Guest View: Boucher On Mass Transit

Senator Boucher Joins Effort To Move Mass Transit Improvements Forward

Senator Toni Boucher (R-26) met with Governor M. Jodi Rell, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, state Transportation Commissioner Joseph Marie, and members of Connecticut’s congressional delegation to discuss high speed rail in the northeast and promote proposed improvements to commuter rail service New Haven, Hartford and Springfield, Massachusetts, along with other state rail and bus projects.

“A regional approach to our mass transit needs will help keep Connecticut at the top of the federal priorities list as our state’s rail infrastructure is widely utilized but outmoded,” said Senator Boucher.

Senator Boucher commended Governor Rell and DOT Commissioner Marie for their support and leadership regarding mass transit improvement.

“Connecticut is fortunate to have the right person for the right job at the right time. DOT Commissioner Joseph Marie, along with Governor Rell, has a clear mass transit vision for Connecticut. No question, our transportation infrastructure helps drive economic growth. Finally, our state has all parties on board to advance these important regional mass transit intermodal projects. If successful in gaining federal support, Connecticut residents can look forward to a day when residents will be able to take a train from Fairfield County to New Haven, Bradley Airport and Springfield, Massachusetts,” said Senator Boucher.

  • Kurm Udgeon

    A recent poll taken by Channel 8 news reported that of all of the respondents asked if they would use new rail service from New Haven through Hartford to Springfield, more than two thirds of them responded no. Granted, television polls such as this are less than scientific, but this begs a greater question.
    The most used corrider on Amtrack is the northeast through New York, Stamford, New Haven and on to Boston. If emphasis on rail service is to be put somewhere, shouldn’t it be there? Why is Senator Boucher, who represents Wilton and Norwalk, applauding efforts for dollars to be spent in another part of the state which won’t help her constituents one bit? As she put it on this blog recently, it’s about jobs. No jobs will be created for her constituents out of this federal funding, and once again, our representatives from Norwalk and surrounding towns watch and cheer as Fairfield County gets gatz. When will they ever learn? When will we, as voters ever learn. If our elected representatives can’t represent us, throw them the hell out. They would all speak out of three or four sides of their mouths if they had that many (I believe that they think that they do). Maybe Boucher is bucking for a judgeship also. Wake up folks, we are continuing to allow these reps to allow us to get screwed.

  • http://livablenorwalk.org David Marcus

    Has anybody seen proposals for where a Northeast High-Speed Rail line would run? My best guesses are at

    http://www.livablenorwalk.org/2010/03/what-high-speed-rail-between-nyc-and.html

    but I haven’t been able to find anybody else’s concepts.

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