238 replies to this topic

[Recchia]

Why do they want the Hartford East Busway to be a busway? Is the rail line still existing and in tact?  It seems like it'd be perfect for light rail, given it goes through pretty dense areas and parallels 84.

[MadVlad]

Recchia, on Mar 14 2006, 12:41 PM, said:

Why do they want the Hartford East Busway to be a busway? Is the rail line still existing and in tact?  It seems like it'd be perfect for light rail, given it goes through pretty dense areas and parallels 84.

Why ask why?  Just accept the ass-backwards mentality like we do and take the lumps.  I'm just kidding by-the-way, it's a question we've all asked numerous times.  We've pretty much all supported light-rail, whether it's east of the city, north along the Griffin-Line to Bradley, or wherever, it just seems like those in power have different ideas than we do...

[damus]

MadVlad, on Mar 14 2006, 07:18 PM, said:

Why ask why?  Just accept the ass-backwards mentality like we do and take the lumps.  I'm just kidding by-the-way, it's a question we've all asked numerous times.  We've pretty much all supported light-rail, whether it's east of the city, north along the Griffin-Line to Bradley, or wherever, it just seems like those in power have different ideas than we do...

Well the busways are cheaper to implement and have that "flexibility" that is always touted. That "flexibility" is also its downfall. Transit Oriented Development, as was already stated in this thread, thrives on permanance, not flexibility. The whole state needs to start laying the foundation for a future network, the commuter rail is a good start. I think a flashy light rail system from New Britain to Hartford would be a huge success and there would be more lines built in the future. A failed busway system would reinforce the "people don't like transit" idea that many people have.

www.lightrailnow.org is pretty good source of information, though obviously biased and in need of a web designer.

[SOCOM]

The proposed Busway irks me to no end.  People around here HATE taking the bus.  It has extremely negative connotations.  I'd be surprised if ridership increased even 5% from what it is today.

[paul514]

beerbeer, on Feb 15 2006, 11:02 AM, said:

Once again the state of Connecticut is ready to jump into the busway business.  The state ignores the fact that busways rarely succeed.  Look around the globe, only two cities can be said to have truly successful busways, Brisbane, Australia and Bogota, Columbia.  Hartford resembles neither.

Actually I find that Hartford and Brisbane have a lot in common. Both cities have downtown areas with highrises that are mainly for work and the cities tend to be a bit lifeless after 6PM and on weekends. Brisbane does have the Queen St. shopping area, but I found that after 6PM many of the shops close. Both metro areas are of a similar size and density and have sprawling suburbs. Both cities are now trying to attract residents to their downtown cores. I did not use the Brisbane public bus service though I did ride into the city from Gold Coast by rail and I noticed quite a few people from the suburbs (some were quite rural) used the rail service. So I'd like to know what makes Brisbane's busway service successful, perhaps it's success can be applied to Hartford.

[HartfordTycoon]

I think in a recent Courant article said they the DOT will not pave over the rail lines to build the Busways. So there may be a chance at implementing rail service as well. So maybe we could have both eventually and it would actually be good.

[HeartbeatHead]

ok.....i jus looked at charlotte's forum to see the hype of their light rail system. and idk if im jus really jealousy of them...or jus pissed at hartford. this busway will be a joke. first off raising one of the busiest intersections? WONT HAPPEN. and even if they do infact try....good luck with that. Secondly, we can admit that Hartford is not the biggest city in the world (i can see the east side from the west end aka where i live) but it is pretty lengthy from North to South. If we were to ever get light rail, get the suburbs involved. i know for a fact that traffic is absolutely the worse due to our highways and congested streets. From Simbsbury to Hartford is an example. By doing the busway, they are making a big mistake....and what, it only to serve from Hartford to New Britain?? what about Hartford to Newington, Hartford to Glastonbury, Simsbury, Bloomfield, Windsor, South Windsor, etc. the list could go on in on. And me personally....i think there needs to be another stop downtown other than Union Station. Face it Union Station isnt that big. Somehow they should have put it near the center of the city, maybe with an elevate rail.Having it on the edge of downtown seems odd to me...if LRT was ever to get proposed...because no one would want to walk from Union to say....constitution and the last thing they would wanna do is hop in a bus to ride that 5 min distance, or maybe thats just me. THey only use the tracks for Amtrak anyways, and occasional frieght. they are tremendously underused in my opinion. i just needed to get that all out....pheeeeeeeew i feel better.

