WASHINGTON – While the federal government was spending months soliciting feedback from the public on several alternatives for overhauling the railroads in the Northeast corridor, it had already identified a preferred plan that would dramatically change rail travel in Connecticut.
Transportation
Stories about traveling into, out of, or around Connecticut via Metro North and other trains, Tweed and Bradley airports, state highways and more.
Posted inTransportation
Federal rail official: ‘No elevated track’ in Old Lyme; spokesman creates doubt, but later clarifies
OLD LYME — Less than an hour after a top federal rail administrator Wednesday renewed her agency’s promise not to build an aerial rail line through Old Lyme’s historic district, a spokesman for the agency backpedaled on the statement and said it could not be ruled out entirely. The spokesman later amended his comments and reaffirmed the agency’s commitment.
Posted inTransportation
For Malloy and transportation, the campaign never ends
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy promoted improvements to Metro North two weeks ago in New Haven. Last week, he delivered an I-84 widening update at a construction site in Waterbury. On Tuesday, he visited a CTfastrak station in Hartford to mark the system’s four millionth passenger trip.
Posted inTransportation
Opponents organizing to derail new route for high-speed trains
OLD LYME — As federal officials near a decision on a railroad proposal residents are calling destructive and wasteful, about 70 people from across the southeastern Connecticut’s shoreline gathered Friday with local, state and federal lawmakers at a forum at Old Lyme Town Hall to find out how they could help stop it “dead in its tracks.”
Posted inTransportation
CT split on rail overhaul; Malloy says repairs should come first
WASHINGTON — There is split opinion in Connecticut on ambitious proposals to overhaul rail service in the Northeast Corridor, with some preferring to put resources into a coastal route to Boston and others backing an inland route that runs through Hartford with a new stop near Storrs.
Posted inTransportation
Amtrak favors one rail overhaul plan, Old Lyme pans another
WASHINGTON – Amtrak is backing an ambitious plan proposed by the Federal Railroad Administration to overhaul rail transportation in the Northeast corridor, a proposal that would cost more than $300 billion. An alternative proposal for a new line through Old Lyme and other shoreline towns drew opposition.
Posted inMoney, Transportation
Report: CT, New England states lag nation in capital spending
State and local capital spending in Connecticut and the other five New England states has been well below the national average since 2000, according to a new report issued this week by the public policy arm of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.
Posted inTransportation
If you can wait until 2023, no more red lights on Route 9
It’s a “minimalist” plan to solve one of Connecticut’s enduring traffic oddities — two traffic lights that suddenly appear on what is otherwise a limited access highway through Middletown. But the planning still will take another four years.
Posted inEducation, Money, Politics, Transportation
House rebalances state’s credit card, cancels $1B in bonding
The House of Representatives gave unanimous final approval in special session Thursday to a plan to rebalance Connecticut’s credit card in the face of shrinking tax revenues, canceling or delaying about $1 billion in financing for a wide array of projects and programs.
Posted inTransportation
Senate would allow Amtrak to keep profits in Northeast Corridor
WASHINGTON — Congress will fall short of approving the $1.9 billion President Obama sought to subsidize Amtrak’s nationwide operations, but it is, for the first time, moving to rope off money for the Northeast corridor, the only profitable routes for the passenger rail line.
Posted inEducation, Health, Money, Politics, Transportation
House sends lean, overdue CT budget to Malloy’s desk
Updated at 11:08 p.m.
The Democrat-controlled House voted 74-70 to adopt a $19.76 billion budget that closes a nearly $1 billion hole in the 2016-17 fiscal year without raising taxes or tapping Connecticut’s modest emergency reserve. Eight Democrats joined with all 62 Republicans present to oppose the measure.
Posted inEducation, Energy & Environment, Health, Justice, Money, Politics, Transportation
Measure strips $1B in bonded projects off of CT’s credit card
The Senate voted late Thursday rebalance Connecticut’s credit card in the face of shrinking tax revenues, canceling or delaying about $1 billion in financing for a wide array of projects and programs, and to authorize $380 for municipal school construction, down significantly from recent years.
Posted inEducation, Health, Money, Politics, Transportation
5 things to know about the new state budget plan
The Senate is expected to vote today on a $19.76 billion spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year intended to wipe out a $1 billion deficit, a measure touted by Democrats for not raising taxes and blasted by Republicans for relying on illusory savings.
Posted inMoney, Politics, Transportation
Malloy trades transportation setbacks for budget savings
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s transportation rebuilding program took several hits this past legislative session as the governor sought to entice legislators to accept more long-term spending cuts.
Posted inEducation, Health, Justice, Money, Politics, Transportation
Nonpartisan analysts: Tentative CT budget wipes away lots of red ink
The tentative plan to close a $1 billion hole in Connecticut’s finances starting July 1 also would wipe away more than 40 percent of the red ink threatening state government after the November elections, nonpartisan fiscal analysts reported Tuesday evening.