Mike Tuckey Senior’s Weblog

The state of Connecticut is about to move foreword on an commuter rail program that will connect Enfield to New Haven with a commuter rail. When completed, the line will connect all of Connecticut cities with New York, and beyond, with a commuter rail. Additionally, there is a “high speed” rail line connecting Washington, Baltimore, Newark, New York and Boston.  There is a bill, in committee of the U. S. Congress to finance the connection of Enfield, CT. to Springfield, along existing rail lines.

Over the next few decades, American use of the automobile will be radically altered. I hope this doesn’t come as a surprise to anyone; but, don’t get comfortable with $1.89/gal. gasoline. We will see $4.00/gal gas again. Even if we do not; we now know; our national dependence on oil is both an economic and security mistake. To the extent that we are now, our continued dependency on any fossil fuel is a giant global environmental mistake. It is depletable and a danger to our environment. Additionally, the continued growth of automobile use is a problem, Millions are killed and maimed annually in auto accidents. The cost to repair and maintain our roadways is astronomical. The addition of practical rail transport will assist in reducing all these negatives.

If we can develop a reasonable commuter rail transportation infrastructure. it will significantly reduce pollutants realeased into the air. Per passaenger, the pollutants released are far less than those of buses or cars. The new “high speed” electric train from Washington to Boston, actually returns power to the grid, while idleing.

Rail transport is much safer than automobile travel.  There are far fewer deaths per passenger mile on a train than in a car

Although, there is a care and maintenance component to a rail network, on a “per passenger” basis, it is far less than that of auto travel, especially when you factor together the road maintenance with the fuel, care, and maintenance paid by the individual car owner or company.

Hartford is estimated to have ten times as many employment opportunites than Springfield. The average train trip to Hartford would take about one half hour for someone in Springfield. A commuter rail link to Hartford would open up the Hartford job market to all those in Springfield, who can not now afford to purchase a car, the “working poor.”

Most rail stations are located in downtown locations. We are all aware of the difficulties faced by northeastern downtowns. Rail transportation would put new, out of town people on our downtown streets every day.

There is some questions regarding rail vs. bus or rail vs. air. In the “rail vs. bus” question, I believe; an enhanced rail transportation infrastructure would serve, not to damage bus transportation, but to invigorate it. As I have said; automobile transportation NEEDS to change. With two viable alternatives to automobile transportation, the “car habit” will change faster and more completely. If one can choose to go to work or to visit someone in another city by two other methods, than a car, they are more likely to take either, than if there were only one. Bus and rail have their own individual benefits to the consumer. They will both flourish.

In the air vs rail question; again, both have their place. Already, the benefits of air travel diminish, the closer  your departure point is to your destination. No one would consider air flight to Hartford or New Haven. Those considering air flight to New York City would do so to avoid the the expense of parking in the city, the difficulty actually finding parking, and the drudgery of driving the three hours. Rail transportation takes a similar amount of time, without the stresses of driving. The benefits of air travel don’t become apparent, until you are traveling a much greater distance. Rail, bus, and auto travel lose their appeal to someone traveling to Western Pa or beyond.

Regional business travel is an interesting consideration. From Boston to D.C. by air, takes about and hour to an hour and a half; but, as in most cases, the airports are in suburban locations. The business traveler must get to the airport travel to their destination, and get to the business location or hotel. to which they are traveling. Most major offices and major hotel chains are in downtown locations.

This same traveler traveling from D.C. to Boston, needs to get to Union Station, travel seven hours by rail, and end up in South Station, Boston, only a few blocks from major hotels and the financial district. Time becomes much less of a factor; and the amenities on commuter rail may make up for the difference. You can get up and walk around, There is typically a lounge area, a bar, and a snack location. This mode of transportation is far less stressful.

With the proximity of the municipalities in this region, the northeast is especially suited to the development of commuter rail development. For roughly the same cost and difficulties of connecting 300 miles of corn fields in Nebraska, we connect three, four, and five major municipalities; significant economic, educational, recreational and entertainment centers, as well as centers for the arts.

I don’t wish to mislead anyone. This project in NOT cheap, nor is it immediate. To insure an economic future, we must have some vision. We must prepare now, for a children’s world. The link from Enfield to Springfield is estimated to cost in the region of $300 million. 90% to be funded by the Federal Government. That is the idea of the bill in committee of the U.S. Congress. $30 million of this project would be funded by the Commonwealth. If you think that’s a great deal of money, compare it to the “Big Dig,” and that only benefited one city! The ultimate goal fo this project is to eventually link all of the northeast; Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and upstate New York. The link to Springfield will not probably be a reality for at least a decade. The full development, I will probably never see. Heck, I hope I live to see the link! But, we must start.

A transportation infrastructure with multiple options is the future of this region. probably of this nation. It would be incredibly beneficial to our city. The $300 million dollar investment is estimated to return a $148 million dollars in economic benefits alone.