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TRANSPORTATION INITIATIVES, 2008
Members of the
League of Women Voters of Connecticut re-adopted transportation as one of the
legislative priorities for the 2008 legislative session. On behalf of the 2,450
state-wide members and supporters of the League, we are pleased to submit our
transportation and transportation-funding priorities for the upcoming session.
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.
League members
support and will advocate for the following initiatives:
Expanded
schedules, capacity and incentives for intra-state mass transit users.
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Continued improvements in
commuter bus service will impact most immediately the congestion on our
highways and provide mobility for our most-economically challenged
citizens. Buses provide a relatively low cost and flexible alternative to
automobile travel. Bus service needs to be expanded to communities where
none exists and the frequency and longer hours of service put in place in
communities where bus service already exists. When planning for the
bus/shuttle service, bus shelters for passengers and clear information as to
the schedule need to be made available.
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Initiate or improve shuttle
bus service to commuter and passenger railroad stations. Many stations
are reachable only by cars and parking is often scarce and expensive.
Coordination of bus and railroad schedules is a must.
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Continue efforts to make mass
transit more attractive to current and potential users by increasing the
frequency of service and the passenger capacity on existing railroad lines.
This includes expanded commuter rail service on the Metro-North line, the
Shoreline east of New Haven, the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield and the New
London-Worcester lines. Additional and improved parking facilities will
attract users.
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Assure adequate funding for the
current operating and capital budgets for all mass transit programs and
additional funding for the expanded services.
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Incentives for employers and
employees to encourage the use of public transportation and flexible hours
of employment.
Expanded freight
traffic on existing rail lines, shipping of cargo via barges and incentives for
users.
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Maximize the use of existing
rails for freight by improving scheduling, eliminating surcharges, and
improving access for shippers at origin and terminal points.
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Continue efforts to build a
tunnel under the Hudson to provide a direct link for freight between points
south and New England.
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Continue coordination with the
NY-NJ Port Authority to obtain terminal space to allow cargo to move on
water directly from New Jersey to Bridgeport’s terminal facility.
Better
coordinated land use/transportation planning.
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Land use planning at all levels
should be coordinated to minimize highway congestion and urban sprawl.
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Adopt a Fix-It First policy
making road and bridge repair and maintenance the first priority for highway
and bridge spending.
Giving priority
to maintenance of highways and bridges over new construction.
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DOT should conduct a survey of
highways and bridges to determine the extent of maintenance needs statewide
and create a prioritized multi-year plan to carry out the work.
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Prioritize efforts to find
solution to eliminate specific congestion points along the major highways
and propose solutions such a flexible use of highway lanes, congestion
pricing and, as a last resort, expansion of on and off ramps.
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Upgrade existing highways
instead of building new superhighways.
Expand efforts
to promote safety on Connecticut’s highways.
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Develop a highway safety
program that includes measures such as increased surveillance and
enforcement, including the expanded weigh stations hours.
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Expand the public education
program targeting all types of drivers to promote safer driving.
Increase
dedicated funding sources for mass transit, highway congestion relief and
highway maintenance.
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Complete the feasibility
studies of new funding schemes such as the gate-way user fee system, the
congestion pricing system or mileage-based pricing.
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Increase fines for safety,
speeding and other infractions.
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Aggressively pursue receiving a
higher share of federal transportation funds.
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Explore public/private
partnerships to implement various projects.
Jara Burnett
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