Armando Carbonell reports in the Boston Globe that President-Elect Obama plans to invest in public works, potentially creating 30,000-40,000 new jobs; Carbonell points out that these projects should demonstrate long term planning. Rather than pave the planet, Carbonell thinks Obama and his administration ought to create a green infrastructure:

Instead of new highways, which often enable unsustainable land development patterns, the policy should be “fix it first” – keeping existing roads and bridges in a state of good repair. The major infrastructure projects in any stimulus package should emphasize transit – bus systems, streetcars, light rail, and inter-city rail – and moving more freight capacity to rail as well.

How do we move from what is to what should be? Right now, the New Britain-Hartford Busway is taking longer than planned. New Britain-Hartford Rapid Transit, as the project is now called, would bypass congestion, making the commute more reasonable than it is now for those relying on either private or public transportation to take them through Hartford, West Hartford, Newington, and New Britain. Regional public transportation isn’t limited to within state boundaries. As Heather Brandon points out, connecting Springfield MA to Hartford via rail would help the economy: “the Hartford job market might become more open to people in Springfield with a commuter rail link available between the two cities.” Having public transportation options also takes a number of cars off the highway, reducing congestion and its resulting headaches.

But even making repairs on existing roads is headache-inducing. Governor Rell was able to secure 80% of needed funding from the federal government. This will be used for projects such as road resurfacing and bridge repairs. This doesn’t address where the state will get the rest of the money from. Presently, Rell is prepared to borrow $94 million rather than reinstate tolls. This news comes as the MetroHartford Alliance — Hartford’s Chamber of Commerce — released the document “Transportation Funding — An Imperative for Economic Stability and Strategic Growth” yesterday. They support an electronic toll on at least one of Connecticut’s highways and a 15 cent per gallon increase in the gas tax, which would be implemented gradually through an increase of three cents each year. They explain that the gas tax would be able to pay for the planned road and bridge repairs:

Each penny of the tax generates approximately $15 million. A 3ยข per gallon increase will produce $45 million each year with an estimated $225 million generated annually after the fifth year.

Both parts of the MetroHartford Alliance plan sound unpopular as many motorists seem to believe they are entitled to free use of state roads; additionally, any mention of “gas” and “increase” sends people into a panic, even if they readily pay more per gallon for milk, for a glass of wine, or even for a latte from Starbucks. Yet, it is sensible to ask that those who make the most use of the roadways take more financial responsibility in maintaining them.

There were meetings for the New Britain-Hartford Busway on Wednesday and Thursday in West Hartford and Hartford. On December 8th from 6:30-8:30 pm there will be a public informational meeting at the Newington Town Hall (131 Cedar Street) in the Helen Nelson Room and on the following evening at the same time in New Britain City Hall (27 West Main Street) in room 504.