Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/518124
2015 | Doing Business in Connecticut 91 switch easily between train and bus. Future plans also include building new stations in Hamden and Windsor, as well as new train equipment, additional parking at most stations, and improvements to the Hartford Viaduct and the Connecticut River bridge at Windsor Locks. New stations are also being added to the New Haven line. e DOT expects the expanded rail corridor to spark a significant amount of transit-oriented development due to the more frequent rail service. Maziarz said his department is already working on a joint de- velopment effort with Meriden specifically, sharing in the construction of a garage that will serve new residential development close to the rail line. "We're trying to make investments in railroad infrastructure that also support the economic development efforts of the state or communities," he said. "Meriden has 60-70 units of rental apartments in the downtown area that, in itself, will prompt additional de- velopment around it. We think the same thing can happen around each of those stations." e DOT is also working with Wind- sor Locks on the upgrade and relocation of its Amtrak station from beneath the I-91 overpass in that town, and with the Town of Windsor on a shared parking development to complement a new station planned for that community. "We're also working with New Haven to make sure the new rail service spurs a high level of economic development there." He's also optimistic that increased rail ridership will alleviate some of the traf- fic congestion on I-91 and other major roadways. Maziarz said so far, reaction to the proj- ect has been positive. "e business commu- nity is supportive, as are all of the munici- palities along the line. Some of them already have activity underway to start planning for these stations so they can get as much out of it as possible." Real estate and development companies are also showing interest. He said once Massachusetts' connecting service comes on line, "it will allow for much better connections to both New York and to Boston; the opportunity will be there for eas- ily reaching major economic centers, whether for business or tourism. I think it will have a long-term, positive impact on our ability to grow the economy of Connecticut." ❑ By Carol Latter W hen Kevin A. Dillon took a job with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in 1975 at the age of 19, he probably never imagined he'd spend the next two decades there, assuming manage- ment roles at two of the region's largest air- ports before replicating his success in Boston. And he certainly couldn't have foreseen that he'd one day be responsible for all of Connecticut's airports as the executive director of the Connecticut Airport Authority (CAA). Yet that's the trajectory his career has taken. And today, living in bucolic Granby with his wife Kathleen — and close to two of his three daughters and four of his six grandchildren — he couldn't be happier with the adventures life has presented so far. Aer 40 years in the business, he's as busy as ever, helping to formulate the next round of improvements for Bradley International Airport and Connecticut's regional airports, and serving on various business and community boards. ese days, the man who once championed La Guardia, JFK and Logan air- ports spends a lot of time figuring out how to lure passengers and companies away from those transportation hubs, and convince them to use Bradley instead. It's a responsibility he takes seriously. "A 2006 study demonstrated that Bradley is contributing $4 billion to the regional economy through direct and indirect economic impact," he says. "When you start talking about a location size of Connecticut or west- ern Massachusetts, that's a significant level of economic impact and that's why we want to be very protective of our airport service at Bradley — because it's so important to the regional economy. You can't be a first class region if you don't have a first class airport." He's currently overseeing the planning and development of a new Transporta- tion Center that will consolidate all rental car companies under one roof and provide additional indoor parking. He's also trying to convince an airline to offer non-stop international service to Dublin, London, Paris, Frankfurt or Amsterdam by 2016. Dillon spent 21 years with the Port Authority, splitting his time equally between La Guardia and Kennedy. He was acting general manager of La Guardia when he took a job as director of aviation operations for Massport, where he had responsibility for operations at Logan, Hanscom and Worcester airports. In New York, he was involved in the last significant upgrade at La Guardia. "Aer arriving at Massport, we undertook a $2 billion capital reconstruction project which included a complete redo of terminals E and C, and new parking facilities. ose were two very exciting positions." Aer three years, he le Boston to work for the City of Manchester, New Hampshire, which was redeveloping the entire airport through a $500 million capi- tal construction program. Over the next seven years, he was able to double passen- ger traffic before heading for Orlando International Airport, which recruited him to oversee work on a new south terminal and manage operations. Dillon subsequently moved to Rhode Island, where he was responsible for T.F. Green as well as the state's five general aviation airports. In 2012, he came to Connecti- cut to oversee the transfer of the airport assets from DOT to the CAA, a new, indepen- dent airport authority. "We took over responsibility for the airports on July 1, 2013, and we have been operating them since then. We've accomplished an awful lot." ❑ Kevin A. Dillon Taking Flight After four decades in the aviation industry, Kevin Dillon is still aiming high PHOTO/HARTFORD BUSINESS JOURNAL FILE PHOTO | PABLO ROBLES PROFILE