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Shore Line East train service in December 2023 was 50.5% of what it was in 2019. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, April 18, 2024

CT lawmakers consider bills to boost public transit

Two pieces of legislation in Connecticut could bolster public transportation if they make it through the General Assembly. Senate Bill 277 would …

An American Public Transportation Association report found the average purchase price of a new car has increased 30% since 2019. The average price for a used car rose 40% in the same period, figures which may prompt more people to use public transit. (Adobe Stock)

CT advocates want public transit investments in state budget

In honor of Rosa Parks' birthday, Transit Equity Day is today. Connecticut advocates are calling for greater investment in public transit. In …

In 2008, Connecticut passed the Global Warming Solutions Act, which established its climate goals. This means getting greenhouse-gas emissions 10% below 1990 levels by 2020, and 80% below 2001 levels by 2050. (Adobe Stock)

Misinformation slows CT’s new emission standards

Connecticut lawmakers are reluctant to approve new emission standards that would require 90% cleaner emissions from internal-combustion engines and re…

Connecticut's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection finds 67% of nitrogen oxide emissions, a key component of smog, came from transportation. (Adobe Stock)

Highway changes could make Hartford a walkable city

A Connecticut Department of Transportation study has outlined plans to make Hartford a walkable city. The Greater Hartford Mobility Study proposes …

According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, 68% of extremely low-income renter households in Connecticut are severely cost burdened, meaning they spend more than half their monthly income on housing. (Adobe Stock)

CT Councilwoman Redoubles Focus on Housing, Public Safety

One Connecticut elected official is eager to begin addressing issues in focus at the National League of Cities' Congressional City Conference…

According to data from the Connecticut Department of Transportation, ridership on CT transit took a sharp dive at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and remained low for some time, but as of summer 2022, ridership levels are returning to pre-pandemic levels. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates Calling for CT Transit to Remain Fare Free

Transit advocates are calling on Connecticut's General Assembly to keep the state's public transit system free. In April 2022, Gov. Ned Lamont …

Earlier this year, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont signed Senate Bill 4, giving the state's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection the authority to expand public and private use of electric vehicles. (Adobe Stock)

New Federal Funding Helps CT Get Electric School Buses

Connecticut school districts and bus companies will be receiving more than $8 million in federal funding for electric school buses. The grant is …

The recently passed CHIPS and Science Act is expected to provide major investments for infrastructure to build the semiconductors necessary for electric vehicles. (Adobe Stock)

CT Begins Transition to Electric Vehicles

The United States is seeing a national push from the federal government and car companies to pivot toward electric vehicles, and Connecticut is …

The highway use tax helps finance the state's transportation infrastructure program and operate the departments of Motor Vehicles and Transportation. It's estimated it could generate $45 million in revenue in 2023 alone. (Adobe Stock)

CT Diesel Price Hike Coming in July

Connecticut residents can expect to see a sharp increase in diesel fuel prices starting July 1, and trucking companies say it will be passed on to …

An estimated 470,000 households in Connecticut pay at least 30% of their income toward housing, according to Growing Together Connecticut. (Adobe Stock)

'Growing Together CT' Aims at State's Affordable Housing Crisis

A new alliance has formed to address Connecticut's affordable housing crisis, with a focus on its urban centers. "Growing Together Connecticut" is …

A new report says a 29 percent reduction in transportation emissions from 2014 is needed to meet a 2030 clean air target. (Adobe Stock)

Report: CT Not On Track To Meet Greenhouse Gas Reduction Goals

HARTFORD, Conn. - A new report reveals Connecticut is not on track to meet either of its 2030 or 2050 greenhouse gas emissions goals, and advocates …

The Reconnecting Communities Initiative would work to eliminate certain highways that dissect neighborhoods in cities including Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven and Waterbury. (Adobe Stock)

Infrastructure Bill Shortchanges CT Climate-Justice Program

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Connecticut is expected to see over $500 billion in federal funds to modernize roads, bridges, transit, broadband and more…

Research from Harvard School of Public Health shows potential pollution reduction from the Transportation Climate Initiative would prevent 300 deaths a year in the Northeast. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates: Transportation Climate Bill Needs Vote in Special Session

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Connecticut environment and health advocates are pushing for the Transportation and Climate Initiative to get a vote in the …

About 30% of Connecticut households don't have access to a car. Legislation just passed in the Environment Committee aims to tackle transportation inequities, and to clean up the environment. (Adobe Stock)

Improved Transportation on Horizon for CT

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Strides to strengthen and modernize public transit are underway in Connecticut. The General Assembly's Environment Committee …

West Hartford will be getting more pedestrian crossings, thanks to a Community Challenge grant from AARP. (dconnors/Morguefile)

Three CT Communities Get Grants for "Livability" Improvements

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Civic-minded groups in three Connecticut communities will see a cash infusion to make public spaces more accessible to people of …

A proposal by Senate minority leader Charles Schumer would help build the charging stations needed for the transition to electric vehicles. (rh2010/Adobe Stock)

Proposal Could Put Millions of Electric Cars on Road

HARTFORD, Conn. – Clean air advocates say combating climate change requires switching from gas-powered cars to clean electric vehicles…

