms last year. Has he done anything regarding that instead of trying to make headlines for himself by opposing a project that’s due to have a shovel in the ground for much needed jobs later this month?  Has Mr. Betts done anything about the flooding of the Mine Brook along Mix St. and Farmington Ave.?

As I stated in my letter, I am not advocating for the Busway because I personally would like to see light rail; however, I’m not that naïve to realize that the Busway has received all the permits, funding, and passed all the hurdles and obstructions put in its way, that although it is a very expensive project at, according to Mr. Betts figures, $1000.00 per inch, it is a project that will provide much needed jobs RIGHT NOW!!!!!

Mr. Betts has stated that the alternative to the Busway would be using the state funds to repair our roads and bridges.  That’s where I have a problem with Mr. Betts not being forthright with the taxpayers.  Mr. Betts is fully aware that if the Busway was stopped tomorrow and the funds were made available to use for road and bridge repair, it would take years for studies and applications for permits to be completed before one shovel goes into the ground to fix any road or bridge.  I ask Mr. Betts to be so kind as to tell me which road, what bridge in what city or town would be the first to be repaired?  Can Mr. Betts tell me when the first shovel would be put into the ground to start those repairs?  The answer to those questions would be NO, I can’t tell you!!!  Reason is because Mr. Betts, and the rest of the naysayers who oppose the Busway, are fully aware and cognizant of the facts I stated above are true and they are using the argument of fixing roads and bridges to play on the voters emotions because it sound so much better than wasting that money on the Busway.  Another fact that Mr. Betts won’t tell the taxpayers is that the cost to fix all the roads and bridges in this state would cost in excess of three TRILLION dollars and the three hundred thousand or so dollars the state is using for the Busway wouldn’t put a dent in that amount.  Just be honest and truthful instead of telling half-truths!!

Finally, Mr. Betts is upset about character-assassination; however, he has no objection to putting a label on me by stating that I am a member of a labor union and a member of the Bristol Democratic Town Committee and alleging that my personal beliefs are somehow the beliefs of those organizations.  The Press put the label of me being a member of the Bristol Democratic Town Committee, not I. 

As far as my credibility goes, Mr. Betts, it is just fine and it doesn’t need restoration like you stated.  I stand by my facts, hold my head up high, and look you straight in the eye when I talk to you or anybody else.  As for an apology which you unrightiously demand, it will be a cold day in hell before I apologize for what I believe in!!

Joseph Mudry, Jr. 

Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Betts, Markley still fighting to block Busway

New press release from state Sen. Joe Markley, a Southington Republican, and state Rep. Whit Betts, a Bristol Republican:

Betts & Markley – Final push to block funding for the busway

Hartford, CT – Fresh off a trip to Washington D.C., Senator Joe Markley (R-Southington) and Representative Whit Betts (R-Bristol) are rallying the troops to block funding for the New Britain to Hartford busway.

Senator Markley said, "This thing costs nearly $1,000 an inch for a roadway on land that's already graded. That's an incomprehensible number. It's like paying $50,000 for a toaster."

Representative Whit Betts added, “"Using $600 million of taxpayer money to pay for a 'new' controversial busway when a bus system already exists between New Britain and Hartford is irresponsible and unacceptable. There are more urgent priorities - such as repairing the roads and bridges damaged by Hurricane Irene - that are of greater importance to CT taxpayers. Common sense screams out that this $60 million a mile project should be put on hold."

Both visited with a senior member of U.S. Representative John Mica’s office on Tuesday in Washington, D.C. The meeting with the Republican Chair of the Transportation Committee’s staff was positive and renewed the fight to stop funding for this $569 million busway boondoggle.

"We were able to raise some questions with Rep. Mica's staff about environmental issues with the busway, about how some expenses aren't being included in the numbers presented in Washington," Senator Markley said.

Right now, Congress is reviewing the project, and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is deciding whether to formally approve funding contracts for the project.  The FTA deadline is November 7^th.

The busway is a prime example of government waste and both legislators have called on the National Taxpayers Union (NTU) to fight against federal funding for the 9 mile project.  Executive Vice President of the NTU has written a letter calling for congress to ‘pause in the funding process.’  A portion of the attached letter is below:

Thus, in our opinion a prudent action would be a pause in the funding process, pending timely and comprehensive additional review of the busway’s ramifications. While the project’s advocates would question the feasibility of such a pause or raise the prospect of harm from more delay, the potential risks to the taxpayers of Connecticut and the nation deserve further consideration.

Sincerely,

Pete Sepp/Executive Vice President National Taxpayers Union

Representative Betts and Senator Markley are calling on opponents to voice their opinion by calling Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood’s office at 202-366-4000.

