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The Busway Brings Jobs

Build It: Hartford-New Britain Project Will Stimulate The Economy

Hartford Courant Editorial

August 03, 2011

While the Malloy administration is trying to create jobs in Connecticut, some mid-state meddlers are trying their best to throttle economic development by opposing the proposed Hartford-New Britain busway.

What a bad time to try to stop a big public works project. Connecticut desperately needs construction of this kind. It not only brings jobs; it also drives development and housing near stations, which helps towns starved for tax revenues.

Lawmakers and others from Southington and Waterbury recently voiced their objections to the proposed project at a gathering in Waterbury. This is nothing new. Some politicians have been against it from the start. The busway is too expensive and won't pay for itself, they say.

The busway indeed will be expensive - the nine-mile bus-only corridor is projected to cost $570 million. (Federal funds will pay for 80 percent of it.) But it will generate construction jobs and permanent employment, relieve traffic on heavily congested I-84, create taxable development along its route, help revive its two terminuses and otherwise boost the local economy.

It would be the height of folly to stop the busway project at this late date and try to start over with some other project.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has given it his stamp of approval. Rev the engines.