embers of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut believe that the main priorities of the state transportation policy should be to increase dedicated funding sources for mass transit, highway congestion relief and highway and bridge maintenance. We support congestion pricing/electronic tolling not only to provide needed revenue but especially to implement the goal of reducing congestion on our roads and to help decrease pollutants in our air. The League has also long supported a Fix-It-First policy over new construction and we continue to believe that we cannot build our way out of congestion. We oppose SB 289 for the following reasons:
The League believes that the future return of tolls to Connecticut is probably inevitable. But we firmly believe that this first introduction of a tolling proposal is not the right vehicle given the financial, environmental and policy concerns above. We urge you to oppose SB 289 when it comes up for a debate and possible vote today. Thank you for this opportunity to provide input. Respectfully submitted, Jara Burnett, League Transportation Specialist Statement by the League of Women Voters of Connecticut to the Transportation Committee in support of HB 5067 AA Committing Bus and Rail Fare Increases to Bus and Rail Upgrades by Jara Burnett, LWVCT Transportation Specialist Members of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut support this bi-partisan bill calling for the Administration and the General Assembly to earmark the revenues collected from the rail and bus fare increases for mass transit expenditures rather than letting these revenues be placed in the General Fund. Public transit is an enabler of economic activity. Getting people to work at a reasonable cost is critical to keep our economy working and growing and making Connecticut competitive and modern. Connecticut must maintain dedicated funding sources for mass transit, highway congestion relief and highway maintenance. To achieve this goal, the State should review all long-term and short-term funding options including congestion pricing and mileage-based pricing and commit to keeping these funds segregated from the general revenues. Support of HB 5067 would ensure that the newly-imposed bus and rail increases will not be placed in the General Fund but be used to improve necessary public transit. Thank you for this opportunity to provide input. To: Appropriations Committee for Public Hearing, February 16, 2012 From: Jara Burnett, LWVCT Transportation Specialist Re: LWVCT opposition to the reductions in HB 5014 AA Making Adjustments to State Expenditures and Revenues for the Fiscal Year Ending 6/30/13 Members of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut have long recognized the critical importance of public transit as an enabler of economic activity. Getting people to work at a reasonable cost is critical to keep our economy working and growing and making Connecticut competitive and modern. Thus, our members are concerned about the proposed adjustments to the 2012-13 budget of $8,893,762 to the Rail Operations Subsidy, $2,264,232 to the Bus Operation Subsidy and the $90,233 to the ADA Subsidy. In these difficult times, public transit is needed more than ever. Bus transit is the backbone of public transit in Connecticut. Commuter bus service continues to impact most immediately the congestion on our highways and provide mobility for our most economically-challenged citizens. Although we recognize that the fiscal situation is creating a serious scarcity of resources, now is not the time to reduce funding. Investment in transit generates short and long term jobs needed to keep our economy recovering. Traffic congestion is a great deterrent to attracting new employers to the state and keeping companies here. Railroads play a major role in decreasing traffic congestion and along with bus transit should be efficient, reliable and affordable. The proposed cuts in the Rail Operations Subsidy, Bus Operation Subsidy and the ADA Subsidy are simply too deep and will adversely affect a segment of the state’s population that is already feeling the economic downturn. We urge you to reconsider the proposed cuts. Thank you for this opportunity to provide input. LWVCT TRANSPORTATION PRIORITIES 2012 01/19/2012
Members of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut re-adopted transportation as one of the legislative priorities for the 2011 and 2012 legislative sessions. On behalf of the nearly 2,000 state-wide members of the League, we are pleased to submit our transportation and transportation-funding priorities for the upcoming session. Transportation is critical to keeping our economy viable, our workers working and making Connecticut competitive and modern. The League continues to believe that the principal goal of any transportation policy must be the reduction of all vehicular traffic on Connecticut’s roads. The League will advocate for the following measures:
Members of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut recognized the critical importance of transportation for Connecticut by designating transportation as a legislative priority. The League has supported the proposed Busway since the early planning for the following reasons:
We urge continued investment in the existing bus transit to allow the local bus systems serving the areas of Hartford, New Haven, Stamford, Waterbury, New Britain, Meriden, Bristol and Wallingford to hold the line on fares We also urge the continuation of the ADA paratransit services for these same areas. Combined, these bus systems serve over 29 million passengers per year. Transportation is critical to keeping our economy viable, our workers working and making Connecticut competitive and modern. Improved transit is critical to the long-term health of the state. Public transportation gets people to work and school, reduces air pollution and eases highway gridlock. Thank you for this opportunity to provide input. Sincerely, Jara N. Burnett Transportation Specialist League of Women Voters of Connecticut September 5, 2011 Commissioner Daniel C. Esty Department of Energy and Environmental Protection 79 Elm Street Hartford, CT 06106 Dear Commissioner Esty, We are writing in support of the proposed New Britain-Hartford Busway and specifically in regard to the inland wetland permit submitted to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection by the Department of Transportation. Based on a review of the materials included in DOT's inland wetland permit application, it appears that the project strikes the appropriate balance between protecting the wetlands and allowing construction of the New Britain-Hartford Busway. Moreover, with the completion of the Busway, much of the 2 acres of impacted wetlands will be replaced by an extensive mitigation plan that will create a contiguous 8.8-acre system of new or enhanced wetlands. Furthermore, this Bus Rapid Transit system will result in other significant environmental benefits for our state. The New Britain-Hartford Busway will:
Sincerely, Lori Brown, Executive Director, Connecticut League of Conservation Voters Don Strait, Executive Director, Connecticut Fund for the Environment Karen Burnaska, Coordinator, Transit for Connecticut Tom Colligan, Interim Executive Director, Connecticut Coalition for Environmental Justice Cheryl Dunson, President, League of Women Voters of Connecticut David Kooris, Vice President, Regional Plan Association Ryan Lynch, Connecticut Coordinator, Tri-State Transportation Campaign Senator Steve Cassano, 4th District Senator Terry Gerratana, 6th District Senator Ed Meyer, 12th District Representative Tim O'Brien, 24th District Representative Robert Sanchez, 25th District Pedro E. Segarra. Mayor, City of Hartford Timothy T. Stewart, Mayor, City of New Britain Mary Glassman, First Selectman, Town of Simsbury and Chair, Capitol Region Council of Governments Gerry Amodio, Executive Director, New Britain Downtown District Carolle Andrews, Chief Administrative Officer, University of Connecticut Health Center Oz Griebel, President, MetroHartford Alliance Avner Krohn, President, Jasko Development Jack Miller, Presiden, Central Connecticut State University William Millerick, President, New Britain Chamber of Commerce Mary Tomolonius, Executive Director, Connecticut Association for Community Transportation Via Email Members of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut recognized the critical importance of transportation for Connecticut by designating transportation as a legislative priority. Transportation is critical to keeping our economy viable, our workers working and making Connecticut competitive and modern. Improved transit is critical to the long-term health of the state. Public transportation gets people to work and school, reduces air pollution and eases highway gridlock. In these difficult economic times, transit is needed more than ever. Bus transit is the backbone of public transit in Connecticut. Commuter bus service continues to impact most immediately the congestion on our highways and provide mobility for our most-economically challenged citizens. While we understand the financial limitations and the difficulties in crafting budgets, investment in transit generates short and long-term jobs needed to get our state's economy started again The proposed new bus fares will affect local bus systems serving the areas of Hartford, New Haven, Stamford, Waterbury, New Britain, Meriden, Bristol and Wallingford. ADA paratransit fares for these same areas would also be increased by approximately 10 percent, as would fares on express commuter bus services to the Hartford area and for the I-BUS Stamford to White Plains express. Combined, these bus systems serve over 29 million passengers per year. The proposed bus and rail fares and proposed service reductions are simply too deep and will adversely affect a segment of the state’s population that is already feeling the economic pinch most acutely. We urge you to rescind or minimize these rate increases and service reductions. Thank you for this opportunity to provide input. Sincerely, Jara N. Burnett Transportation Specialist, LWVCT 203 288-7996 LWVCT Opposition to HB 6200 AA Concerning the Establishment of Tolls for the Extension of Route 11 06/07/2011