On the state level a hearing officer from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environment (DEEP) is deciding whether a wetlands permit will be granted to Connecticut transportation officials.  The decision – expected to take about two months – will then be referred to DEEP Commissioner Dan Esty for final approval.  Busway construction can’t begin until the permit issue is decided.

Copyright 2011. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Taxpayers union says hit brakes on Busway

Letter issued by the National Taxpayers Union this week after its officials met with state Rep. Whit Betts, a Bristol Republican, and state Sen. Joe Markley, a Southington Republican. The pair talked to the organization during an anti-busway lobbying trip to the nation's capital:

Dear Senator Markley and Representative Betts:I am grateful for the opportunity to have met with you yesterday and to have discussed your reservations over a project to construct a busway from New Britain to Hartford. This undertaking, which involves federal as well as state tax dollars, would affect the National Taxpayers Union’s (NTU) 362,000 members nationwide and particularly its 4,600-plus members in Connecticut.As you know, NTU and its members seek infrastructure policies that emphasize serving the greatest number of consumers efficiently, involving the private sector to the maximum extent possible, reducing the risk of long-term taxpayer liabilities, allocating finite resources effectively, and exercising strenuous fiscal oversight. While such principles would seem obvious prerequisites to any capital project, in our 42-year institutional experience their application has been far from universal.In fact, academic analyses have identified disturbing patterns here and abroad in such projects that often lead to cost overruns. Last month, Veronique de Rugy and Matthew Mitchell of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University provided an excellent synopsis of such research in a working paper entitled, “Would More Infrastructure Spending Stimulate the Economy?”. Among the works they cited was a seminal 2002 review of 258 transportation projects worldwide, appearing in the Journal of the American Planning Association. This study determined that costs were underestimated in nearly 90 percent of the cases examined. The working paper by de Rugy and Mitchell also cast doubt on whether claims of massive “multiplier effects” from infrastructure stimulus – especially in countries with fiscal and economic profiles like that of the U.S. – are sufficiently reliable. Such a conclusion has direct bearing on contentions from busway proponents that the expenditure will deliver large windfalls to the state’s economy.This is but one reason why NTU has long asserted that public officials have a special obligation to carefully study the potential outcome of such programs. Connecticut’s tenuous financial situation, even after enactment of onerous tax increases on its citizens, is yet another recommendation for caution on many kinds of expenditures involving multi-year commitments. Finally, you have brought to our attention several details of the busway project that could be of concern to taxpayers, including: a cost estimate of nearly $600 million for a route spanning barely more than nine miles, controversy over its benefits to the economy and the surrounding communities, and questions about whether less expensive alternatives have been adequately explored.Regarding the latter point, some have suggested that passenger rail would be a more frugal approach to transit in the New Britain-Hartford area. To be clear, NTU is not taking a stance in favor of any particular option mentioned in the current public debate. We simply believe that all the foregoing circumstances merit greater deliberation, especially before significant federal taxpayer money begins to flow. This is a matter of urgency with the busway since, according to information you have supplied, major federal resources will begin to enter the picture four weeks from now.Thus, in our opinion a prudent action would be a pause in the funding process, pending timely and comprehensive additional review of the busway’s ramifications. While the project’s advocates would question the feasibility of such a pause or raise the prospect of harm from more delay, the potential risks to the taxpayers of Connecticut and the nation deserve further consideration.Sincerely,Pete SeppExecutive Vice President
Copyright 2011. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Busway foes heading to DC to make their case

A last-ditch effort to convince congressional Republicans to block the proposed busway between Hartford and New Britain is about to get underway.

State Rep. Whit Betts, a Bristol Republican, said Thursday that several busway critics plan to head to Washington next week to lobby congressional decision-makers to put the $573 million project on hold.

"We will be making a lot of noise," Betts said.

Joining Betts on the journey are state Sen. Joe Markley, a Southington Republican, and Mike Nicastro, the head of the Central Connecticut Chambers of Commerce, based in Bristol.

The state Department of Transportation is pushing the busway, with Gov. Dannel Malloy's support, to promote mass transit and alleviate congrestion on Interstate 84.

New Britain officials and developers argue that the busway will spur growth along its 9.4-mile path from Hartford's Union Station to downtown New Britain.

Betts said the arguments for the project are "obviously flawed" and the cost of the project is outrageous for any benefits it might bring.

Betts said Congress has until November 6 to raise objections to the project, which has the backing of federal regulators.

"We think once they've seen the facts, they will agree this project should not move forward," Betts said.

