Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/688926
Transportation INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT › 82 Doing Business in Connecticut | 2016 "People are losing money because they're stuck in traffic, because potholes cost them money to repair their cars," Redeker said. He said the plan aims to ignite economic growth while making Connecticut — which already rates high in quality of life — "a place where people want to locate their businesses, and live and recreate." Rail upgrades e majority of new spending in the first five years — about 70 percent of the $2.8 bil- lion — will go to rail improvements, including upgrading Metro-North lines, Shore Line East and completion of the Hartford line, a high- speed rail system running from New Haven to Springfield that will serve both commuters and long-distance travelers. Redeker said recent improvements to Met- ro-North Railroad's New Haven line — includ- ing new rail cars, new bridges and new overhead power lines — are already paying off. Figures released by Metro-North show ridership hit an all-time high in 2015, exceeding 40.3 million passenger trips, a 2-percent increase over the previous year. e increase comes as ridership on Amtrak has been declining, Redeker said. "And complaints are at an all-time low. ey've never been lower on the New Haven line," Redeker said. Meanwhile, towns along the Hartford line are already seeing economic growth in anticipa- tion of the new train service, which will launch in January 2018, he said. In Wallingford, where a new station is be- ing built as part of the project, town officials said new restaurants are opening in the town center and a developer has proposed a 120-unit apart- ment complex near the station. "I can't say it's all been stimulated by the rail project, but certainly it's a big help," said Tim Ryan, Wallingford's economic develop- ment director. Earlier this year, the town conducted a transit-oriented development study that was expected to pinpoint further development op- portunities around the rail station. Ryan expects great potential for mixed-use development, with retail on the ground floors and residences above, particularly since Baby Boomers and Millennials are gravitating toward downtown areas. Although Amtrak already stops in town, Ryan said it's so infrequent that few people ride the train. He said the number of stops will more than double aer the Hartford line launches. Travelers in Wallingford, Meriden, Berlin and other towns along the line will board trains every 45 minutes during peak periods, and every 90 minutes during off- peak times. When all improvements are finished, the train will run every 30 minutes during peak hours. "at will make it much more conve- nient for people to use the train and consider the train a viable transportation resource," said Ryan. "It also makes us much more commuter friendly." Bus expansion Another priority is expanding CTfas- track express bus service east of the Con- necticut River. e rapid transit buses, which began running in March 2015 from New Britain to Hartford, use a 9.4-mile bus-only roadway constructed partly on an abandoned rail right-of-way. In the first year alone, Redeker said, rid- ership has exceeded goals set for 2030. e system is averaging 16,000 passenger trips on weekdays, with 9,000 on Saturdays and 5,000 on Sundays, according to DOT figures. Plans are in the works to expand CT- fastrack into East Hartford and Manchester later this year. Officials also are studying ways to eventually expand service to the University of Connecticut's main campus in Storrs. e expanded service would use existing HOV lanes on Interstate 84, which would still remain open to cars, and would likely be phased in over time. Redeker said officials in towns and cities along the CTfastrack corridor from New Britain to Hartford are reporting an uptick in economic development as a result of the busway, and businesses and leaders in other communities are asking the state to expand the service. Growing the airport e focus on transportation is not just about commuters. Anne Evans, state director Passengers get on a CTFastrak bus at the New Britain Station. > Continued from page 81 PHOTO/CTFASTRAK ' It's not just about doing what we do everyday, but about making the kind of future that people want. ' — James RedekeR, commissioneR of the connecticut depaRtment of tRanspoRtation Continued on page 84 >