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 too limited for emerging needs. This would sink New Britain's terminal station planned for the former Greenfield's property and force a change in thinking for downtown development.
From Don Stacom's story:
"The busway was supposed to be a way to keep from building another lane on I-84, but I don't have much faith that people are going to drive into New Britain to take a bus to Hartford," McCluskey said. "But would people in Bristol and Plainville and New Britain use a train to Hartford? And would people in West Hartford welcome a way to get to New York? I think so."
With last summer's gas prices a harbinger of things to come and a surge in demand for rail service (even in Connecticut), McCluskey has a point. Investment in rail on existing tracks may be where we should have started 10 years ago. It's another indication that Connecticut has had more of a highway department than a true Department of Transportation through the years.
Related: Rep. McCluskey's blog frequently reports on transit conferences and meetings at http://ctprogressivedemocrat.blogspot.com/
1 comment:
The rail idea would be terrific: It would meet a real need, and would also help upgrade NB's image.
I live in NB, and I can't think of someone in another town who'd say, "hey, let's drive to downtown New Britain to . . . catch a bus."
Light rail, though? Totally different . . . especially if it made it easier to get to NYC without a car. (This would also presumably appeal to CCSU students.)
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