[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qthU6VZEEeo[/youtube]
A new video from the Regional Plan Association previews central Connecticut’s transit future and what the completion of the state’s two major transit projects — the New Haven-Springfield commuter rail line and the Hartford-New Britain Busway — will mean for cities like Bristol and New Britain.
Narrated by RPA’s David Kooris, the video explains how feeder bus connections and reactivation of rail from Bristol through Berlin can further connect the region to Fairfield County and Hartford. It’s a clear, easy-to-understand explanation of how much the state stands to gain by finally finishing these critical transit projects.
This is an excellent review of the alternatives. I was skeptical of the busway when it was first proposed, but have become a proponent. This puts it into context nicely.
Great video David! Can we use it for our presentation to the Governor on the 21st? Call me in the office to discuss 860-826-3303.
Of course lets have a busway which will probably have the Great success of the Pittsburgh West and South Busways or the Los Angeles Harbor Freeway busway, all of which have ridership far below estimates. The pavement over the rail right of way will cost as much or more than replacing the track and extending it where necessary. The grade crossings will be more of a problem than rail crossings, just check the Dade County busway along Route 1 south of Miami or the Los Angeles Orange line. It is time to stop pushing failed solutions.
I love all the not-so-subtle photos of ESPN. Why are these even in there? None of the transit services discussed in the video will serve ESPN and its 5,000 and growing jobs. Totally misleading.
Also, the video’s authors should know better that Bristol-Berlin rail is not and never will be a viable alternative. Why even talk about this (unless, of course, you intend to dupe people into thinking that that train will come?) If rail is going to work, it needs to serve major cities–e.g. Waterbury and Hartford. Again, totally misleading.
Lastly–central Connecticut is far outside RPA’s region. We don’t need your outside influence. Go back to NY/NJ/Stamford. Just get out.
Actually, Bristol-Berlin IS a viable alternative, and has been for years. ConnDOT has it as part of their long-term transportation plan for the state. They’re just waiting for the legislature to act before they can implement the study, engineering, etcetera. Waterbury and Hartford already WILL be served by train, just not directly between the two. The busway provides that link, as it does the link with ESPN, since buses can run as feeders into the busway or to the train station…
This is a great explanation of the simple facts. This busway has not been sold well, and this explains almost everything in just four minutes. One thing that should be added is that the busway will allow for TOD (transit oriented development) at 11 different stops in a highly congested area, as opposed to just 2 or 3 if rail was put in the busway’s corridor.
You can have 11 different stops if you use rail to connect them instead of pavement. Given that a rail right of way is being used, rail could well cost less than pavement, especially because shoulders won’t be needed. Rail would be faster than bus and probably encourage more development at those nodes. With proper scheduling both local and express service can be provided by rail and proper integration with the local bus system in the same way German cities large and small do. Rail makes a far better trunk mode where both origins and destinations are scattered because a train can absorb multiple bus loads of passengers. Go to Miami and ride the busway from Dadeland South. Go to Los Angeles and ride the Harbor Freeway busway and Orange Line Busway, then ride the Blue and Gold light rail lines. Decide for yourself whether the busway is a good idea or just a pale imitation of light rail. Go to Boston and ride both the Silver Lines and the Green Lines and see if you notice a difference in ride quality. See for yourself whether BRT is more hype than reality.
To Clark: With 11 stops, rail would not be faster. It takes trains longer to get up to full speed than it does trains. Unlike Germany, destinations in central CT are not scattered as it is a densely developed region, necessitating more stops than traditional rail service.
Kiplinger’s has named the state’s capital one of the “10 Best Cities for Commuters.”
The Busway will cost 600 million? 600 million for what? We are told by our legislators our highways are 3 billion behind in highway maintenance? Where does spending 60 million dollars per mile fit into rational planning?
Busway has no parking, so increase the cost or build something no one will use. The idea that commuters will park and leave their cars open to easy targeting by criminals is ludicrously blind to reality.
Again, a few profiteers are champing at the bit to sink their teeth into taxpayer dollars on a pointless design, twenty years out of date and hire PR reps to cheer their irresponsible delusion.
The Busway proposal buys only twenty buses! OK, buy twenty buses for the 20 million budget figure as proposed and dedicate them to express service. OR, fund DATTCOs’ EXISTING DOT funded express service.
The Busway is a raid on taxpayers. The Busway kills rail, or even the possibility of rail. The Busway will serve no one when commuters discover there in no parking at “stations”.
Governor knows these facts. The taxpayer knows these facts. What are the PR reps for Busway doing? They are doing what they are paid to do. Deceive the public.
Get smart, dump the Busway.
Given that light rail or EMUs can accelerate faster than buses and are limited by what standing passengers can tolerate, the rail line will provide faster service than buses. With proper door configuration, stop time should be less because of faster boarding. Busways seem good in theory but rarely are good in practice. Cost overruns for busways seem to be more prevalent than those for rail.
[…] busway is expected to support over 16,000 trips a day, generate up to 6,000 jobs a year, provide the first real rapid transit service in the state, and […]
I think someone needs to call the Police…..we taxpayers are getting ripped off on this Busway. For the amount of money they are going to use (570 million) when this is done being built, we could have double tracked the whole line from Newington Junction to Waterbury, built all new stations and purchased new rail cars to run in between and still had money left over. CDOT has no idea how much a mile of rail cost so when they say it will cost more for rail they are just blowing smoke….I am sorry I voted for Gov. Dannel Malloy because I really thought he had the vision to kill this but he let CDOT get their way. CDOT stands for Constant Dropping of Tar and Can’t Deliver on Trains.
[…] well for the long-delayed project, which has projected ridership of 16,000 people a day and will lay the groundwork for transit-oriented development along the transit […]