According to Yonah Freemark, the FTA announced that with a "New Starts grant," the 9.4-mile bus rapid transit line that has been under consideration since the late 90's, has finally secured funds to complete the project.
The New Britain-Hartford busway will connect the capital of Connecticut and New Britain. The grant funds "will cover about half of the project's $567 million cost; construction of the segregated right-of-way and 11 stations will begin next year, with completion expected in 2014."
"The busway, expected to carry a total of 16,000 passengers a day - 5,000 of whom will be new to transit - will feature all of the elements crucial to a good BRT project, including off-board fare-collection, level boarding, signal priority at intersections, and next bus arrival information at well-outfitted stations."
The project is meeting opposition by other groups including The Sierra Club. The Sierra Club, known for their pro-transit position, claim that "the busway's construction will make future rail expansion in Connecticut far more difficult."
FULL STORY: Now Funded, Hartford’s Busway Survives a Decade of Dissent
Is N.Y.C.’s 14th Street Busway the Future of Transportation?
The success of the busway project could point to a longer-term shift away from planning and design strategies that favor cars.
How New York City Crafted its 34th Street Busway
The Transport Politic details the City of New York's plans for a citywide busway on 34th Street.
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.
Google Maps Introduces New Transit, EV Features
It will now be easier to find electric car charging stations and transit options.
Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production
A proposed bill would take a carrot approach to stimulating housing production through a grant program that would reward cities that implement pro-housing policies.
Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant
Community advocates say the city’s plan may not do enough to reverse the negative impacts of a major expressway.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Town of Zionsville
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