You are now the Governor!

[runawayjim]

mikel:

I have to AGREE with you! (Jeez, did the earth stood still?)

JimS

[JimSawhill]

I agree with you. If there was a real highway between Hartford and Providence it would open up a world of economic opportunity for the the entire region in between the two. I would love to have a business located within a half hour of both Hartford and Providence on a reliable and safe highway. Maybe even some entertainment options or something midway. That would be kinda cool in my opinion.

[runawayjim]

HartfordTycoon:

Think about what the economic impact it would have with a limited access hiway (and direct P&W service, too). Some planning would need to be done to keep it RURAL, but Plainville, Danielson, Brooklyn, Thompson even Norwich and Willimantic could get some new businesses.

JimS

[JimSawhill]

I Governor MadVlad, do hereby proclaim the following improvements will be pushed through the legislature:

MadVlad, Great ideas!! Let me comment on them...ok?

-Improved Mass Transit: I would create commuter rail linking all the major cities in the State and work to tie those in with existing rail lines. The New Haven-Hartford-Springfield Corridor would be tied into development along the stops for those cities. The State would set up grants for residential development in New Haven, Meriden, Hartford, and Enfield. We would encourage heavy residential in the immediate proximity of the stations in those cities, encouraging a walking environment. I would look into building other lines from Hartford to Danbury along the median of I-84, and Hartford eastward also along I-84 or I-384. Development would also be included along these routes in Waterbury, Danbury, Bristol, New Britain, Manchester, and Willimantic. Development would be looked into for the shoreline cities of Stamford, Norwalk, Bridgeport, and New London (Norwalk and Stamford seem to be doing ok on their own).

I'd would get bike racks on CTransit buses, so people can bike the cities. Also, I'd love to see Torrington and Winsted with passenger service. I would give incentives to businesses who let their ASSOCIATES bike to work.

-Tribal help: I would work with the Indian Casinos to encourage development in areas other than the Southeast corner of the State. I would look into the feasability of Casinos in downtown Bridgeport and Hartford.

I would let the Pequot and Mohegans have passenger service to their casinos from Bradley.

-Vacation destination: I would embark on an aggressive marketing campaign for the State and Bradley Airport. I would include things that aren't even in the State such as Proximity to Vermont skiing, the Basketball Hall of Fame, and Great Adventure.

One of my ideas.

-Sound ideas: I would work with the State of New York to help improve the quality of the Sound even more than we already are.

Great idea!! I think the sound is undervalued in Connecticut.

-Bradley Airport: I would free Bradley of it's DoT shackles and let it fly free to become the jewel of the State that it truly should be.

privatize it!!

-Business adventures: I would embark on a business-friendly approach. I would create a business liaison to see what other areas of the country do to draw business' and give him the power to try and enact some policy. I would encourage current business' to communicate with what they need to help grow the State's economy and draw more business here. I would speak with the Indians and try to work out a deal. More business' mean more residents, means more potential customers for the casinos. I would target a specific business and try to lure that type of business, just like Des Moines did when they tried to suck away all our insurance jobs. How about security software firms?

I would love to see 5 industries in CT. Transportation (importing cars, building ships and boats <Bridgeport just got a yacht builder>, passenger cars building for Metro-North, Amtrak, SLE)

-Arena: I would assist the City of Hartford in securing funds for a new, State of the Art arena in the hopes of drawing another pro-sports franchise to the City, and the State.

and to tell the CDA to get off their ASSES and tell MSG to bring EXHIBITION GAMES to the HCC!! Or MSG should have their contract cancelled..with CT suing MSG...

More to come when I think of it.

Great ideas so far!!

[runawayjim]

Mikel:

And what would that do? It would NOT help the citizens of Connecticut!!

JimS

[JimSawhill]

when was the last time you drove from hartford to providence on route 6? or hartford to the cape? if a highway were connecting hartford to providence, i can guarantee it will have cape-goers travelling from hartford through providence rather up to the mass pike and back down 495. it'd be a much more direct route and have a whole lot less traffic than the pike and 495.

[JimSawhill]

runwayjim;

rail and highway, especially highway, would help willi a TON. it needs a better connection to hartford and norwich. willi is a great little city with a ton of potential.

Agree... I think it would help Plainfield, too (with a P&W diamond)

surely you can't be serious. i can go on and on about how walmart is the devil incarnate... but there's already threads all over UP about that. i suggest you read them.

I believe Wal*Mart is good. They are trying to keep prices down. Wal*Mart has $4 drug plans. What is wrong with that? Granted, most of their stuff is CRAP, but I would not go their to buy fine furnishings!

[JimSawhill]

ending the sprawl in CT would greatly help the quality of life in CT. otherwise, we'll see every last bit of rural land in CT covered in walmarts, home depots, and condos.

[DoctorGonzo]

Reconstruct and reopen the rail line between New London, Willimantic and Boston to allow passenger service while connecting this branch to Hartford/New Haven.

The lack of any mass transit initiatives east of the river is depressing.

[JimSawhill]

Reconstruct and reopen the rail line between New London, Willimantic and Boston to allow passenger service while connecting this branch to Hartford/New Haven.

The lack of any mass transit initiatives east of the river is depressing.