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4 Celebrate Connecticut! • CERC R E G I O N A L P R O F I L E S / / / / / N O R T H C E N T R A L T he North Central region has contributed mightily to its transportation system over the past year. It's also beefed up its Innovation Destination: Hartford website — a resource and showcase for entrepreneurs created by the MetroHartford Alliance — and continues to invest in transit, innovation and development. The state's first rapid-transit bus system, CTfastrak, had a ridership of four million as of August, about 18,000 rides every weekday — levels not anticipated until 2030 — said Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, who calls it a transformative investment. The goal of the bus line is to move people quickly with a system of elevated building platforms, synchronized traffic lights and mostly pre-paid fares. Groups are now advocating for regional train service to Boston. Economic experts say it's needed for those who have frequent meetings in Boston, for recruiting purposes, and for companies here looking to access bigger markets. Public transportation system improvements are aimed at boosting development and building communities near stations as well. The Capital Region Development Authority has helped fund some 800 units of apartments in downtown Hartford to lure more residents. Five housing proposals worth $53.4 million are in the works now, adding 264 more units to the center of the city. Most will be built after UConn moves its West Hartford campus downtown, next year. Newington received a $2-million state grant to demolish the old National Welding building — long a source of blight. Town officials seek ideas from developers for the site, which is near the CTfastrak's Cedar Street station. BIOSCIENCE: FULL SPEED AHEAD Bioscience advances, such as UConn Health in Farmington opening 28,000 square feet of research space with 32 laboratories and 40 offices, is the latest result of Bioscience Connecticut, a year- long effort to lure startups. Looking ahead, The UConn Tech Center at the campus in Storrs — with corporate partners such as United Technologies and Comcast on board — is set for a grand opening in 2017. The state allocated $864 million toward efforts to put the state in a bioscience research leadership position, with spin-off businesses the anticipated fruit of that labor. ///// Source: Tim Malone, Capitol Region Council of Governments www.CRCOG.org • 860.522.2217 Photos/Courtesy CTfastrak Capewell Lofts, one of the housing developments in Downtown Hartford