About 10 cyclists, who included members of advocacy group Bike Walk Connecticut and the town council, took a 10-mile spin to see what could be done to improve bike-car co-existence. Traffic in West Hartford make it a tougher place to cycle in than some more rural neighboring towns, Slifka said. Still, West Hartford set up
[continue reading...]

The Smart Growth Public Infrastructure Priority Act (A8011B/S5560B), which directs New York state agencies to make their infrastructure spending decisions in accordance with smart growth principles, has been signed into law by Gov. Paterson. The law was a priority for Vision Long Island, Empire State Future, TSTC, and other transportation and planning groups, and its passage was hailed by advocates.

The Town of Westbrook and 9 Town Transit held a ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday, August 31, to unveil the area’s first bus shelters. The Day reports witih photo.

WATERBURY, Conn. — The Connecticut Public Transportation Commission is planning a series of hearings to gather public opinion about transportation and what improvements and new services are needed. The first hearing is scheduled for Sept. 7 at Waterbury’s municipal building. via Commission seeking comment on Conn. public transit – The AP via the Connecticut Post.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (DOT) has launched its 2010 “Share the Road” campaign, highlighting the “3-feet” law that went into effect in late 2008, designed to provide a buffer zone for bicyclists. The goal of the campaign is to improve the safety of all travelers, including bicyclists, pedestrians and equestrians, through awareness and education.
[continue reading...]

The MTA wants to eliminate a 2 percent discount on people who buy monthly tickets, the 4 percent discount for people who also use the MetroCard, invalidate 10-trip tickets after three months, rather than the year duration that exists now, and invalidate round-trip tickets after seven days instead of three months. via Transit measures are
[continue reading...]

STAMFORD — As the $65 million first phase of the Stamford Urban Transitway nears completion, the project’s general contractor is due to stand trial next month in an alleged fraud scheme to overcharge for work on a New York shopping mall. via DOT overrode Blumenthal, kept firm on hire list – StamfordAdvocate. More on the
[continue reading...]

After more than a year of work, crews expect to finish building the new Route 4 bridge over the Farmington River in October. The new bridge won’t fix the narrow, sharp and hilly curve near the Hill-Stead Museum. But the DOT is reconfiguring the Route 4 intersection at Town Farm Road, a move it expects
[continue reading...]

If anyone doubted that Connecticut’s train commuters like their bar cars, a new survey puts that notion to rest. Ninety percent of people who took the survey by the Connecticut Rail Commuter Council want bar car service to continue on Metro-North and 82 percent said they use the cars when their train has one. via
[continue reading...]

WEST HAVEN — The state Department of Transportation has received bids for construction of the Metro-North train station, and is expected to award a contract to the low bidder in September. Assistant City Planner Harry Eberhart confirmed the DOT had recently received eight bids. The lowest was $37.3 million from Manafort Brothers Inc. in Plainville.
[continue reading...]

Having spent years watching public transit agency buses lumbering mostly empty along city and suburban streets, many of Connecticut’s pipe-dreaming officeholders have been inspired by the federal government. Why not match the mostly empty buses with a mostly empty commuter railroad system from New Haven to Hartford to Springfield, Mass.? via CHRIS POWELL: Commuter rail
[continue reading...]

Sens. Chris Dodd and Joe Lieberman have announced nearly $15 million in four federal grants for transit improvement projects throughout Connecticut. The Connecticut DOT was granted the funds by the Federal Transit Administration for a series of projects benefiting Hartford, West Hartford, New Britain, Newington and Bridgeport.

Two grants totaling nearly $6 million will be used for land acquisition, professional services, and site work for the New Britain-Hartford Busway.

Since the state is near insolvency thanks to record spending, taxes, debt and borrowing, the Democrats will say the only way to pay for suddenly vital road and bridge repairs would be through the-sky’s-the-limit emergency deficit spending. And if the Democrats control the Capitol next year and beyond, that deficit spending would be in addition
[continue reading...]

HARTFORD — Connecticut is facing a growing list of interrelated transportation problems, including aging infrastructure, worsening traffic buildup on state highways, and inadequate integration of existing facilities, the state’s top transit planner said yesterday. via State faces growing list of transit woes – StamfordAdvocate.

While cycling advocates hope to gain greater space aboard trains, Metro-North Railroad has slowed down plans to endorse a bike-hook design for Connecticut’s new 300-plus car M-8 fleet, officials said. via Metro-North puts off bike rack testing for new cars – Connecticut Post.

The Tri-State Transportation Campaign applauds Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell for her strong support of the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield Line, as shown by the State Bond Commission’s decision to release $260 million for the project today. Her support of this project puts Connecticut in the best possible position to receive funding from the second round of
[continue reading...]

State and local officials will break ground Wednesday on a new train station in North Kingstown that will extend commuter rail service from Boston to the southern part of Rhode Island by the end of 2011. via RI to break ground on commuter rail station | The Republican-American.

KILLINGWORTH — — Gov. M. Jodi Rell has appointed David Gumbart of Killingworth as a member of the Connecticut Greenways Council. via Killingworth Resident Appointed to Connecticut Greenways Council – Hartford Courant.

Metro-North Railroad is seriously considering buying double-decker coaches for its Harlem and Hudson lines, in a move to ease overcrowding on a rail network that routinely runs standing-room-only trains during rush hour. via Metro-North Considers Buying Double-Decker Trains – NYTimes.com.

Why do Connecticut officials keep calling their toy train linking Springfield and New Haven “high-speed rail”? Gov. M. Jodi Rell will ask the Bond Commission to borrow $260 million to match $220 million (also borrowed) from the feds, to get the “high-speed-rail” project on wheels. They keep tossing out that term, but “high-speed rail” has
[continue reading...]