Connecticut Local Politics

East Lyme State Representative Ed Jutila got the byline in an open letter to Governor Rell also signed by most of the other members of the Eastern CT General Assembly delegation that appeared in today’s, June 30, 2008 New London DAY.

After outlining direction and appropriations passed by the legislature supporting transportation initiatives in SE CT, the delegation pointed out

While this delegation has repeatedly sought updates from the DOT and expressed our frustration at the slow pace on these and other projects, we continue to see no significant progress. While the department did commit to us during our last meeting that the area of I-95 between the Baldwin Bridge in Old Saybrook and the Gold Star Bridge in Groton would now be its top priority for expansion to three lanes, and that some design work could begin concurrent with the necessary environmental assessments, we still appear to be years away from the start of construction.

Route 11 remains stalled in what can only be described as a bureaucratic quagmire between DOT, DEP and OPM, as we continue to await the promised financing plan and the so-called world class environmental mitigation plan required by federal agencies. And with the exception of a pilot program during last year’s holiday season, we see no visible signs of real enhancement to Shore Line East, while gas prices exceeding $4 per gallon have commuters crying out for more mass transit.

Despite requests to the department by both state and local officials to consider short-term modifications to Exit 75 northbound, including closing down the exit entirely on a trial basis, nothing has happened. The department’s response has been that this will all be corrected when Route 11 is completed and the entire I-95/I-395/RT 11 interchange is eventually constructed. Even under the best case scenario, however, that construction is years away. The people of southeastern Connecticut cannot wait years to correct what is clearly another accident waiting to happen.

The letter also expressed frustration that the State Bond Commission had not yet approved funding for the Route ll Greenway land purchases.

Since the delegation has seen fit to make this letter public, it is obvious that all “behind the scenes” efforts to get the Governor and DOT to take action have been fruitless.

As mentioned in a previous post, the Administration has not answered a proposal to provide SE CT residents with subsidized tickets on AMTRAK to see if there is an interest in mass transit to and from New London and points South to New York thus relieving traffic on I-95.

It will be interesting to see if there is any response to this “Open Letter.”