July 30, 2010 – Dan Malloy, the Democratic Party’s endorsed candidate for Governor, today responded to a new report by the by The Road Information Program that says 45 percent of Connecticut’s major roadways are either in “poor or mediocre condition” and that 34 percent of the state’s bridges are “deficient or obsolete.”
“The fact is, Connecticut’s transportation infrastructure is not keeping up with our needs,” said Malloy. “There are 800,000 more registered vehicles on the road today than there were in 1979 – the system wasn’t designed with this capacity in mind, and it’s showing. In addition to being increasingly dangerous for our drivers, it’s also a major hindrance on business and jobs. Companies don’t want to move to a state where employees aren’t able to commute a reasonable distance, and commerce is stalled because just-in-time delivery is flat out not possible here.”
Malloy said that to solve the problem, Connecticut needs to both invest in its roads and bridges to make them safe and more usable, but that the state must also work to get cars off the road by improving public transportation options.
As Mayor of Stamford, Malloy increased commuter rail service by 200 percent. Under his administration the city completed major mass-transit improvements, including the addition of 1,100 parking spaces to its train station, the 2nd busiest stop on the Metro-North Line after Grand Central Station. Toward the end of his ten secured millions of federal dollars for the 1-mile Stamford Urban Transitway, which has vastly improved access to rail service.
“Connecticut needs a Governor with this kind of commitment to transportation,” continued Malloy. “The real shame is that we didn’t have to be in the situation we’re now in, with dangerous and outdated roads and bridges. The Governor had the authority to initiate funding for projects that could stimulate the economy at a time when we needed it most, and chose budget gimmickry instead. Then we were shut out completely in a competition for $1.5 billion in federal transportation grants. Here's a promise I'll make, and be held accountable for: that will not happen when I'm Governor.”
In recent weeks Malloy and his running mate State Comptroller Nancy Wyman have travelled the state discussing how they will tackle the major issues facing Connecticut, including jobs, health care, energy, education and the environment. More information on those plans, and more, can be found at www.danmalloy.com/policy.