Electrifying passenger vehicles and buses will improve air quality and reduce operating costs for vehicle owners and taxpayers. (baranq/Adobe Stock)

New Transportation Policy Big Win for Connecticut

HARTFORD, Conn. – A new analysis says Connecticut could see major gains from a new approach to transportation. The report from the Acadia …

Hartford has the highest rate of asthma in Connecticut, and one of the highest rates in the country. (USN/Wikimedia Commons)

EPA Fuel-Efficiency Rollback Called a Bad Deal for Everyone

HARTFORD, Conn. – City officials and environmentalists say the EPA's plan to freeze the fuel-efficiency standard is bad for public health…

New Milford will be getting new park benches and game-top tables on its walking path, with funds from an AARP grant. (Wikimedia Commons)

Three Connecticut Towns Get Grants to Improve Livability

HARTFORD, Conn. – The towns of Hebron, New Milford and Stafford have just received grants from the 2018 AARP Challenge to beautify their public …

Building the infrastructure for electric vehicles will be key to reducing carbon emissions from transportation. (stanvpetersen/Pixabay)

CT Hosts Regional Clean Transportation Listening Session

HARTFORD, Conn. — The second in a series of public listening sessions on the development of a regional clean transportation and climate …

Ozone poses a risk not only to children and the elderly, but healthy adults as well. (ResproPolska/Pixabay)

Smog Standard Delay Challenged in Court

HARTFORD, Conn. – A lawsuit filed Wednesday in Washington asks the federal courts to stop the Environmental Protection Agency’s delay in …

About 85 percent of Connecticut students ride buses to public schools, which exposes them to greater levels of air pollution. (School Bus Central/Wikimedia Commons)

VW Settlement Could Help CT Schools Buy Cleaner Buses

HARTFORD, Conn. – Environmentalists want Connecticut to use some of the money from the Volkswagen settlement to help children in low-income …

Atlantic sturgeon travel 140 miles up the Connecticut River to spawn. (NASA Earth Observatory)

Connecticut Rail Plan May Threaten Endangered Species

OLD LYME, Conn. – Environmental advocates are concerned that a proposed railroad tunnel could threaten endangered species in Connecticut…

Expanding existing energy efficiency and renewables policies would help Connecticut reach target reductions in greenhouse gases. (SayCheeeeeese/Wikimedia Commons)

CT Losing Ground on Greenhouse Gas Emissions

HARTFORD, Conn. - Greenhouse gas emissions are increasing in Connecticut, putting state-mandated reduction targets at risk. The state is legally …

An advocate for CT rail commuters says railroads should not be granted a three-year extension on the December 2015 deadline for installing positive control safety measures. Credit: wikimedia commons

Connecticut Commuter Advocate: Don’t Put Brakes on Railroad Safety

HARTFORD, Conn. - As Connecticut rail commuters head back to work this week, lawmakers in Washington are debating another three-year delay on the …

Bike riders are getting used to a new law that took effect July 1 that instructs riders to ride as far to the right as is judged safe by the cyclist. Credit: ggpht.com

New CT Law Clarifies How Far Right You Need to Bike

HARTFORD, Conn. - Summer is a peak time for bike riding, and cyclists all across the state are just now getting used to a new bike safety law that …

The Senate Appropriations Committee gets back to work on Amtrak's budget, and Connecticut Senators says the issue not only impacts train safety, but traffic jams as well. Credit - Wikimedia A. Moriera

Amtrak Budget Stakes: "Safer Trains and Fewer Clogged Highways"

HARTFORD, Conn. - As folks head back to work after the long weekend, both of Connecticut's Senators say the rails would be a whole lot safer and the …

As the NTSB investigates Tuesday's fatal train derailment near Philadelphia, a commuter advocate says the accident could point to rail issues in the heavily-traveled Northeast corridor. Credit: Patrick Murphy, former Pennsylvania congressman who was aboard the train.

Derailment Puts Focus on Heavily Traveled High-Speed Rail

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - Investigators are probing everything from speed to track signals in connection with Tuesday's fatal Amtrak derailment which …

An online tool is now live that allows you to compare towns, cities and states using the AARP Livability Index that crunches more than 60 factors. Credit: Wikimedia Commons - Iracaz

New Way to Comparison Shop Neighborhoods

HARTFORD, Conn. - It's one of those vexing questions: How do you know if you are living in the right place? Comparison shopping for towns and cities …

Town and city planners will hear from a transportation expert this week about how Portland, Ore.'s investment in hundreds of miles of bike lanes has quadrupled bike use in that city. Credit: Wikimedia commons - Steve Morgan

CT Bikeways: If You Build Them, Will They Come?

WETHERSFIELD, Conn. - It will be a wonky summit for sure, but at stake this week is the future of bikeways and non-motorized transportation for towns …

A new report finds more than 370 bridges in Connecticut are in need of repairs or upgrade. Credit: JayDuck/Wikimedia Commons.

