1. NVCOG Regional Transportation
WCL Alumni Forum
NVCOG Regional Transportation
June 1, 2018

2. Naugatuck Valley Planning Region
Boston
Springfield
Connecticut
Providence
Hartford
Waterbury
Danbury
New Haven
Stamford
Naugatuck Valley Region located in west-central Connecticut
Centered on Waterbury
In between and with good access to other principle cities in the state – Hartford to the northwest, New Haven to the southeast. Danbury to the west Bridgeport to the south and Stamford to the south west
The region is also a part of the mega-region that stretches between New York and Boston
Bridgeport
New York City

4. Today… A Region in Motion
2 Million
Daily
Trips
Despite the declines, the region remains a region in motion
Each day about 2 million trips occur within, into and out of the region
Most of the trips are vehicle trips

5. Interstate 84
Bethlehem
Thomaston
Watertown
Plymouth
Bristol
Wolcott
Waterbury
Woodbury
Southbury
Oxford
Middlebury
Naugatuck
Prospect
Cheshire
Beacon
Falls
Seymour
Ansonia
Shelton
Derby 6
Congested during morning & evening commute period: 36 mph AM; 33 mph PM
ADT West of Waterbury = 96,100 vpd
ADT East of Waterbury = 125,400 vpd
I-84 & Route 8 Interchange:
Referred to as the “Mixmaster”
Built in the 1960s – substandard design; deteriorating; needs repair/replacement
132,600 vpd pass through the “Mixmaster”
Double stacked facility over Naugatuck River & local roads
21 closely spaced ramps
One of the nation’s top 100 most congested areas
High accident rate 8
691 84 91 34 95

6. Regional Bus Service Improvements
Maintain current fares
Maintain service
Purchase new vehicles to modernize & expand fleets
Enhance CTfastrak service
Bristol-New Britain
Waterbury-New Britain
Investigate Extending CTfastrak
Waterbury -Danbury
Waterbury –Derby/Shelton

7. Regional Bus Service Improvements:
Established new CTtransit Express Service between Torrington & Waterbury (Route 450X)
Feb ‘18: 1290 riders
Mar ‘18: 1428 riders
Apr ‘18: 1713 riders
CTfastrak Ridership | April 2018
Total Corridor Passenger Trips ,719
Ridership April ’16 - April ‘18:
11,346,208

8. CTfastrak Performance:

9. On Which Mode of Transportation Do Users Pay the Highest Percentage of the Cost of Their Ride?
Bus
Highway
Train
25% 4%
49%

10. Transit Fares vs Driving
FROM – TO ONE WAY vs GAS TAX
Metro-North
Waterbury – Stamford $ miles = 75 cents
Waterbury – GCT $ miles = $1.00
CTtransit
Waterbury – Torrington $ miles = 33 cents

11. What’s the problem with STF?
Gasoline tax revenues are down
Better gas mileage, more electric cars
The Gasoline tax was LOWERED in 1997 by 14 cents a gallon
= $3.4 Billion in cumulative loss
The gasoline tax is not pegged to inflation
In other words… we cannot rely on the current gasoline tax to fund our roads & rails

12. What Will Failure to Invest in Transit Mean?
More traffic on I-84, I-95, RT 8 & The Parkways
Worsening road conditions – reduced maintenance
Bridge closings / weight restrictions
Less mobility for the “carless”
Elderly, urban dwellers, service/retail workers, house-cleaners, restaurant staff
Less transit = less desirable for development
Real estate prices go down / Taxes go up
ECONOMIC ARMAGEDDON!