Members of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut believe that the main priorities of the transportation policy should be to increase dedicated funding sources for mass transit, highway congestion relief and highway and bridge maintenance. We support congestion pricing/electronic tolling to not only provide revenue but to implement the goal of reducing congestion on our roads and to help decrease pollutants in our air. The League has also long supported a Fix-It-First policy over new construction and we continue to believe that we cannot build our way out of congestion. We oppose HB 6200 for the following reasons:
Because of these financial, environmental and policy concerns, we urge you to oppose HB 6200 should it come up for a vote. Thank you for this opportunity to provide input. Sincerely, Jara N. Burnett Transportation specialist LWVCT joined with a broad coalition of 27 signatories from entities representing everything from CCSU to developers, chambers of commerce, the League of Women Voters, labor and environmental groups, who took note of the Bond Commission’s recent decision to release funding to get the Hartford-New Britain bus rapid transit project. The coalition’s thank you letter to Governor Malloy appears below. ---------- May 2, 2011 The Honorable Dannel P. Malloy Governor, State of Connecticut State Capitol Hartford, CT 06106 Dear Governor Malloy, Please accept our thanks and appreciation for your steadfast support and leadership of the New Britain/Hartford Busway project. We believe that the New Britain/Hartford Busway project represents the future for both Connecticut’s economy and transportation infrastructure. The benefits of investing in the Busway are multifold for the state. The construction of the Busway will generate thousands of construction and associated jobs; millions of dollars to be invested in transit-oriented development projects surrounding the Busway will create new jobs and business opportunities; the Busway will offer congestion-free travel to transit riders and help decrease traffic on the most congested part of I-84; and harmful carbon emissions will be decreased. We commend you for your leadership and support and thank the Bond Commission for releasing the funds needed for the Busway to proceed. If you have any questions please contact Karen Burnaska, Transit for Connecticut or Lyle Wray, Capitol Region Council of Governments. We look forward to working with you as the Busway becomes a reality. Sincerely, Tim O’Brien, State Representative, New Britain and Newington Pedro E. Segarra, Mayor, City of Hartford Timothy T. Stewart, Mayor, City of New Britain Scott McBride, Deputy Mayor, Town of Newington Lyle Wray, Executive Director, Capitol Region Council of Governments Gerry Amodio, Executive Director, New Britain Downtown District Lori Brown, Executive Director, CT League of Conservation Voters Karen Burnaska, Coordinator, Transit for Connecticut Tom Colligan, Interim Executive Director, CT Coalition for Environmental Justice Cheryl Dunson, President, League of Women Voters of CT Oz Griebel, President, MetroHartford Alliance David Kooris, Vice President, Regional Plan Association Avner Krohn, President, Jasko Development Charles LeChonce, Business Manager, CT Laborers District Council Ryan Lynch, Connecticut Coordinator, Tri-State Transportation Campaign Jeffrey Merrow, Business Manager, Laborers Local 611 Jack Miller, President, Central Connecticut State University William F. Millerick, President, New Britain Chamber of Commerce Don Strait, Executive Director, CT Fund for the Environment Mary Tomolonius, Executive Director, CT Assoc for Community Transportation City of Hartford Neighborhood Revitalization Zones: Bernadine Silvers and Jackie McKinney, Co-Chairs, Board of Directors, Hartford 2000, Inc. David Corrigan, Chair, Frog Hollow NRZ Donna Thompson Daniels, President, Blue Hills NRZ Lynn Ferrari, President, Hartford’s CSS/CON NRZ Brandon McGee, Vice President, Northeast NRZ David Morin, Secretary, Parkville Revitalization Association Tomas Nenortas, Chair, South Downtown NRZ The League of Women Voters of Connecticut believes that funds raised for transportation by tolls or other revenues must be used for these initiatives and not be diverted to the General or other funds. Thus, the League strongly supports SB 699 AA Concerning the Use of Funds from the Special Transportation Fund. We believe this bill is critical. The practice of raiding special funds in order to use the revenues to close the budget gap or other needs is not a good practice. The League also strongly supports RB 5940 AA Requiring the Creation of Strategic Plans for Passenger and Freight Rail Service. We note the proliferation of bills, many of them subject to this public hearing, requesting planning and funding for various rail and bus roads across the state. We believe that an integrated, and comprehensive approach to transit improvements must include coordination among all facets of transportation: highway, rail, air and marine modes of travel. A piecemeal approach will inevitably result in waste of already limited resource. Thus, coordinated planning is critical to move the state forward. Respectfully submitted, Jara Burnett Transportation Specialist LWVCT | Advocacy:
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