Does anyone know, what is the source of the right of way for the new bus rapid transit between Hartford and New Britain? I believe it is an ex-rail right of way.

Yes, it's the New Haven's line from New Britain to Hartford, via Newington Jct, where the line joined the Springfield Line and had two tracks next to the Spfld Line's two. Rail was removed about 8-9 years ago as the preliminary to the Busway. This route was the main route for Waterbury-Hartford trains. The line used by PanAm Southern these days between New Britain and Berlin Jct (on the Spfld Line) is a twisty, hilly branch line, certainly a "secondary" or less route back in the day.

Howard P.

Go away!

A major political boondoggle.

Come back in 20 years so it can be a topic of "the bridge to nowhere" thread.

With the bloviating of rail commuter service from Waterbury to Hartford - this project killed that.

Then again - Hartford? The insurance capitol?
Look up John Roland, former governor & inmate who was instrumental in getting this travesty a-building.

I'm sure this will be one of the 1st things the Mittster will kill when elected next year.

Actually, I discovered this project while performing a general survey of "bus rapid transit". There is a long history of political/academic conflict between bus and rail. It goes back nearly 40 years.

One of the fundamental drivers of the bus crowd is that they see public transit as only benefiting low income persons. Consequently, the dominant measure for them is low cost. The other assertion is that bus rapid transit is equivalent to rail, that the quality of service is indistinguisable. Generally, my search of the academic literature fails to find measurable, quantitative research on the customer satisfaction aspects of bus versus rail.

Nothing wrong with bus transit. I'm all for it!

The problem with this project is it was touted as an EXPRESS Busway to save 20-30 minutes of commute time from downtown New Britain to downtown Hartford. Not as an expansion of public transit.

It would have been easier and cheaper to adopt, let's say, remote sensors which detect the "express" bus and setting up the traffic signals accordingly. Certainly a little slower.

BTW, the buses will stop at 'stations' along the ROW. Now, I guess mom will have to drive dad in the estate wagon to the bus stop from the nearby housing where there was a local bus stop, eh?

May I respectfully submit that this subject has nothing to do with preservation or history, and perhaps should be "closed". The project is just getting underway and may be appropos for discsussion here in 20-25 years, once it becomes "historical" (it may be abandoned by then...).

A very interesting and detailed discussion of this subject (with some extremely "inside" info/insights) is on Railroad dot Net, in the Metro-North/CDOT forum. I recommend that for those interested in the subject.

Howard P.