At a transportation forum in North Haven, Governor Malloy and Republican challenger Tom Foley outlined their plans to fix Connecticut's transportation problems.
The forum was sponsored by Moving Transportation Forward in Connecticut, a coalition of groups interested in transportation issues. Each candidate addressed the crowd separately, with Tom Foley going first. In his opening remarks Foley called the transportation woes facing Connecticut "shameful".
"We have a lot to catching up to do," Foley said. "I am 100 percent behind doing this, but we have some challenges."
Meanwhile, Malloy had a more upbeat take on the state of transportation projects in Connecticut. "In the last three and a half years," he said, "we've increased state funding and participation in transportation projects, much higher than ever before."
As expected, there were stark differences between how each candidate would deal with the state's long standing transportation problems. While Governor Malloy suggested more mass transit projects could help ease crippling traffic congestion, Foley bristled at the idea. "Any purposeful strategy to push people out of their cars, and onto mass transit, I really don't think is going to work," said Foley.
On the issue of improving the infrastructure of the New Haven line, Foley said he's committed to an upgrade, but only after the state gets it's financial house in order. Malloy said his administration is already moving ahead with projects to improve the rail line. "We're back to a 95 percent on-time ratio," Malloy said. "We are going to make major investments on the walk bridge and other bridges in that very constrained corridor."
One subject they could agree on was tolls, although admittedly for different reasons. Malloy said revenue from the tolls should be used to finish more transportation projects, while Foley said tolls should be a tool for easing traffic congestion, and any revenue should be offset by a reduction in another transportation related tax, like the gas tax.
Watch the forum below via CT-N footage:
Tom Foley addresses transportation advocates in North Haven pic.twitter.com/0O5fq6q5Qk
— Ken Dixon (@KenDixonCT) September 15, 2014
.@TomFoleyCT on #CT roads: after crossing border into #MA, "you can definitely see the difference in maintenance." pic.twitter.com/9YJhepPk6S
— Tri-State Transportation Campaign (@Tri_State) September 15, 2014
Tom Foley tells transportation forum that he noticed a big difference in road maintenance between Mass. and Conn. during a recent road trip.
— Daniela Altimari (@capitolwatch) September 15, 2014
Foley says he does not support policies that drive people to use public transit and get out of their vehicles
— ctnewsjunkie (@ctnewsjunkie) September 15, 2014
Tom Foley says he has faith technology will solve a lot of the planet's environmental problems.
— Daniela Altimari (@capitolwatch) September 15, 2014
Malloy is here. Never crossed paths w Foley. Candidates did not agree on debate format, say sponsors.
— CT Rail Commuters (@CTRailCommuters) September 15, 2014
.@GovMalloyOffice "I have 15 min to talk about #transportation...I'd rather let the last 3 yrs speak for themselves." pic.twitter.com/32mTBAadeY
— Tri-State Transportation Campaign (@Tri_State) September 15, 2014
Malloy says: 84 needs to widened, 95 needs to be widen, make our rail system work more like a subway system, That’s what we need to do.
— ctnewsjunkie (@ctnewsjunkie) September 15, 2014
Malloy says getting more people to use buses and trains will help improve the environment. "What we want is cleaner, cheaper...energy"
— Daniela Altimari (@capitolwatch) September 15, 2014
.@GovMalloyOffice says if tolls return to #CT, revenues must be used to widen highways and get some cars off the road.
— Tri-State Transportation Campaign (@Tri_State) September 15, 2014
#CT under-invested in @MetroNorth for a "very very very long time," says @GovMalloyOffice. Catenary replacement forthcoming.
— Tri-State Transportation Campaign (@Tri_State) September 15, 2014
Malloy points to media and says we criticize him for being "wonkish" and "over-caffeinated" but he said "it's a passion."
— ctnewsjunkie (@ctnewsjunkie) September 15, 2014
Transportation groups recently released a call to action to candidates for the fall election. The bulletin asks the gubernatorial candidates and other policy makers to address a variety of concerns facing Connecticut’s transportation systems, including public safety, efficient transit, the pace of projects, and the reliability of federal assistance.
Hosting groups for the candidate forum include Transit for Connecticut, Connecticut Construction Industries Association, Tri-State Transportation Campaign, Connecticut Fund for the Environment, Regional Plan Association, Connecticut Association for Community Transportation, Connecticut League of Conservation Voters, and Capitol Region Council of Governments.
