Statement on
Transportation Revenues and STO Bonding
Faced
with pressures to reduce expenditures, we, the undersigned, are concerned that
the budgets under consideration would reduce revenues and cap the issuance of
new bonds for transportation. While
there are no good choices for balancing the state’s budget, these proposed
actions, individually or together, will deal a major blow to Connecticut’s economy
and the state’s ability to grow jobs.Based on OPM’s forecast of the actual revenue projections as of June 20, 2017, revenue plans under consideration would run deficits in the Special Transportation Fund (STF) during the biennium. The STF could be insolvent in FY 2020, if not sooner.
STF revenue reductions will eliminate transportation services for residents across the state
ConnDOT has identified that a reduction of its 2018 and 2019 requested Appropriations Budgets of 10% from the 2017 Appropriated Budget levels would result in:
· Reduction of bus operations, eliminating 688,000 hours of local services, impacting approximately 10 million riders annually, and CT Transit service reductions of 15-20%.
· Reduction in Waterbury and Danbury Branch services, and a 50% reduction of Shoreline East service.
· Postponing new commuter rail service between Springfield, Hartford and New Haven.
· DOT Planning and Engineering for system investments and upgrades will be paralyzed.
· DOT’s maintenance and safety programs will be diminished.
STF revenue reductions will
threaten Connecticut’s fiscal health
·
Interest
rates on transportation bonds will climb.· Heightened risk of defaults on currently outstanding transportation bonds.
· Issuing new bonds will be difficult.
A bond cap will cripple transportation projects and halt future investments
· Current construction projects will be halted.
· Hundreds of millions of dollars of federal funding would be surrendered to other states.
· No new contracts would be awarded or developed.
Transportation
is critical to market accessibility, labor flexibility, job growth, and quality
of life. Unfortunately, the poor
condition of Connecticut’s transportation system is inhibiting the growth of
Connecticut’s economy, the attraction of new employers and the retention of
jobs for the state’s residents. The
General Assembly must adopt a budget for the FY 2018-2019 biennium that
maintains current revenues allocated to STF and does not cap transportation
bonding.
·
AAA
Allied Group· AAA Northeast
· American Council of Engineering Companies of Connecticut
· Associated General Contractors of Connecticut
· Bridgeport Regional Business Council
· Business Council of Fairfield County
· Cameron Staples, Chair, Transportation Finance Panel; State Representative, Connecticut House of Representatives, 1992-2010
· Capitol Region Council of Governments
· Central Connecticut Chambers of Commerce
· Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut
· Commuter Action Group
· Connecticut Asphalt & Aggregate Producers Association
· Connecticut Association for Community Transportation
· Connecticut Citizens’ Transportation Lobby
· Connecticut Commuter Rail Council
· Connecticut Construction Industries Association
· Connecticut Environmental & Utilities Contractors Association
· Connecticut Fund for the Environment
· Connecticut Ironworkers Local 15
· Connecticut Ironworkers Local 424
· Connecticut Laborers' District Council
· Connecticut Ready Mixed Concrete Association
· Connecticut Road Builders Association
· Connecticut United for Research Excellence, Inc. (CURE)
· Emil H. Frankel, Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Transportation, 1991-1995; Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation, 2002-2005
· Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce
· International Union of Operating Engineers Local 478
· Midstate Chamber of Commerce
· MetroHartford Alliance
· Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce
· New England Regional Carpenters Labor Management Program
· New England Regional Council of Carpenters
· Northwest Connecticut Chamber of Commerce
· Regional Plan Association
· Sacred Heart University
· Stamford Chamber of Commerce
· Transit for Connecticut
· Trinity College
· Tri-State Transportation Campaign
· University of Bridgeport
· University of New Haven
· Waterbury Regional Chamber of Commerce
· Wesleyan University
· Yale University
Milling, paving work to impact traffic on several Waterford roads
Waterford — Crews on Thursday will begin milling and paving work that is slated to last just longer than a week and will impact multiple town roads, according to police.
