Governor Rell Tells Transportation Committee: "Much Remains to be Done"

Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today submitted testimony to the General Assembly's Transportation Committee urging them to pass her budget's plan to expand service on Shoreline East, buy a further 24 new rail cars and make station and parking improvements on both the Shoreline East and Metro-North commuter rail lines.

"For decades Connecticut's transportation system languished as a state priority," Rell told lawmakers. "As time passed, our highways and roads became more congested, our bridges more neglected and mass transportation was at times a mere afterthought. Together, two years ago, we took this challenge on and made it a priority. Recognizing that this state could not continue to grow its economy and provide for Connecticut families if the arteries to the state were clogged, we instituted the most comprehensive transportation investments across Connecticut in over two decades. While our progress has been impressive, much remains to be done."

The Governor's Fiscal 2008-2009 budget proposals would add the first regular weekend service to Shoreline East in that line's history as well as making substantial improvements to parking and/or stations in Branford, Clinton, Madison, Guilford and Westbrook. The budget also funds a study of a proposed Transportation Center in New London.

In addition, the bill would fund the purchase of 24 more M8 rail cars, to be added to the fleet of more than 300 M8s now in design and on order from Kawasaki Rail Car Inc.

On Metro-North, one of the busiest commuter railroads in the world, Rell's proposals call for $35 million to build a new parking structure at the Stamford station and $5 million to make improvements at numerous stations along the line.

The budget also includes $3 million in each fiscal year to pay for half of a two-year pilot program to provide a tourism bus service in southeastern Connecticut linking various attractions, including the casinos. The grant is conditioned on the availability of an equal amount of funding from non-state sources.

Finally, the budget also calls for $20 million each year for priority bridge repair and rehabilitation projects.

"I am happy to tell you that we are already seeing the results of our work," Rell wrote. "Last year, ridership on Connecticut's bus and rail systems increased by more than 2.7 million riders. That represents a 5 percent increase on our fixed route bus services and Metro North, and an 8 percent increase on Shore Line East.

"Today we can confidently say that Connecticut has turned a corner in planning for its transportation future," the governor wrote. "However, we cannot allow this to be the end of our progress. We must be unrelenting in our focus and our expectations regarding the rejuvenation of this state's mass transit system and in making needed investments in the infrastructure Connecticut has in place. Together we have shown the leadership that was long overdue in planning for Connecticut's transportation future. I ask you to continue that effort by adopting this bill."