can someoen get on rell's ass please........the new-haven, hartford, springfield line is going to be great but how about we start inside the city then work our way outward

[HartfordTycoon]

HeartbeatHead, on Jun 29 2006, 02:23 AM, said:

ok.....i jus looked at charlotte's forum to see the hype of their light rail system. and idk if im jus really jealousy of them...or jus pissed at hartford. this busway will be a joke. first off raising one of the busiest intersections? WONT HAPPEN. and even if they do infact try....good luck with that. Secondly, we can admit that Hartford is not the biggest city in the world (i can see the east side from the west end aka where i live) but it is pretty lengthy from North to South. If we were to ever get light rail, get the suburbs involved. i know for a fact that traffic is absolutely the worse due to our highways and congested streets. From Simbsbury to Hartford is an example. By doing the busway, they are making a big mistake....and what, it only to serve from Hartford to New Britain?? what about Hartford to Newington, Hartford to Glastonbury, Simsbury, Bloomfield, Windsor, South Windsor, etc. the list could go on in on. And me personally....i think there needs to be another stop downtown other than Union Station. Face it Union Station isnt that big. Somehow they should have put it near the center of the city, maybe with an elevate rail.Having it on the edge of downtown seems odd to me...if LRT was ever to get proposed...because no one would want to walk from Union to say....constitution and the last thing they would wanna do is hop in a bus to ride that 5 min distance, or maybe thats just me. THey only use the tracks for Amtrak anyways, and occasional frieght. they are tremendously underused in my opinion. i just needed to get that all out....pheeeeeeeew i feel better.

can someoen get on rell's ass please........the new-haven, hartford, springfield line is going to be great but how about we start inside the city then work our way outward

I agree, however I think the we know Rell will definitely not be that ambitious with the transportation issues. One of the other candidates would more than likely be a lot better on that issue. Also, many Hartford burbs like Simsbury and Avon and such, probably would not want anything to do with improved connections to the city.

Edited by HartfordTycoon, 29 June 2006 - 07:34 AM.

[GHartford]

HartfordTycoon, on Jun 29 2006, 09:33 AM, said:

I agree, however I think the we know Rell will definitely not be that ambitious with the transportation issues. One of the other candidates would more than likely be a lot better on that issue. Also, many Hartford burbs like Simsbury and Avon and such, probably would not want anything to do with improved connections to the city.

Right. Sadly, these suburbs have not been built at anywhere near the densities to make mass transit work. Rail to west to West Hartford, east to Manchester, north to Windsor (on the NH/Springfield Line) and south to Newington/Wethersfield would be a start. Then if other suburbs wanted to get service they should have to agree to develop denser areas around where the stations would be.

[spatulashack]

GHartford, on Jun 29 2006, 09:20 AM, said:

Right. Sadly, these suburbs have not been built at anywhere near the densities to make mass transit work. Rail to west to West Hartford, east to Manchester, north to Windsor (on the NH/Springfield Line) and south to Newington/Wethersfield would be a start. Then if other suburbs wanted to get service they should have to agree to develop denser areas around where the stations would be.

Any word on this Busway foolishness?  I'm still hoping the city and state realize what a stupid idea it is and opt for light rail instead.  I don't understand it.  Nearly every major light rail system built within the past 20 years has been a smashing success yet cities still think buses are the way to go?  It makes me so mad.  I live in Hartford but am originally from New Jersey which has just finished completing 3 fairly comprehensive light rail systems that have done WONDERS for the areas around them.  The HBLR (Hudson-Bergan Light Rail) in particular is impressive and nearly everyone that has access to it, from the cities to the suburbs, gives it rave reviews.  The biggest problem we have in CT are the NIMBY's!  We have plenty of them in Jersey as well but the government just ignores them and builds things for the good of the vast majority of people in the state instead of entertaining selfish rich suburban snobs!  This is what needs to be done in CT before we get anything done.

