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GOV. MALLOY: STATE MOVES AGGRESSIVELY TO MAKE CONNECTICUT’S TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM BEST-IN-CLASS

Connecticut’s Transportation Infrastructure Saw Significant Improvements in 2015 as DOT Prepares for 2016

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Dannel P. Malloy today joined Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) Commissioner James P. Redeker to highlight steps forward Connecticut took in 2015 to transform its transportation infrastructure into a best-in-class system that supports economic growth and sustained development for its residents.

“We are moving aggressively to provide Connecticut’s residents and businesses with a best-in-class transportation system. The future of our state depends on it – and 2015 was a success. We moved the ball down the field on this critical issue,” Governor Malloy said.  “We are committed to modernizing our infrastructure like never before so that we can continue to drive growth, attract businesses, and stimulate economic development and job creation, all while improving the overall quality of life for our residents.  While there are many accomplishments to celebrate in 2015, we have much work ahead of us.”

In 2015, Governor Malloy unveiled his “Let’s Go CT!” transportation plan to tackle Connecticut’s aging infrastructure and underinvestment over the past several decades.  During the upcoming legislative session, he will continue to advocate for a constitutional amendment that will protect transportation dollars to ensure that every penny raised for transportation is spent towards this purpose.

CTDOT 2015 YEAR-END ACCOMPLISHMENTS

LET’S GO CT

• Addresses capital needs, operating and service needs and funding requirements.
• Strategic plan for DOT organization.
• Finance Panel created to develop strategies for financing the 30 year vision.

OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE

• Winter of 2014-2015 had 19 storms which totaled 442 storm hours.  The ten year average is 12 storms at 240 storm hours.
• During the storms, the DOT cleared 10,800 lane miles for a cumulative total of 1,600,000 lane miles, or enough miles to circle the globe 65 times.
• Line Striping – 8182 miles of edge and center lines were painted, or the equivalent a 4 inch line from Hartford to Miami almost 6 times.
• 2089 new signs were erected.
• Champ Trucks responded to 16,500 stranded motorists during rush hour periods. That’s one every 6 minutes.
• 38,000 tons of asphalt were used for pothole patching around the state.

CTFASTRAK

Ridership

• CTfastrak’s ridership numbers are well exceeding initial expectations for ridership. CTDOT initially set CTfastrak ridership goals at an average of 11,000 daily riders by the end of 2015 and a projected 16,000 rides per week day by the year 2030. Today, the CTfastrak corridor is averaging 16,000 passenger trips every weekday and 10,000 passenger trips on Saturdays, doubling previous ridership in the corridor.
• CTfastrak carried it’s highest single day ridership of 18,500 on September 4, 2015.
• This year, Governor Malloy announced that CTfastrak had reached a milestone of over one million “boardings/passenger trips” on the system’s green branded buses between April 6, 2015 and September 2015.
• The highest ridership week for CTfastrak since we started counting (i.e. between July 3, 2015 and December 18, 2015) was during the week of September 4th, when 100,270 rides were taken on the CTfastrak green buses, express services buses, and related circulator/feeder routes.

Transit-Oriented Development

• From New Britain to Hartford, there are new residential and commercial properties being totally renovated or newly constructed.
• CTfastrak recently hosted two transit oriented development tours, which highlighted the changing landscape in the CTfastrak corridor.
• Over 100 economic development and real estate professionals have been involved with these CTfastrak tours.

NEW HAVEN LINE IMPROVEMENTS/NEW M-8 RAIL CARS

New Haven Line Improvements/Investments

• As part of “Let’s Go CT!” transportation initiative, Governor Malloy has proposed major upgrades to service on the New Haven Line - the busiest rail line in the country, with about 125,000 daily rider trips and 39 million passengers per year.
• In an economic analysis conducted recently on the Governor’s proposed upgrades to the New Haven Line, the analysis found  that the economic benefits of replacing the commuter rail system is more than twice the cost of the project upgrades, and will be a major factor in being able to attract and retain businesses and grow jobs.
• The analysis determined that while the proposed upgrades have an estimated cost of $3.9 billion, its future benefits amount to $9.7 billion – a net gain of $5.8 billion, amounting to a benefit/cost ratio of 2.51.
• Further, the study found that on a long-term basis, the investments will result in over $6.2 billion in long-term cumulative business sales and output – $3.9 billion in additional gross state product and $2.8 billion in additional wage income.
• The project is expected to support 4,000 to 6,000 construction jobs during the construction phase.
• New investments will provide more frequent and faster service, including increasing the track capacity to full-service of four tracks, a reconfiguration and upgrade of the Connecticut system to improve the frequency and speed of service, including upgrades to sections of track, the signal system, the communication system, and reconfiguration of several stations to provide express train service on the two inner tracks, and local train service on the two outer tracks.
• The resulting upgrades will lead to:
• Doubling peak-hour service.
• Increasing the number of express trains per hour between New Haven and New York City from two to at least four and possibly as many as eight express trains per hour.
• Reduction of express service travel time between New Haven and New York City by an average of 15 minutes.
• Increasing local service (non-express) trains from the current rate of approximately every 20 minutes during peak service, to about every four to eight minutes.

