Minutes

Coastal Corridor Transportation Investment Area

January 17, 2007

The meeting was called to order by Co-Chair Burnaska at 3:05 p.m. in the Bridgeport City Hall Annex with the Pledge of Allegiance.

CCTIA members and alternates present: Jim Cameron, Judy Gott, Rick Dunne, Floyd Lapp, James Wang, Dick Carpenter, Carol Leighton, John Neary, Franklin Bloomer and Karen Burnaska. Also present: Jill Kelly, CTL.

It was moved (F. Lapp) and seconded (J. Cameron) to approve the minutes of the October 18, 2006 CCTIA meeting. Motion passed unanimously.

Dr. Floyd Lapp, Executive Director of SWRPA, stated that his three passions are: bus rapid transit, value pricing and smart growth. In regards to bus rapid transit, SWRPA is working with the Norwalk Transit District to get CMAQ funding for a bus rapid transit project from Stamford to Norwalk on Route 1. As to value pricing, he doesn’t know if SWRPA or ConnDOT will receive federal approval, but SWRPA is willing to work with ConnDOT on the project. TOD is very important because it provides for higher density, mixed use development around transportation centers. SWRPA is also doing studies on affordable housing and open space. Members engaged in a lively discussion on affordable housing, parking at rail stations and bus rapid transit.

James Wang presented the Regional Bicycle Trail Project that runs through Monroe, Trumbull and Bridgeport. The trail is either constructed or underway in all three communities. Two areas still under review are the trail’s crossing of Route 25 and the Merritt Parkway. GBRPA has advertised for the design phase for the whole project. The detailed proposal could be reviewed from the GBRPA website (www.gbrpa.org).

During the Communications portion of the meeting:

1. Floyd Lapp reported that there is a Transportation Committee hearing on the TSB report on Friday, January 26, 2007, 1:00 p.m. at the LOB in Hartford.

2. Dick Carpenter passed around two maps on rail freight that showed significant increase in rail freight in the last 25 years, but not in Connecticut.

3. Jim Cameron very briefly summarized the Commuter Council’s Annual Report by stating that stations need to be fixed, parking is needed and so are better rail cars. He had previously emailed the Annual Report to all members and suggested we look at the links provided in the report.

4. Rick Dunne reported that TOD projects are underway in Shelton, Derby and Seymour. He presented graphics of the project in Derby. Increased traffic on Route 8 is responsible for current interest in TOD.

Karen Burnaska discussed the TSB’s 2007 report. In relation to CCTIA recommendations, it is a good report. It furthers increasing the number of trips using alternative modes of transportation and it recommends a study of rail freight. The report stresses the integration of land use and transportation planning. While it doesn’t address how best to manage public transportation, ConnDOT is in the process of hiring a Deputy Transportation Commissioner for public transit. The TSB report does not identify new and stable sources of funding for transportation expenditures.

The February meeting of the CCTIA is cancelled. The next meeting will be held after clarification is received from the TSB on the future role of TIAs. Members of the CCTIA are interested in working with the TSB as it develops evaluation criteria for future transportation projects.

The meeting adjourned at 4:50 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Karen Burnaska

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December 7, 2004


The Honorable M. Jodi Rell, Governor
State of Connecticut
Room 202
State Capital
Hartford, CT 06106-1591

Dear Governor Rell:

On November 17, 2004, the Coastal Corridor Transportation Investment Area voted unanimously to request that the State Legislature fund a study of road pricing on limited-access highways as a congestion mitigation strategy similar to a study proposed several years ago by the Southwestern Regional Planning Agency but expanded to consider gateway tolls on all limited-access highways entering the state and congestion pricing on both roads and transit.

As you are aware, transportation is critical for the economic viability of the state and the quality of life of its residents. In the Coastal Corridor Transportation Investment Area, clogged roadways and inadequate commuter rail facilities are at a breaking point. Road pricing has been used successfully to mitigate traffic congestion both in this country and abroad. It would take many years to introduce road pricing in Connecticut, assuming that the study demonstrated the desirability of doing so.

The Transportation Strategy Board has recommended solutions to these problems and proposed a statewide transportation strategy for the next twenty years. Funding of these recommendations is the critical question. The Coastal Corridor Transportation Investment Area believes that road pricing would not only mitigate traffic congestion but would also generate funds to pay for needed maintenance and improvements to our roads and transit system.

Road pricing is one of many options that need to be reviewed in order to move forward with a transportation agenda that meets the economic needs of the state. In order to fully understand the desirability of road pricing in Connecticut, we request that a study be initiated as soon as possible.


Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Franklin Bloomer, Co-Chair
Karen Burnaska, Co-Chair

cc: Senator Biagio Ciotto
Representative Jackie Cocco
Mr. R. Nelson Griebel

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December 7, 2004


The Honorable Donald E. Williams, Jr.
President Pro Tempore
State Senate
Legislative Office Building
Hartford, CT 06106-1591

Dear Senator Williams:

On November 17, 2004, the Coastal Corridor Transportation Investment Area voted unanimously to request that the State Legislature fund a study of road pricing on limited-access highways as a congestion mitigation strategy similar to a study proposed several years ago by the Southwestern Regional Planning Agency but expanded to consider gateway tolls on all limited-access highways entering the state and congestion pricing on both roads and transit.

