Category: transportation

Vision Zero Task Force Sets Goals to Reduce Traffic Fatalities

Safety Plan Can Lead to Federal Implementation Grants By John McNamara NEW BRITAIN - The Common Council approved a resolution on December 11th setting long-range goals to "reduce fatal and serious injury crashes by 50% by 2035 and to reach 'Vision Zero' by 2045." A Vision Zero Task Force, announced by Mayor Stewart last May, … Continue reading Vision Zero Task Force Sets Goals to Reduce Traffic Fatalities

It May Be A "Magic Bus" After All: NB As The Center Of Rapid Transit

CT Fastraks -- called the "magic bus" to critics such as former Governor John Rowland -- will start rolling 12 months from now (February 2015) on the 9.3-mile rail right of way from New Britain to Hartford. The New Britain Herald's Scott Whipple previews the potential of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) for New Britain folks … Continue reading It May Be A "Magic Bus" After All: NB As The Center Of Rapid Transit

Virtual Busway Tour Starting At New Britain Station

A special section in The Hartford Courant has an interactive tour of the the New Britain to Hartford rapid bus transit system a/k/a "CTfastrak"  as provided by the CT  Department of Transportation at its project website http://www.ctfastrak.comThe state Bond Commission this month allocated $500,000 for transit-oriented development in the downtown district. The busses of the … Continue reading Virtual Busway Tour Starting At New Britain Station

Busway Advances: Rapid Transit Wins Over Purchase of 28,000 Jeep Patriots

Last week the arguments against Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) along the I-84 corridor were less about choosing rail over buses and more about opposing any public investment at all in commuter transportation.On April 29th, the state Bond Commission approved $90 million for the New Britain-Hartford bus way, the lion's share of state investment in a … Continue reading Busway Advances: Rapid Transit Wins Over Purchase of 28,000 Jeep Patriots

Take That Bristol: The Case For Buses Over Rail

Buses Are the Answer: Developing a vibrant bus network would cost peanuts, compared with high-speed rail options.By William A. CollinsTrains will neverLeave the gate;Buses seemA wiser fate.With all due respect to President Barack Obama and the $8 billion he's dishing out to the states for high-speed rail, it's too late.Fast trains have been overtaken by gradual events. … Continue reading Take That Bristol: The Case For Buses Over Rail

Desperation from Busway Opponents?

The arguments of opponents to the the New Britain-Hartford busway have a ring of obstructionism and desperation  in this Courant story by Don Stacom.  With news of $45 million in federal money for a busway to leverage other funds,  the project may finally see a  light at the end-of-the-tunnel. It's a little specious to oppose public … Continue reading Desperation from Busway Opponents?

Funds Coming For New Haven To Hartford Rail: Does This Mean They’ll Get The Hole In the Train’s Roof Fixed?

Measured against the hundreds of millions invested in the 11-mile New Britain-Hartford bus way, a $4 million appropriation to start "preliminary work" on high-speed rail on the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield Amtrak line doesn't seem like much.The FY 2010 federal appropriation that surfaced last week is, according to Sen. Chris Dodd, a "down payment" toward improving an … Continue reading Funds Coming For New Haven To Hartford Rail: Does This Mean They’ll Get The Hole In the Train’s Roof Fixed?

Railing Against Highways: Is Momentum Building For Expanded Rail, Bus Service?

Connecticut is a tale of two places when it comes to use of public transportation. There's the Gold Coast and the Metro North line with hundreds of thousands of riderships on trains that need replacement and upgrade. Then there is the rest of us in central and eastern Connecticut with limited bus services and downtowns … Continue reading Railing Against Highways: Is Momentum Building For Expanded Rail, Bus Service?

Commuter Question: Rail Over Busway

Today's Courant story by Don Stacom reports on a brewing change in legislative thinking on public transit in the area led by State Rep. David McCluskey of West Hartford. McCluskey, disturbed over the lack of progress by the Department of Transportation on the New Britain busway, recently called for dumping the New Britain/Hartford busway as … Continue reading Commuter Question: Rail Over Busway