Eastern CT's Benefits from the Transportation Bill

[damus]

http://norwichbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a.../604270312/1002

The bill provides $7 million for Norwich's new Intermodal Transportation Center; funds an expansion to the Southeastern Area Transit system (SEAT); funds improvements to routes 2, 2A and 32; and launches a study of how to make rail service viable between New London and Worcester, Mass.

SEAT is hoping to expand bus service into later evening hours and on the weekends and add newer bus technology in the region, Office Manager Mary Calorio said Wednesday.

Hopefully this is just the beginning. If Utopia passes (which I regretfully think it will, overwhelmingly) this area will be in line for a MASSIVE upgrade in its infrastructure. It will need even more roads than will be improved or built under this bill, water and sewer lines, schools, police and fire departments, and expanded hospitals just to name a few examples. Why didn't they also propose studying a Foxwoods/Westerly/Mystic/Groton spur to the commuter line?

[damus]

http://theday.com/re.aspx?re=c5cd69c6-1ca7...ca-ce4638ca3df3

At least one member of the Norwich Community Development Corp. Board of Directors is not pleased with preliminary architectural renderings submitted by Boston-based Domenech, Hicks & Krockmalnic Architects.

[PCGrad02]

http://norwichbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a.../604270312/1002

Hopefully this is just the beginning. If Utopia passes (which I regretfully think it will, overwhelmingly) this area will be in line for a MASSIVE upgrade in its infrastructure. It will need even more roads than will be improved or built under this bill, water and sewer lines, schools, police and fire departments, and expanded hospitals just to name a few examples. Why didn't they also propose studying a Foxwoods/Westerly/Mystic/Groton spur to the commuter line?

There was a study done on a rail link between Norwich/Mohegan Sun/Foxwoods/Westerly in conjuction with the original 2/2A/32 Transportation study. There would have been stops @ West Town St/395, Downtown Norwich, East Norwich (Rt.2/East Main St), Mohegan Sun, Foxwoods, North Stonington, and Downtown Westerly. There was even a proposal for a Monorail at one time. However, the state chose to complete only the 2A bypass and Rt. 2 from there to where the Foxwoods project begins. Partial widening of 2 from the end of the Foxwoods bypass, and the existing 4 lane section in the 95 triangle in N. Stonington. A New London-Norwich-Westerly Triangle would be perfect, extend the spur from Norwich to Hartford along Route 2 with stops in Colchester/Marlborough/Glastonbury/East Hartford. High Speed Rail all the way.

[damus]

I think the route 2 proposal is just a quick fix that would encourage sprawl and become very congested if/when Utopia is built and becomes a success. They really need to bite the bullet on this one. Either tear down parts of Mohegan park and Greenville, or go paralel to Asylum st as was proposed in the 60s. Downtown needs a highway link, anyways. I can't believe that with the growth potential on the horizon and what we have there already people in charge aren't talking seriously about this. It's only going to get harder and harder to secure the right of way for this as more and more farmers sell out.

[PCGrad02]

I think the route 2 proposal is just a quick fix that would encourage sprawl and become very congested if/when Utopia is built and becomes a success. They really need to bite the bullet on this one. Either tear down parts of Mohegan park and Greenville, or go paralel to Asylum st as was proposed in the 60s. Downtown needs a highway link, anyways. I can't believe that with the growth potential on the horizon and what we have there already people in charge aren't talking seriously about this. It's only going to get harder and harder to secure the right of way for this as more and more farmers sell out.

I would never want to see a highway destroy Mohegan Park, it's one of the best things this city has going for it. However...... a tunnel would be another story. It would be way too much money. We'll have a loop around Norwich when the 2A bypass is extened anways. The state will probably switch the Route 2 and 2A signs, sending everyone along 395/2 to get to the Casinos. A highway running close to downtown Norwich would do more harm than good, I've tried to picture it every place possible, I just don't see a good alternative.

[damus]

I would never want to see a highway destroy Mohegan Park, it's one of the best things this city has going for it. However...... a tunnel would be another story. It would be way too much money. We'll have a loop around Norwich when the 2A bypass is extened anways. The state will probably switch the Route 2 and 2A signs, sending everyone along 395/2 to get to the Casinos. A highway running close to downtown Norwich would do more harm than good, I've tried to picture it every place possible, I just don't see a good alternative.

Here's one idea... dig the (shallow) tunnel then just deck over it. Perhaps they can put the botanical gardens over the highway?

[JimSawhill]

There was a study done on a rail link between Norwich/Mohegan Sun/Foxwoods/Westerly in conjuction with the original 2/2A/32 Transportation study. There would have been stops @ West Town St/395, Downtown Norwich, East Norwich (Rt.2/East Main St), Mohegan Sun, Foxwoods, North Stonington, and Downtown Westerly. There was even a proposal for a Monorail at one time. However, the state chose to complete only the 2A bypass and Rt. 2 from there to where the Foxwoods project begins. Partial widening of 2 from the end of the Foxwoods bypass, and the existing 4 lane section in the 95 triangle in N. Stonington. A New London-Norwich-Westerly Triangle would be perfect, extend the spur from Norwich to Hartford along Route 2 with stops in Colchester/Marlborough/Glastonbury/East Hartford. High Speed Rail all the way.

The railroad should be from Manchester to Williamantic - so it can go from Bradley to Hartford with a stop at Union Station, then east with a stop in East Hartford (a station on School St), Manchester (Buckland area -- renovate the Buckland station), Vernon (Vernon Circle -- nice station with parking and 84 access), and Willimantic A passenger train from Amherst to Williamantic, then either down the NEC tracks or east on P&W tacks to Plainville then meet a passenger train from Worcester, then south to Norwich.

JimS

[HartfordTycoon]

How close does the current P&W line run to the two casinos? I am not totally familliar wiht that area.

Also, is this Utopia project REALLY going to generate all that traffic? Not to be pesdsimistic, but the only park that has been able to keep going at all in New England has been Six Flags, and even then it took a lot of money and isn't the most successful in the world. It's just not the right climate up here for that kind of stuff.

Personally I like the idea of a link between Worcester and New London, but there has to be something to generate some starting traffic. Perhaps if there was a direct connection besides Acela to New York, that would increase traffic.

Obviously no one knows for sure if it will generate the traffic they say it will. Most if not all attractions will be indoors though meaning it will operate year round. Now there is a critical business componet to this as well and that is film making. Again no gaurantees there, but I think given our proximity to NYC and Boston and the large concentration of actors/producers who already live in the state, it has a real shot a being a hit beyond many people's wildest dreams.

[PCGrad02]

The rail line runs along the Thames River on the opposite shore (Groton Side) from Mohegan Sun, and approx 5 mi as the crow flies from Foxwoods. Mohegan Sun has a rail line next to it's property running from New London to Norwich>Willimantic>Central Mass. Norwich is developing an intermodal tranist depot with future provisions for rail connections to the New London Line, while there is an existing station on the P&W line now used as a soup kitchen. The rails are there, but they are used daily by NE Central and P&W. If a deal could be worked out, it would be fantastic to have passenger rail service. I wonder about security issues running passenger trains thru the Sub Base in Groton post September 11th.