As you are aware, transportation is critical for the economic viability of the state and the quality of life of its residents. In the Coastal Corridor Transportation Investment Area, clogged roadways and inadequate commuter rail facilities are at a breaking point. Road pricing has been used successfully to mitigate traffic congestion both in this country and abroad. It would take many years to introduce road pricing in Connecticut, assuming that the study demonstrated the desirability of doing so.

The Transportation Strategy Board has recommended solutions to these problems and proposed a statewide transportation strategy for the next twenty years. Funding of these recommendations is the critical question. The Coastal Corridor Transportation Investment Area believes that road pricing would not only mitigate traffic congestion but would also generate funds to pay for needed maintenance and improvements to our roads and transit system.

Road pricing is one of many options that need to be reviewed in order to move forward with a transportation agenda that meets the economic needs of the state. In order to fully understand the desirability of road pricing in Connecticut, we request that a study be initiated as soon as possible.


Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Franklin Bloomer, Co-Chair
Karen Burnaska, Co-Chair

cc: Senator Biagio Ciotto
Representative Jackie Cocco
Mr. R. Nelson Griebel

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December 7, 2004


The Honorable Moira K. Lyons
Speaker of the House
Legislative Office Building
Hartford, CT 06106-1591

Dear Speaker Lyons:

On November 17, 2004, the Coastal Corridor Transportation Investment Area voted unanimously to request that the State Legislature fund a study of road pricing on limited-access highways as a congestion mitigation strategy similar to a study proposed several years ago by the Southwestern Regional Planning Agency but expanded to consider gateway tolls on all limited-access highways entering the state and congestion pricing on both roads and transit.

As you are aware, transportation is critical for the economic viability of the state and the quality of life of its residents. In the Coastal Corridor Transportation Investment Area, clogged roadways and inadequate commuter rail facilities are at a breaking point. Road pricing has been used successfully to mitigate traffic congestion both in this country and abroad. It would take many years to introduce road pricing in Connecticut, assuming that the study demonstrated the desirability of doing so.

The Transportation Strategy Board has recommended solutions to these problems and proposed a statewide transportation strategy for the next twenty years. Funding of these recommendations is the critical question. The Coastal Corridor Transportation Investment Area believes that road pricing would not only mitigate traffic congestion but would also generate funds to pay for needed maintenance and improvements to our roads and transit system.

Road pricing is one of many options that need to be reviewed in order to move forward with a transportation agenda that meets the economic needs of the state. In order to fully understand the desirability of road pricing in Connecticut, we request that a study be initiated as soon as possible.


Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Franklin Bloomer, Co-Chair
Karen Burnaska, Co-Chair

cc: Senator Biagio Ciotto
Representative Jackie Cocco
Mr. R. Nelson Griebel

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FYI – Former Subcommittees of the CCTIA were as follows:

MOP:
Franklin Bloomer, Jim Cameron, Melissa Leigh, Jeff O’Keefe, Denis Pope, Laurel Stegina

MOG:
Dick Carpenter, Marty Tristine, James Wang

Land Use:
Bruce Heyl, Diane Farrell, Laurel Stegina, Melissa Leigh

Funding:
Karen Burnaska, Franklin Bloomer, James Wang, Joe McGee

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Feb. 5, 2002

TSB & TIA REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE 5 WORKING GROUPS

Movement of People

TSB reps: Steve Cassano, George Giguere, Jeff O'Keefe, Arthur Spada
CCTIA rep: Franklin Bloomer
TIA reps: I-395 Barbara Buddington, Southeast Stanley Mickus, I-91 Mike Doyle, I-84 Bernie Lynch

Movement of Goods

TSB reps: George Giguere, Joseph Maco, John Sarantopoulus
CCTIA rep: James Wang
TIA reps: I-395 Mary Lou DeVivo, Southeast Diana Atwood, I-91 Lee Osborne, I-84 Tom Maziarz

Land Use & Economic Development

TSB reps: James Abromaitis, John Markowicz, Arthur Rocque, Michael Sullivan
CCTIA rep: Bruce Heyl
TIA reps: I-395 Jefferson Davis, Southeast James Butler, I-91 John Shemo, I-84 Carl Stephani

Funding & Finance

TSB reps: Michael Critelli, Marc Ryan, James Sullivan
CCTIA rep: Karen Burnaska
TIA reps: I-395 Jane Dauphinais, Southeast, I-91 Rick Porth, I-84 Ted Scheidel

Evaluation

TSB reps: John Markowicz, Michael Meotti, Arthur Rocque
CCTIA rep: Diane Farrell
TIA reps: I-395 John Filchak, Southeast Linda Krause, I-91 Judy Gott, I-84 Peter Dorpalen