The year 2007 looks to be a promising one for New Britain

by Christine Moyer

WASHINGTON - The expected completion in 2007 of a bus route stretching about nine miles from Hartford to New Britain will reduce traffic congestion on Interstate 84 and stimulate economic development in New Britain, according to Michael Sanders, transit administrator for the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CDOT).

The U.S. Senate has approved a transportation appropriations bill for next year that includes more than $40 million to help reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality in Connecticut. Of that, $10 million would be spent on the Hartford-New Britain Busway. But the version approved earlier by the House includes no funds for the busway.

"This measure can literally help transport Connecticut to a brighter future," said U.S. Senator Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.). "It is a tremendous step in the right direction to help create new jobs, improve air quality, ease commute times and provide a better quality of life for families all across our state. I hope the House will agree with these important Connecticut priorities."

House and Senate negotiators now must try to reconcile the two versions of the bill. Dodd's office said the full $10 million still might be approved.

Connecticut, like other states, is suffering from increased automobile use, with traffic congestion turning what should be short commutes into long, frustrating ones.

The state's solution is a two-lane exclusive bus roadway, with about 12 stations, including one in New Britain and one in Newington. The project will cost $175 million or more, depending on the final design, Sanders said.

"We're still in the preliminary design," he said. "So it's reasonable that the cost could increase."

James Boice, chief of planning for CDOT, is optimistic that some part of the $10 million the Senate has approved will also be approved by the House. He said the roadway would be built with or without the $10 million. Congress has appropriated more than $17 million for the project in the last three fiscal years.

"These funds will encourage more commuters to use transit, get more cars off our clogged interstates and ensure our continued ability to attract new businesses to the state," said U.S. Senator Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.).

According to Dodd's office, the busway project has a dual purpose: to decrease congestion on I-84 and to create jobs. "It kills two birds with one stone," an aide said.

Peter Agostini, president of the New Britain Transportation Co., said the busway would be a "huge benefit" and boost the economy of New Britain as Hartford residents come to work in the city.

But, Agostini said, generating a sufficient passenger load to justify it may be difficult.

"Connecticut's a tough sell," he said. "It's one of the wealthiest states in the country, and they think, 'God forbid you take away our automobile.' "

Agostini added that he is certain people will take the bus if it is marketed properly. The state has been marketing public transportation in general, Boice said. But little has been done for the future busway.

"There is no heavy-duty marketing yet because we will not start service for four years," Sanders said. "That would be kind of premature."

Sanders was optimistic the new roadway would be a boon for New Britain.

"Clearly, people from Hartford will come to New Britain. It certainly will increase transportation infrastructure in New Britain," he said. He added that "there will be a lot of economic development along the whole route."

The exclusive busway would follow rail lines, some of them abandoned, from Hartford through Newington and into New Britain center, eliminating some of the environmental problems that building a busway from scratch would have entailed, according to Ned Hurle, director of environmental planning for CDOT.

According to a CDOT report, the exclusive busway would cut bus travel time between Hartford and New Britain by 11 minutes and bring it close to automobile drive times.