CT Needs a Transportation Plan

Connecticut Needs a Transportation Plan

his photo was taken recently in Westport on the Merritt Parkway. If the above image is part of your everyday commute, then you know exactly what I am talking about. Jammed highways, long delays, too many cars and too many engine fumes polluting the air we breathe. Unfortunately our current administration has never made implementing our state's strategic transportation plan a priority or put the necessary funding behind it. Clearly we must have a balanced transportation system that is multi modal, we need to invest in existing infrastructure and resources, and we need to protect our environment and community character. With a long term plan in place critical projects such as expansion of Route 7 or the completion of Route 11 will not be in limbo for years.

We also need to get more cars off the roads by making more reliable mass transit systems like rail more available to more parts of the state. We need to get commuters from our highways into rail cars, and make this service more reliable, accessible, and affordable. This includes: expanding the Shoreline East Commuter Rail service from New Haven all the way to New London. Connecting New London through a daily commuter rail service to the Boston-based MBTA train service in Worcester, MA should also be a priority. It's also time to make daily commuter rail service between New Haven and Springfield a reality.

The development of more container ports for shipping along Long Island Sound and the movement of shipping containers to rail lines will also get more trucks off the highways and ease congestion along our roads. A strong shipping system will also attract more cargo and passenger airlines to Bradley Airport.

Most of all, to make these much needed transportation investments a reality, we need a governor with a vision who can see that every dime we spend on improving our infrastructure will be paid back in dividends by more business investment, safer roads, and cleaner air. This translates into a better quality of life, not to mention the economic recovery that will be brought by creating hundreds if not thousands of new jobs to develop our transportation infrastructure, bring it up to date and launch us into the future. It's time for new leadership in Hartford.

With your donation today you can help me make this new leadership a reality!

In Your Community

Recently I had the pleasure and the honor of addressing the Hamden Democratic Town Committee and meeting with local leaders, like Scott Jackson who is running for mayor. I am looking forward to swearing Scott as Hamden's next mayor. Municipal elections take place November 3rd so good luck to all Democratic candidates on the ballot this fall!

Governor Rell's Latest Scandal

The Norwich Bulletin recently called on Governor Rell's chief of staff Lisa Moody to resign over the latest in a series of embarrassments for the office.

In case you missed it, this latest scandal erupted over the fact that it appears the Governor's office improperly paid taxpayers' money to a political consultant to do polling on the governor's behalf.

Click here to see video of me commenting on this story.

Fundamentally I believe, this is a gross misuse of public resources to the tune of $220,000 from a political slush fund that the Governor herself once decried. This kind of hypocrisy shows how for too long, Republican governors in our state have put politics ahead of actually doing work to solve our state's problems based on what is best for taxpayers. We've had enough spin and irresponsible decision-making. It's time for real leadership based on sound principles and honest government. This latest episode makes it clearer than ever that we need a change in Hartford.