Copyright 2011. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Malloy seeks OK for $90 million for busway

From the State Bond Commission agenda for next week:
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATIONSPECIAL TAX OBLIGATION BONDS ROADMAP FOR CONNECTICUT’S ECONOMIC FUTUREREQUESTED:  1)An Allocation and Bond Authorization (to agency) $89,740,0002)Approval to authorize the Secretary of the State Bond    Commission to accept reports and statements on behalf    of the Commission as required by the Act.   FROM:  Sec. 4  Acct. No.  13033-DOT57000-43115Total Earmarking  $1,000,000,000Previous Allocations  708,767,695Balance Unallocated  $ 291,232,305REASON FOR REQUEST: These funds are requested, pursuant to Section 13b-79p of the Connecticut General Statutes, to provide the balance of the state’s 20% share of funding to commence construction on the New Britain-Hartford Busway.  The first of a series of construction contracts will be awarded and begin construction this summer. This project will create or retain 12,000 construction related jobs. Total Estimated Cost  $572,690,000Less: Estimated Federal Funds  459,350,000         Previous State Funding  23,600,000Total, This Request  $89,740,000
Copyright 2011. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Malloy to hear busway arguments on Monday

NEW BRITAIN – In the little strip of woods behind Fairview Cemetery , remnants of the old Highland Route rail line remain.
Rusty tracks run through the trees, bent and broken in places, and a few poles that once held glass insulators for utility lines still poke through to the sky.
Scattered along the ground are mounds of busted railroad ties, smashed bottles, odd metal contraptions, headless plastic dolls and heaps of unidentifiable garbage.
It’s been a long time since a railroad engine roared through – 1954 to be exact – but the old right of way between downtown New Britain and Newington junction is mostly intact, a forgotten bit of history that’s now at the center of controversy.
That 4.4-mile stretch would make up nearly half of the proposed busway route between the Hardware City and Hartford’s Union Station, a section that can be used either for buses or trains but not both.
For many critics of the $573 million busway plan, gobbling up the rail right of way would make it nearly impossible to create a reasonable rail commute into Hartford from New Britain and points to the west, including Bristol.
The only serious alternative route would take the trains from downtown New Britain to the southeast into the junction in Berlin, where they could proceed north again over the major line that runs from New Haven north to Massachusetts and beyond. That’s miles out of the way.
But the train option hasn’t been fully studied, let alone approved, while the busway project is ready to roll.
This is just one of many issues that Gov. Dannel Malloy will have to weigh Monday when teams of busway backers and bashers make a pitch behind closed-doors in Hartford for about 90 minutes each.
Malloy said that after hearing from both sides, he’ll decide whether to press on with busway or hit the brakes on the 9.4-mile project.  Click here for the full story.

And here's a little video that shows why it's a really good thing I never went into TV:

Copyright 2011. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Pro-busway group releases new video

Here's a video released this week by the Regional Plan Association's Connecticut office touting the proposed busway between Hartford and New Britain:



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Copyright 2011. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Rail advocates speak out at state Capitol

Here's a video that the state Senate Republicans made on Friday featuring a couple of commuter rail advocates who came to speak in favor of state Sen. Jason Welch's bill to shift state money to the proposed commuter rail line between Hartford and Waterbury instead of the busway pushed by the state Department of Transportation. Take a look.




Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Malloy is key to busway's future

The $45 million allocated in President Obama’s new budget for the proposed busway between Hartford and New Britain won’t make much difference in whether the plan moves forward.

The key decision-maker remains Gov. Dannel Malloy, who said as recently as Monday that he hasn’t made up his mind.

With the state Department of Transportation preparing to put parts of the project out to bid next month and a full funding agreement between the state and federal highway officials due soon, the momentum for the busway project could carry the day unless the governor opts to hit the brakes.

Whether that will happen remains a giant question mark. Click here for the full story.

Source of funding

Federal New Starts Funds -- $275.3 million

Federal Urbanized Area Funds - $18.2 million

Federal Fixed Guideway Modernization Funds - $21.2 million

Federal Bus Discretionary Funds - $25.9 million

Federal Flexible Highway Funds - $112.7 million

National Highway Funds - $6 million

State Transportation Fund - $113.3 million

Busway hearings

The Central Connecticut Chambers of Commerce will hold two and possibly more informational sessions about the busway.

The sessions are slated to begin at 6 p.m. on both Monday, Feb. 28 and Wenesday, March 2 at the chamber office at 200 Main St. in Bristol.

The sessions are free and open to the public. Since space is limited, those who wish to attend should pre-register by calling (860) 584-4718 or at CentralCTChambers.org.