Connecticut in Middle of Road in "Worst Bridges" Rankings

HARTFORD, Conn. - If your morning commute takes you across a bridge in Connecticut, a new report finds you could be traveling across a span with …

A new analysis by the National Priorities Project examines the proposed budgets from the Senate, House and the administration. Connecticut gets 23 percent of its revenue from Uncle Sam. Credit: White House Photo.

Connecticut's Stakes in Competing Versions of Federal Budget

HARTFORD, Conn. - A new analysis sizes-up proposed national budgets from the House, Senate and Obama administration, and examines what those …

PHOTO: It is a tough time of year for biking, but a new challenge from the head of the U.S. Department of Transportation could make streets safer for all in Connecticut. Credit: K. Kennedy

Connecticut Hears Transportation Secretary's Call for Safer Streets

HARTFORD, Conn. - It's a call for safer streets from the head of the U.S. Department of Transportation to mayors and elected officials nationwide …

GRAPHIC: Connecticut ranks near the top among the darker blue states on the map for car-related energy efficiency in a new report, but scored lower for home-related energy efficiency. Map graphic courtesy of Wallethub.

Connecticut Just Misses Top Ten for Car Energy Efficiency Rankings

HARTFORD, Conn. - Connecticut places near the top in a new nationwide report on car-related energy efficiency, released to coincide with National …

PHOTO: A new state law underscores the need for drivers in Connecticut to give right of way to those not in a vehicle. Photo courtesy of Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center.

New CT Law: Forceful Reminder of the Need to Yield

HARTFORD, Conn. – It's a new law that underscores the need for local drivers to yield the right of way to those sharing Connecticut roads on …

PHOTO: A first-of-its-kind report card is being issued that ranking Connecticut towns & cities for the experience they provide to bikers and walkers. Photo courtesy of Mike Amsden/ City of Chicago and the League of American Bicyclists.

Report Card Due Today: Ranks CT Towns for Biking, Walking

HARTFORD, Conn. - Connecticut residents will be able to learn Monday how safe their municipality is for biking and walking. Kelly Kennedy, executive …

Photo: A new survey is in the works where Connecticut residents can help make local roads more pedestrian and bike friendly. Photo courtesy of Pedbikeimages.org / Austin Brown.

How Safe is Your CT Town or City for Walking & Biking?

HARTFORD, Conn. - A survey is underway to make Connecticut streets more friendly for pedestrians and bicycles, and survey organizers say the results …

Photo: Friday is National Bike to Work Day, promoted as being good for your health and the environment. Photo credit: Alliance for Biking and Walking

Bike to Work Day: Health and Safety Promoted Friday

HARTFORD, Conn. – It's time to check your tire pressure and pull out your helmet to join those who will be cycling to work Friday for National …

OHOTO: Nearly 11 thousand cyclists and pedestrians have been injured or killed on Connecticut roadways since 2006 but advocates say a new measure headed to Governor Dannel Malloy will provide a deterrent and raise awareness for local drivers to safely share the road. Photo credit: www.pedbikeimages.org/Laura Sandt

Safer Roads Expected for CT Pedestrians & Cyclists

HARTFORD, Conn. – It took five years of trying, but a bill is now finally headed for the governor's signature that proponents say will protect …

PHOTO: Trucks on Connecticut roadways will face stricter fuel-efficiency standards under a new directive aimed at decreasing greenhouse-gas emissions. Photo credit: morguefile.com.

Keep On Trucking -- With Less Pollution on Connecticut Roads

HARTFORD, Conn. - Big trucks making their way across Connecticut will be held to tighter fuel standards in the coming years. President Obama has …

Photo: A local commuter advocate says Metro North riders who have been experiencing extra long commutes since recent derailments

Metro-North Commuters "Want Their Railroad Back" for 2014

HARTFORD, Conn. - The year 2013 saw fatal derailments, track deaths and collisions on the Metro-North Railroad, and a local commuter advocate …

CT “Prepared” for Next Medical Emergency

HARTFORD, Conn. - Hospitals across New England were on alert Monday for victims of the Boston Marathon bombing, and local trauma officials say …

Town Planners and Health Advocates Unite for Better Outcomes

HARTFORD, Conn. - A new partnership between town health directors and town planners promises to create new ways to reduce Connecticut's stubborn …

Developing Connecticut with Transportation in Mind

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - TOD stands for transit-oriented development. It's a strategy being touted by Connecticut's new Department of Transportation …

60 MPG by 2025?

HARTFORD, Conn. - It's the heart of the summer driving season and a time when Connecticut drivers are feeling the pinch at the pump. To help ease the …

Improving Transportation Options A Key Focus for League of Women Voters

FAIRFIELD, Conn. - Promoting strategies to end gridlock on the state's highways has been a top priority of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut …

Prosperity through Infrastructure and Education Spending, New Study Says

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - You can't outsource bridge work in Connecticut to China. A new study concludes state investments in infrastructure and education …

Traffic Congestion: Gridlock or a Road to Improvement?

NORWALK, Conn. - Vehicle commuters facing crippling congestion in Fairfield County must budget extra time and fuel to drive along I-95 or the Merritt …

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PNS Daily Newscast - April 19, 2024

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CT: Urban Planning and Transportation