'Transportation Gap' In Connecticut, rest of U.S.

The CT Mirror ^

[matt04]

Connecticut policymakers have been squarely focused on the education achievement gap this year, but a new report from the Brookings Institution cites another disparity that needs attention. Call it a "transportation gap."

The report looked at the extent that residents in the top 100 U.S. metropolitan areas use public transportation to get to their jobs. Not surprisingly, Connecticut was only in the middle of the pack when it comes to workers' access to public transit.

But another important finding described commuting disparties in and out of some of the state's larger cities -- like New Haven, Bridgeport and Hartford -- versus its smaller cities, where a large number of jobs are also concentrated.

"Public transportation is a critical cog in actually making sure our metropolitan economies function to the peak of their abilities," said Adie Tomer, a senior research associate at the Metropolitan Policy program at Brookings, a major Washington think tank.

He said that more suburb-to-suburb routing in Connecticut's train and bus lines could help workers shed their cars for greener, often cheaper public transit.

...

Still, the suburbs or smaller towns -- especially in Connecticut -- tend to be car-centric and low-density residential and commercial areas. Improving train routes in those areas won't solve the issue unless it's easy to get to transit access points in those areas.

"Connecticut is a suburban state, and that's really the issue that we're talking about here," said Norman Garrick, an associate professor of transportation engineering at the University of Connecticut. "The patterns we have created over the past 50 years have made it very, very difficult to support public transportation."

[matt04]

If train and/or bus service was something that was needed in low density suburban areas, businesses would be providing it or looking for ways to provide it.

This is not about the environment, it about creating Union jobs.

[Gay State Conservative]

What? Much of Connecticut (at least much of that portion of the population that actually works) commutes to NYC and they can do so via Metro North from New Haven,Bridgeport,Stamford and dozens of other stations along the way.

[LurkedLongEnough]

I’ve lived or worked in all portions of CT for more than 30 years (thank goodness that is over with). Metro North to NYC works fine in Fairfield County if you can stand the crowds and the commute length. Bless anyone who drives the Merritt or I-95. The rest of the state depends on terribly maintained highways and dangerous back road shortcuts. Nearly empty public buses roam aimlessly in towns and cities, making an appearance while seeking prey.

Any announcement that public transportation will work in Connecticut is patently ridiculous. True that a shovel-ready CBA play in this politically corrupt state will end up succeeding eventually, driving productive taxpayers like me to leave the state.

[kearnyirish2]

I agree that this is about union jobs, but at the same time it will have to address a need as private ownership of cars, like that of homes, becomes a thing of the past. How many vehicles on the road now are leases?

[HotKat]

Just say no to public transportation. Way too many people in confined spaces. As much as I despise freeway traffic jams, I’m happy in my own vehicle, knowing that I’m doing my part to increase air pollution.

[HotKat]

Just say no to public transportation. Way too many people in confined spaces. As much as I despise freeway traffic jams, I’m happy in my own vehicle, knowing that I’m doing my part to increase air pollution.