Coalition Calls For Action

To Ease Gridlock

By John Christoffersen

Associated Press

NEW HAVEN —A new coalition of business, labor and municipal leaders is urging state officials to find a way to pay for billions of dollars in transportation projects needed to ease growing traffic congestion.

More than 25 statewide organizations are forming the Transportation Investment Coalition to press lawmakers in the new session to implement a 10-year transportation plan. The group, which announced its campaign this week, said Connecticut should not need another tragedy such as the collapse of the Mianus River Bridge in Greenwich in 1983 to spur another improvement program.

“The tragedy facing Connecticut today is that of lost job opportunities, frustratingly longer commuting times and the increasing delay in the delivery of goods and services that is dragging Connecticut’s economy down as a result of inadequate transportation facilities across the state,” the coalition said.

The Transportation Strategy Board, which was formed in response to what many officials called a crisis, has recommended a 10-year plan of highway, airport and rail improvements that would cost about $5 billion. The group has suggested increases in the gas and sales taxes to pay for the projects.

“It’s been three years now. We need a commitment to move this forward,” said Robert Hammersley, manager of the strategy board. “The price tag is going up.”

The board also wants officials to consider a modern system of tolls.

Gov. M. Jodi Rell needs to evaluate the transportation options, said spokesman Dennis Schain.

“We will face tough choices when it comes to transportation as major improvements are costly,” Schain said.

In Fairfield County, where congestion has been particularly severe, some business leaders are calling for a widening of Interstate 95. The Chambers of Commerce in Stamford, Greenwich and Norwalk said they favor adding a continuous exit and entrance lane from Greenwich to New Haven to ease congestion caused by the slowing of cars entering and leaving the highway.

“We feel I-95’s capacity has to be addressed,” said Jack Condlin, president of the Stamford Chamber of Commerce. “This is a potential solution.”

The congestion has become so severe in recent years that corporate leaders have worried it will hurt the region’s economy. Fairfield County has long served as an economic engine for Connecticut.