In an abrupt reversal, the city has dropped all opposition to closing Flower Street to accommodate the New-Britain-to-Hartford busway. Mayor Pedro Segarra’s decision came after weeks of behind-the-scenes negotiations between city officials and aides to Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, who is committed to drive the busway to completion by early 2015. For more on this
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The DOT has scheduled two meetings in early March to hear from commuters, shoppers, college students and other prospective riders about the sort of service they want. For more on this story, visit: State Seeks Ideas For Busway Service, Schedule – Courant.com.

It might not sway detractors, but at least the Connecticut “Fastrak” busway connecting Hartford and New Britain is on time and on budget so far.

When Amtrak trains started running the extended Downeaster route in Maine on Nov. 1, Connecticut transportation planners should have recognized the message, Michael Nicastro said. “This was the project we said they should have done instead of the busway for a lot less money, and nobody listened,” said Nicastro, president of the Bristol-based Central Connecticut
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Despite heavy criticism, the controversial $567 million plan to build a 9.4-mile New Britain to Hartford busway project, CT Fastrak, is moving ahead at full speed. State officials promise the busway will transform the way thousands of Hartford-area residents and students commute to work and school, including Central Connecticut State University. However, the NBC Connecticut
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Thousands of insurance and state employees in the Capitol area can expect longer rush-hour delays and a lot of extra company in the next year or so as the state rebuilds the Broad Street bridge as part of the CTfastrak busway construction. The bridge, leading to a key eastbound ramp to I-84, is usually a
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From the office of State Sen. KEVIN WITKOS Reading the news lately, there has been an increased focus on the future of public transportation in our state. From the now infamous New Britain-to-Hartford busway to new plans for high-speed rail, these issues are important public policy decisions that will affect all of us — commuters
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By State Sen. ROB KANEYou know those buses which will soon be traveling along the $1,000-an-inch New Britain to Hartford busway? I have seen their future. In New York, Democrat Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced plans to hold a “fire sale” of unused trains purchased by the state as part of a failed high-speed rail
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At a West Hartford construction site Monday Department of Transportation Commissioner James Redeker said contractors are working on extended hours and using creative techniques to ensure the New Britain-Hartford busway is completed on time and within its budget. Redeker gave reporters a tour of the construction at what will become the Flatbush Avenue Station—one of
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Gesturing toward the path that busway construction crews cleared through the center of Fairview Cemetery, Sen. Joe Markley said Friday he’s more convinced than ever that the project is a mistake. “We know we’re wasting money, we know we’re creating an eyesore and disrupting people’s lives. Now we see that it even interferes with the
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In the past few years, however, Cleveland’s Euclid Avenue, which was decimated by the social unrest and acute disinvestment of the 1960s, has experienced an improbable rebirth thanks to its new bus rapid transit system.

State Rep. Sandy Nafis, D-Newington, says she won’t comment on the controversial CTfastrak busway project because her employer works on the project, a position that her GOP opponent in the 27th Assembly District race is calling “ridiculous.” via Busway Becomes Issue In 27th House District Race – Courant.com.

State Rep. Sandy Nafis, D-Newington, says she won’t comment on the controversial CTfastrak busway project because her employer works on the project, a position that her GOP opponent in the 27th Assembly District race is calling “ridiculous.” Nafis is the director of finance for Fitzgerald & Halliday Inc., a consulting firm that Nafis said started
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… Money was raided and swept from other funds to cover operating deficits. Why does this happen? Because the folks in charge of the purse strings at the state Capitol are addicted to spending your money. The $573 million New Britain to Hartford busway is one example. So is the $600,000 that was spent on
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As contractors start amassing payloaders and bulldozers along the path of the busway to Hartford, some homeowners along the route were raising last-minute concerns Wednesday about worsened noise, traffic detours and flooding in their neighborhoods. For more on this story, visit: Busway Public Relations Campaign – Courant.com.

Proponents herald the project as a job-creator that will decrease traffic congestion. Opponents say it’s a waste of money that won’t be used. CTNewsJunkie, CTMirror and others report.

Opponents of the 9.4-mile New Britain-to-Hartford busway rallied at the Legislative Office Building Wednesday morning where they were booed by dozens of construction workers who support the nearly $570 million project, CT News Junkie reports.

Republican lawmakers such as Rep. Whit Betts of Bristol and Sen. Joseph Markley of Southington continued to argue against the busway. Click on this environmental headline for more on this story from WTNH and The Connecticut Post.

This project (the Hartford-New Britain busway) will cost taxpayers $1,000 per inch to build. Yes, per inch! via Fighting to block bad ideas: tolls and a busway – Opinion – Foothills Media Group. Homeowners were not told of any compensation from the state for the taking of their property, and the promise of six foot
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Tolls option, busway intact; legislation moves on to House Hartford – The state Senate voted 22 to 14 late Thursday night on a bill that would allow E-ZPass-style tolls on the future second half of Route 11 to help finance the long-stalled project. For more on this story, visit: The Day – State Senate moves
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Sen. Andrew Maynard, proponent of a bill to put tolls on Route 11, said he felt like he was trapped on the bus from the movie “Speed” after discussion of his bill was hijacked by a debate on the New Britain-to-Hartford busway project.