New M-8 rail cars

• Successful Delivery of new M-8 rail cars: 405 enhanced rail cars added to serve Metro-North’s New Haven commuter rail line, as well as Shore Line East.
• The first M-8 cars went into service in March 2011. They are expected to last 30 years.
• Cost of the new cars is approximately $1.1 billion, with Connecticut paying 65 percent ($745.9 million) and Metro-North paying the remaining 35 percent (359.8 million; the cars cost about $2.4 million each.
• These state-of-the-art train cars have been very well received by customers.

Q-BRIDGE/NEW HAVEN HARBOR CROSSING CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM

• In September, Governor Malloy announced the completion of the new Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge on I-95 in New Haven –known as the Q Bridge.
• Construction of the main span bridge was completed in July 2015 on schedule and on budget, providing much needed relief for tens of thousands of residents who face congestion in the corridor and enhancing the region’s economic competitiveness.
• The new bridge is the central component of the 18-year, nearly $2 billion I-95 New Haven Harbor Crossing Corridor Improvement Program – by far the largest and most comprehensive program ever undertaken by CTDOT.
• The total program is currently running $200 million under budget and is 8 months ahead of schedule.

UPGRADES TO SNOW/ICE FLEET

Upgrades/Winter Preparedness

• Governor Malloy announced that CTDOT is prepared for the 2015-16 winter season with the addition of 114 new plow trucks, supplies, and support equipment, which achieves cost savings for CTDOT and the capacity of highway maintenance services.
• CTDOT’s winter maintenance and snow-clearing operations cover a roadway network of over 10,800 lane-miles, in addition to commuter parking lots and state facilities.
• The fleet additions will also include two new front line trucks dedicated specifically to the CTfastrak guideway, which will bring the total winter fleet to 634 trucks.
• When needed, CTDOT also has 205 private contractor trucks at the ready to further complement state plow crews.
• Report on Snow and Ice Best Practices identifies DOT as a leader in safe and effective snow and ice practices.

STEPPING UP PAVING AROUND THE STATE

Vendor-in-Place Paving Program

• In 2015, CTDOT resurfaced 330 two-lane miles of roadways this construction season – about 25 miles more than it did in 2014 and more than at any time during the past 10 years.
• Required approximately 700,000 tons of asphalt.  Enough to fill Rentschler Field 150 feet deep or to pave a 12’ highway lane from Hartford to Washington, DC and back.
• The department has typically done between 225-250 miles annually; CTDOT is responsible for the maintenance of more than 4,100 miles of roads and highways throughout Connecticut.
• The additional miles were the result of an additional $5.7 million that Governor Malloy infused into CTDOT’s road program this year.
• In all, CTDOT spent $74.6 million on road resurfacing this year, compared with $69 million a year ago for 305 two-lane miles.

HARTFORD LINE

Project Construction Underway

• Start of track and bridge construction that will enable launch of enhanced service in the beginning of 2018.
• The completed Hartford Line will triple the number of trains between New Haven and Hartford and double the service between Hartford and Springfield.
• Station and Signal construction is already underway, with four station projects are in construction and due to be completed prior to the launch of service, while critical cable and communication nodes are being installed to power a brand new signal system, including Positive Train Control.
• Earlier this month, the state announced it had reached an agreement with Amtrak to complete the Hartford Line, receiving guaranteed agreements for cost ceilings and a clear timetable/schedule for work completion.

WALK BRIDGE

• The design for a new Walk Railroad Bridge in Norwalk is progressing and remains on schedule. Prior to Governor Malloy’s administration, the 120-year-old bridge had gone decades without any plans for replacement despite its declining reliability.
• While interim repairs were completed to help ensure the bridge’s functionality, construction on an entirely new bridge is expected to begin in 2016 and be completed in 2020.

I-84 IMPROVEMENTS

Widening I-84 in Waterbury

• The current I-84 reconstruction project, which involves a 2.7-mile stretch between Washington Street and Pierpont Road, is running ahead of schedule.
• The $298 million job is scheduled to be finished in 2020, with incentives for the contractor to complete substantial portions by 2019.

Replacement of I-84 viaduct in Hartford

• The ongoing planning for the reconstruction of the I-84 viaduct in Hartford to address the aging viaduct structures and modernizing the 2-mile section of interstate to reduce congestion and improve safety are among the viaduct project’s many goals and objectives.
• Various design alternatives are being evaluated, with cost estimates varying from $4.3 to $12.1 billion.

Replacement of I-84/Route 8 Mixmaster in Waterbury

• Planning is underway to replace this 50-year-old interchange.
• The interchange is unique in Connecticut, with two sets of double-decked highways running north and south, and east and west.
• Various design alternatives are being evaluated for replacement.

MOSES WHEELER BRIDGE

• Construction began in September 2009, with a total cost $270 million.
• The bridge opened for full-width lanes in December 2015, one year ahead of schedule