Spending includes necessary transit upgrades

There are few items that politicians are more likely to agree upon than transportation upgrades. Even in divided Washington, there was a measure of bipartisan support for the president’s infrastructure plan, which will direct spending to muchneeded road and transit repairs and pave the way for new projects. Everyone needs to get around.

This applies at the state level, as well. Gov. Ned Lamont on Monday announced $839 million in upgrades to Connecticut’s transportation system by placing them on the agenda of the state Bond Commission. These are necessary moves that are likely to be widely supported. But despite the big numbers involved, there will remain much that needs doing.

Included on the list are upgrades for multiple modes of transit. Some $280 million will go toward procuring dual-power locomotives, aimed at enabling electric train service and paving the way for new express service to New York City. A new Enfield train station on the Hartford line will cost $35 million, and $12 million will go toward renovation of the Derby/Shelton station on the Waterbury line.

Train service is vital to the state’s economic health, and expanding its reach by making it easier and more convenient on the branch lines, including the Waterbury line, is essential. Train stations can serve as a hub for new development, including housing and shopping, and are best utilized by building densely in their immediate vicinity to take advantage of the walkability inherent in train travel.

There’s plenty or money for highways and roads, too. Bridges will account for $13 million in new spending, with $51.7 million going toward local street improvement projects. The notoriously chaotic I-91/1691/Route 15 interchange in Meriden will see $61 million in spending aimed at clearing congestion and improving safety.

Traffic, of course, is always going to be with us. Regardless of what road projects we undertake, there will always be more cars than there is space to accommodate them, especially at busy times of the day.

And that’s a good thing. We shouldn’t wish for a state free of traffic, because that’s a state short on economic activity. The fact that people need to get places in our state is a sign of economic vitality, but one we need to take seriously. No one gets ahead by sitting in traffic.

But there also need to be alternatives to roads, and the spending on the latest Bond Commission agenda shows how that breakdown works. Most people drive cars, so money needs to be spent on keeping roads in good shape. But we also need to encourage other forms of transit, including trains — hence the spending on new cars and improved stations.

Connecticut’s economic future depends on getting people around quickly, but there’s more than one way to accommodate that. At the same time, our climate goals, which are more important than ever, can only be reached by reducing emissions, and that means getting people off the roads.

Monday’s announcement of transportation spending includes a number of necessary projects that will help people get where they need to be. But there is still a long way to go to hit our targets.

Connecticut’s economic future depends on getting people around quickly, but there’s more than one way to accommodate that.