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:

• Reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT), and reduce congestion on the highways, both of which will reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, leading to cleaner air.
  
• Promote environmental justice by a.) reducing air pollution for citizens in Hartford County, an area with one of the highest asthma rates in the country, especially for those living in inner city neighborhoods; and b.) expanding travel options for those citizens without cars to access jobs, education (i.e.: CCSU), and medical care.
• Provide a 21st Century public transit system critical to transit oriented development (TOD), which has proven to decrease sprawl and encourage more efficient land use.
• Stimulate brownfield cleanup around Busway stations, i.e.: Newington's abandoned National Welding building, abutting both Cedar Street Station and Hayes development site.
• Include a new five-mile long multiuse trail for cyclists/pedestrians.

As the New Britain-Hartford Busway moves forward the environmental community will continue to advocate for:

• The implementation of and strict adherence to the proposed mitigation plan.
• The use of low impact development (LID) best practices at every opportunity along the Busway route and in construction of the stations, i.e.: pervious pavers at stations, swales, buffers, rain gardens, stormwater management.
• The preference for bridges, not culverts, over primary and intermittent stream crossings to protect fish habitat and streamflow where appropriate.
• Commitment by DOT to purchase clean fuel buses.
• The outreach, planning and investment necessary for responsible transit oriented development, including walkable village centers, mixed use development and multi-income housing surrounding the stations to ensure that the transit system is used and that environmental and economic benefits of the investments are realized.
• The implementation of a complete streets strategy along the entire Busway corridor and surrounding neighborhoods with a firm commitment to dedicate 1% of the project to fund it, as required by Connecticut's complete streets law.
• The development of the new multiuse trail to the maximum potential.
• The protection of mature trees, other valuable natural vegetation and appropriate buffers, to the greatest extent possible, during construction.

Thank you for your consideration and we look forward to working with you and the staff of the DEEP as well as the DOT and the DECD to ensure the New Britain-Hartford Busway becomes a first class, environmentally and economically beneficial bus rapid transit system for Connecticut. 

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

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.

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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