Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1170674
86 | DOING BUSINESS IN CONNECTICUT | 2019 Frontier Airlines has a direct flight to Denver out of Bradley Airport. on trains and 40 million passenger trips on buses every year. Maintaining these systems is not optional. It is money well spent on behalf of every traveler in the state, no matter what mode of transportation they use." And of course, you can't talk about the roadways in Connecticut without mentioning the contentious topic of tolls, which Governor Ned Lamont has proposed adding to certain highways in order to help fund transportation and infrastructure projects. Giulietti said he understands why the prospect makes residents nervous, but that he is in support of sustainable funding sources for necessary projects. "That money will go into infrastructure. That's a good public purpose," he said. "You want to come up with revenue streams that will have a direct impact on people's lives." Kevin Dillon, Connecticut Airport Authority (CAA)'s executive director, is thinking about how to positively impact residents' travel experience, as well. In charge of Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks and five other general aviation airports in the state, Dillon and his team are – needless to say – busy. But Dillon says that with a "very healthy air traffic market in the region," these are very exciting times in air travel. Bradley's primary current focus is route development, said Dillon. The CAA recently announced two new airlines at Bradley: Via Airlines, with nonstop service to Pittsburgh, and Frontier Airlines, with nonstop service to Denver. The ultra low-cost carriers give Bradley an edge in the regional market, he said. Dillon believes Seattle would be another excellent addition to Bradley's non-stop service, both as an attractive city for travelers and as a jumping-off point for air service to Asia. He also hopes to add new international locations in addition to Bradley's popular Aer Lingus Dublin flight, naming London as a potential. "I truly believe Bradley could become a 10 million-passenger airport," Dillon said of the airport's future. "It's a matter of convincing the airlines to put their limited resources here." Thinking big means adding resources, he said, and that's why the CAA just completed a master plan that calls for $1.4 billion of investment in Bradley over the next 20 years. Improvements planned include rental car access in one spot (meaning no more having to catch a bus to the rental car centers) and a new airport roadway built to handle additional capacity. Just like Giulietti, Dillon is eager to move forward on plans to connect rail line service to the airport. He said the plan is to increase the frequency of bus service, and eventually move to light rail service that would bring travelers to the Hartford Line. "We are working hand-in-hand-with the DOT on this," he said. There are "fun" plans in the works, too, like announcing new concessions offerings for passengers at the airport, joining recent additions like Two Roads Brewing Company and Phillips Seafood. "Again, we are trying to enhance efficiency, but we are also trying to make sure that when you're at the airport, it's a pleasant experience," he said. TRANSPORTATION DOT Commissioner Joseph Giulietti [Photo | courtesy of the Connecticut Airport Authority ]