Police said American Industries Inc. and Pastryak Paving will be working along Kenyon Road, Quaker Lane and Lower Bartlett Road through Friday, Aug. 11.
Police asked drivers to expect delays in the areas where work is being done and to seek alternate routes if possible.
Millstone issue requires more independent analysis
When a government official asks for a "study" to be completed on a legislative proposal, it's oftentimes a delay tactic to avoid a decision on a controversial topic.
We often criticize such requests as political gamesmanship, especially when there is simply no need to study an issue further. We prefer action over deliberation.
There are, however, some exceptions. For example, we applaud Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's decision last week to order a study on the economic conditions and competitive landscape impacting Millstone Power Plant, whose owners have threatened to close its nuclear reactors in Watertown if lawmakers don't grant it a new, more lucrative way to sell its power.
Millstone's demands were reflected in one of the most controversial bills this legislative session; it passed the Senate but failed to garner enough support in the House. Virginia-based Dominion Resources, Millstone's operator, is still pushing for the bill to be passed in a special session.
Stakes surrounding the issue are extremely high. Not only is Millstone a major employer but it produces nearly half the state's electricity. It's also a carbon-free power source, helping the state meet its clean-energy goals.
Changing the way Millstone is allowed to sell its power, by allowing it to compete in a state-run bidding process for renewable and clean energy, could significantly impact Connecticut's electricity prices. If Millstone were to close, the consequences are just as frightening — the state would lose a major clean-energy source and good-paying jobs.
The problem is, there's been very little clear and independent analysis of the bill's impact, leaving ratepayers and lawmakers in the lurch. Flying blind on a bill of such importance doesn't lead to good policymaking.
Millstone says the legislation is necessary to help stabilize its profits at a time when many other U.S. nuclear plants are closing because of high costs and steep competition from natural gas plants. In Connecticut, natural gas prices helped drag down wholesale power prices to record lows last year, which hurt Millstone. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
As New Britain Refreshes Downtown Roads, Traffic Forecast Is: 'Delays'
Motorists trying to get through downtown can expect occasional delays through fall 2018 as the city embarks on an ambitious road construction schedule.
Contractors have closed off a stretch of Columbus Boulevard east of Main Street so crews can begin reconstructing the Bank Street intersection as a rotary. They plan to finish work in October 2018.
Meanwhile, the public works department is about to begin a two-month-long street-paving job that may require sporadic nighttime detours or delays on Main and Chestnut streets. By the time that's done, the city expects to have contractors ready to redesign and rebuild the Main Street bridge over Route 72, a $6.8 million project.
Ultimately the city will end up with a better and safer layout of roads and intersections, and more appealing bike lanes and sidewalks, Mayor Erin Stewart said. The work will also improve access to CT Transit and CTfastrak as well as the Szczesny Municipal Parking Garage.
But until next fall, drivers should leave extra time in case of delays, and will need to pay attention to signs, pavement markings and detour warnings, the city said.
"Pardon our appearance and prepare to drive slow when you come through downtown New Britain," Stewart said.Heavy equipment at Columbus and Bank this week is moving concrete barriers and digging up pavement. Columbus will be narrowed to two lanes, and the intersection with Bank Street will become a traffic rotary. In the center will be the wave-themed sculpture that used to stand in the Milewski fountain.
Workers will put in wider sidewalks along Columbus and install direct pathways linking the garage with the sidewalk leading to CTfastrak. Local buses will use Columbus as the transfer hub, saving riders a block-long walk — and a busy street crossing — to the current hub on Bank Street.
"Not only is it a traffic-calming project but also there's a lot of streetscape work," Stewart said. "A lot of street enhancements are going to happen here. Most notably, we're going to be moving all of our CT Transit local bus traffic from Bank Street over to Columbus Boulevard." CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE