As you know, when Barack Obama hits the White House, he plans to initiate a massive public works project which will reinvigorate the economy.
He's already put out the word that he's looking for "shovel-ready" projects.
According to at least one editorial in the Hartford Courant, by Ned Lamont, the state is ill-prepared to accept money for these kinds of projects. While another two editorials suggest that creating alternative transportation solutions is something that would help the state.
Certainly, we shouldn't pour good money after bad into an expansion of an interstate highway system which forms the backbone of a transportation system which is antiquated and wasteful. What's more, at least in this state, it seems likely that such a move would only enrich contractors in a system which seems rigged to perpetuate the livelihood of asphalt-spreaders and roadway contractors who are intimately connected to the state bureaucracy.
In Middletown, there's already a proposal on the table to build a trolley line down Main Street. It fits perfectly the standards which Obama has proposed for an infrastructure project which will have future benefits, help the economy, and free us from the constraints of an fossil-fuel economy.
There have to be other ideas like this that Middletown can address readily. What projects should the mayor, and the Common Council work to make "shovel-ready" immediately. If ever there was a cause for which our political and community leaders should work toward with great haste, this is it.
We'll publish all reasonable suggestions for infrastructure, green, progressive projects Middletown should tackle. Leave your comments.
5 comments:
John Dankosky's public radio show "Where We Live" recently featured a discussion of this very topic. The guests were Tom Condon, Heather Brandon, and Jim Cameron. The show was called: "Getting Shovel Ready". You can get to it easily from here:
http://www.cpbn.org/program/where-we-live
Definitely worthwhile.
Vijay
One question that's been bothering me lately is the current state of the DOT plan to transform Route 9 along the waterfront area (from the Route 17 - Route 9 "connector" [a.k.a. Acheson Way] to the Arrigoni Bridge). Given all the changes that have been (and presumably will be) occurring at the DOT, and the greater attention to mass transit at the state capitol, it seems likely that the DOT plan for Route 9 that evolved over the past ten years is badly out of date. Will the proposed reconstruction undermine the potential to create mass transit connections between Middletown and the major rail corridors both west (Amtrak and the proposed "Knowledge Corridor" line) and south (Shoreline East and Amtrak)? Certainly the development of mass transit options was not a high priority in that plan. Can someone provide an update on the current state of the plan? Maybe it's time to go back to the drawing board.
Middletown should get the downtown parking plan settled and executed. The fedral funding has been in place for years and nothing has been done. So why should we expect a sudden burst of new projects when exsisting projects are stalled?
All of the traffic lights on Rt 9 should be eliminated. Energy is wasted and greenhouse gases are emitted from vehicles stuck in traffic.
As far as the state is concerned it is one big traffic jam and all roads that are over capacity need to be expanded. This will eliminate wasteful use of fossil fuels and provide efficent transportation.
Hi,
Thanks to http://ctlocalpolitics.net/ I had a chance to see the CCM's report ( http://ccm-ct.org/advocacy/2007-2008/ready_to_go_121108.pdf ) on all the CT local towns & cities that have reported their "ready 2 go" projects. Sadly, Middletown is not one of the cities that has reported. We have 200 miles of City roads that are 100% maintained by Middletown Tax dollars.
I asked the Public Works Director what projects we had that could be offered for possible Federal funding and we do not seem to be on top of this. We need to be at the front of the line on this and I am not sure where we stand.
As far as plans for Rt. 9, we are right up to date by DOT standards. Our stalled "South Cove" development initiative is driving the plans for Rt. 9. I am embarrassed to admit that I do not want to get rid of the traffic lights on Rt. 9 until the DOT gives Middletown what we need for our riverfront development. The price tag for the upgrade is huge and DOT is guaranteed to walk away from this stretch of road after they make the next change - we had better insist that they get it completely right or Middletown is in deep trouble.
David Bauer
- Implement the changes outlined in the Downtown Parking Study
- Bury Route 9 from exit 12 to the Arrigoni Bridge underground, so we can reconnect downtown to the riverfront
- Bring Amtrak service up from the coast and on into Hartford/Worcester/Boston
Wait! Don't wake me up just yet...
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