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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Welch seeks to kill busway

State Sen. Jason Welch introduced a bill this week that aims "to transfer all unexpended funds designated for the New Britain busway" so the money can be used instead "for the purpose of restoring commuter rail service from Waterbury to Hartford, through Plymouth, Bristol and Plainville."
The measure is before the transportation committee.
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

A sign the governor backs the busway?

When the State Bond Commission meets next Friday, it is expected to approve a $5 million allocation "to provide grants-in-aid for transit-oriented development projects."
The state Transportation Department request designates these as "transit-oriented development pilot projects":
(1) Station area development in all towns on the New Britain to Hartford busway corridor;  
(2) Station area development in Windsor and Meriden on the New Haven to Springfield rail line; 
(3) Station area development on the New Haven rail line from West Haven to Stratford; and 
(4) Station area development in New London on the Shore Line East rail line.
Projects within a half mile of a proposed station can qualify for between $250,000 and $1 million.
There's nothing to say that the busway station areas will actually get any money, but the listing of the busway may be an indication that Gov. Dannel Malloy may be willing to back the busway.
We'll see how it plays out.
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Waterbury paper blasts busway

In an editorial today, the Waterbury Republican-American included this: "Gov. Rell continues to push for the Springfield-New Haven commuter line despite a lack of evidence commuters would use it; and the even more wasteful, foolhardy New Britain-Hartford busway."
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Busway cost is higher than anticipated

The projected cost of the busway between Hartford and New Britain doesn’t include the tab for two new bridges that are vital to the $573 million plan.
Though rebuilding the Cedar Street bridge in Newington will add only $2.5 million to the tab, a plan to put a new bridge over the busway and rail lines at Flatbush Avenue in West Hartford may add another $45 million to the bottom line, according to the engineers overseeing the busway project.
Counting the bridges, which are linked to the project but carried separately on the state Department of Transportation’s books, the 9.4-mile busway’s cost to taxpayers could exceed $615 million.
At a Tuesday morning hearing in West Hartford, transportation officials said they are plunging forward with the busway plan. They said the first bids, for utility work, will be opened in January and construction should be underway in April.
“It’s full steam ahead until we’re told otherwise,” said Richard Armstrong, the principal engineer on the project. A link to the full story will be posted when it is available.

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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Busway critics pin hopes on Malloy

Critics of the proposed busway between New Britain and Hartford have new hope they can hit the brakes on the $573 million plan.
But supporters of the project – which would create nearly 1,000 construction jobs – say the 9.4-mile roadway must go forward.
“We’re full steam ahead,” Mayor Timothy Stewart of New Britain said Monday.
Two transportation-related items that critics hope may sway Gov.-elect Dan Malloy to kill the controversial busway are a new scheme to reconstruct Interstate 84 through Hartford and the legislature’s failure to approve a plan to replace Hartford’s Broad Street bridge.
For Stewart, the issues are designed “to create controversy just to muddy the waters” and have no merit.
He said Malloy “would be kind of silly” to shelve the busway project, losing $100 million in the process and making it likely the federal government won’t shovel any more transportation money to Connecticut.
Critics argue, however, that a commuter rail alternative can be done within a reasonable time frame at lesser cost. They said they’re sure the federal government, which is pushing rail, would back it. Click here to see the full story.
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

DeFronzo trashes busway

State Sen. Donald DeFronzo, the New Britain Democrat who co-chairs the transportation committee, couldn't make his position any clearer on the proposed $573 million busway between Hartford and New Britain than he did in a Q&A today for the Herald Press.
Here's what he said:
There is currently a debate over the use of rail or bus to meet Central Connecticut’s future transportation needs. While this difference exists, all sides have agreed for years that it is important to reduce traffic congestion on 1-84 eastbound into Hartford and achieve the economic development benefits of mass transit.
I believe rail has the greatest potential for region-wide economic development. Both rail and bus have advantages and disadvantages, but once the 9.6-mile busway is built at the astronomical cost of $600 million, New Britain will be permanently isolated from the New Haven-Springfield rail line. New Britain will be the only major city in Central Connecticut not on the rail line. New Britain has made its share of transportation policy mistakes (Route 72 through the city); it cannot afford to make one now that will doom the city to economic isolation for decades.
A rail system linking Waterbury, Bristol and New Britain to Hartford will allow for a direct commute from Central Connecticut to New York City and it will also allow for the joining of the New Haven-Springfield line in New Britain before moving on to Hartford. The potential economic development of that system will far out perform the limited and questionable busway concept.
For what it's worth, the last time I asked Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dan Malloy about the busway, he told me he'd "listen to Senator DeFronzo."
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com