In November, then-Gov. Jodi Rell announced a package of biking and walking projects and policies.
In 2010, Gov. Jodi Rell’s administration made good on earlier promises to emphasize transit in Connecticut, even as the state went through budget challenges similar to its neighbors. Both the Hartford-New Britain Busway and New Haven-Springfield Rail Line are close to construction, and they weren’t the only transit improvements the state realized in 2010. The state also made promising steps towards supporting biking and walking.
In June, ConnDOT Commissioner Joseph Marie abruptly stepped down. But many of the priorities pushed by Marie continued through the rest of the year. Here are some of the themes from 2010:
Transit Projects Advance
The Hartford-New Britain Busway got a huge boost in February, when the Federal Transit Administration recommended that the project receive a grant from the New Starts transit program. The FTA had been skeptical of ConnDOT’s commitment to the project in prior years, but the agency was able to turn around the project under Commissioner Marie. Despite some late opposition, the busway gained the support of multiple Chambers of Commerce, advocates, and House Speaker Chris Donovan. A “federal funding grant agreement” that will allow construction to proceed is expected later this year.
The New Haven-Hartford-Springfield Rail Line benefited from ConnDOT’s repositioning of the project to qualify for high-speed rail funds (a path previously suggested by advocates). At the beginning of the year, the project was awarded $40 million in federal high-speed rail funds. The state stepped up for the project by bonding out $260 million in August, which was rewarded when the project won $121 million in high-speed rail money in October. The project is now on the cusp of a “near-term vision” to increase Amtrak service and introduce a new commuter rail system to Connecticut.
Service to and from New London on the Shore Line East rail service was increased in May. Another long-time promise nearing fruition has been the delivery of new M8 rail cars to replace the ancient equipment on Metro-North’s New Haven Line. A last-minute glitch means the new cars will enter service in January, later than planned. Rail riders will surely appreciate the upgrade.
For the most part, Connecticut transit agencies were able to avoid the giant fare hikes and service cuts of other states in the region. The Bridgeport Transit Authority raised fares in October, though this garnered little notice from politicians compared to the much larger outcry over relatively small fee increases on Metro-North.
A Boost For Bikers and Walkers
One area that ConnDOT has historically neglected has been biking and walking projects. Early in the year, the agency showcased this deficiency yet again with a “blame the victim” response to a Tri-State report on pedestrian fatalities.
The State Legislature fell just short of passing a “vulnerable users” bill that would have enhanced penalties for careless drivers who injure or kill walkers, bikers, emergency personnel, and others. But the state’s complete streets law, passed in 2009, went into full effect this year. And Gov. Rell and ConnDOT Acting Commissioner Jeff Parker closed the year by announcing a package of bike and pedestrian projects and policy reforms that will close gaps in the state’s nonmotorized trail network and increase ConnDOT’s commitment to sidewalks and urban bike projects.