Edited by spatulashack, 06 August 2006 - 05:08 PM.

[robm324]

I'm about 90 percent sure the New Britain - Hartford Busway was on the recently passed transportation bill and is now a sure bet to implemented.....stupid as it is

[mikel]

The reason the busway idea is silly to me is that it's being built on a dedicated rail line...  It's terminus is a rail station....  which both completely throws out any rational for making a busway, which usually runs along highways and city streets.     It absolutely should be light rail.    But in a state that is OBSESSED with paving and asphalt, I'm not surprised at this huge blunder.   I wrote countless letters, to no avail, that we are once again making a huge mistake in Hartford...

[MadVlad]

Here's CT's attitude:  We have a railway, we have a rail staion, let's use BUSES on it!!!!

[SOCOM]

This is going to suck so hard in the coming years.  Quite a few cities our size are either building or expanding upon their light rail systems, meanwhile we'll have a brand spanking new glorified bus route that no one is going to use.  For a relatively progressive state, we've got it all wrong when it comes to transportation.

[mikel]

My hope is that a second track is laid alongside the single track from New Haven to Springfield (after Amtrak ripped up the old second track track and sold it for scrap metal).      It was recommended in the study to add a track in the corridor.

This way, there may not be enough room in the rail right-of-way for 2 paved busway roads, and the busway idea might have to be switched to light rail.

[uconn99]

Albuqurque, New Mexico is starting a commuter rail system! Salt Lake City has a light rail system. I know there are smaller cities out there that have or are starting rail projects and Connecticut/Hartford is so far behind.

[drc72]

SOCOM, on Aug 7 2006, 01:30 AM, said:

This is going to suck so hard in the coming years.  Quite a few cities our size are either building or expanding upon their light rail systems, meanwhile we'll have a brand spanking new glorified bus route that no one is going to use.  For a relatively progressive state, we've got it all wrong when it comes to transportation.

Well CT always wants to  do everything backwards all the time. Why? I don't know.

Edited by drc72, 07 August 2006 - 03:11 PM.

[mikel]

Saw this on a blog....  he put it VERY well:

"These are the same people that spend money "studying" a plan to tear up high-quality existing rail between New Britain and Hartford so they could give money to the road construction firms like Tomasso to build a "busway" - a dedicated highway. We could have run existing trains over the existing rails starting decades ago, but that would only help the commuters, not the politicians, so we didn't take that approach."


http://www.newhaveni...s_trains_pl.php

[rotten777]

I never understanded the busway logic myself...

If you take PT in Hartford (I haven't used the bus in a while, but I do know most of the routes), you have to take the P bus. This bus takes almost 45 minutes to go 10 miles, a very slow and boring trip through Newington in the middle...while RAIL could take less than half if they used express trains (if they could), and could encourage people without cars to go to Downtown Hartford and to Downtown New Britain without taking inefficent busses...hell, a Park-and-Ride in New Britain would be nice too...

If CT was as ambitious as other states, Hartford could have had a commuter rail system easier than other cities...the rail is already there. If they used their logic that they are using with the Hartford-Springfield-New Haven commuter rail, this would make sense as well. Other rail routes that could be made are one to East Hartford/Manchester, and the Griffin Line to Bloomfield...

But this will never happen, at least for now...

[blink55184]

rotten777, on Aug 18 2006, 10:57 PM, said:

I never understanded the busway logic myself...

If you take PT in Hartford (I haven't used the bus in a while, but I do know most of the routes), you have to take the P bus. This bus takes almost 45 minutes to go 10 miles, a very slow and boring trip through Newington in the middle...while RAIL could take less than half if they used express trains (if they could), and could encourage people without cars to go to Downtown Hartford and to Downtown New Britain without taking inefficent busses...hell, a Park-and-Ride in New Britain would be nice too...

If CT was as ambitious as other states, Hartford could have had a commuter rail system easier than other cities...the rail is already there. If they used their logic that they are using with the Hartford-Springfield-New Haven commuter rail, this would make sense as well. Other rail routes that could be made are one to East Hartford/Manchester, and the Griffin Line to Bloomfield...

But this will never happen, at least for now...

I see someone rotten has wandered over from ssc