AASHTO Journal, 3 April 2015
Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy announced that he has formed a panel of expert advisers to develop funding options to pay for what his office called a “transformation of Connecticut’s transportation infrastructure” in the next three decades.
In announcing the action, Malloy said: “We need to transform our infrastructure to be competitive, attract business, and grow jobs. I am creating this panel to pinpoint ways to make our transportation vision over the next 30 years and beyond possible . . . What we need now is a cohesive, coordinated strategy – a system that can withstand the needs of these improvements over the long term.”
In February, Malloy unveiled a two-part transportation plan that would spend $10 billion on capital projects over five years, on the way to a 30-year program that requires $100 billion in funding.
Following that “Let’s Go CT” vision, the state Department of Transportation issued a document in March showing some of the roadway, bridge and transit work the plan would entail.
“We now have a clear vision for rebuilding Connecticut’s entire transportation infrastructure,” said Transportation Commissioner James Redeker. “Now, we need to make the tough decisions on funding our future. The governor has assembled a thoughtful, balanced team and I look forward to working with them.”
Malloy’s announcement said his “Governor’s Transportation Finance Panel” is a nonpartisan working group of experts in transportation, finance and economic development. Its members include national and regional officials.
The panel will start meeting this month and is expected to conclude its work by the end of the summer.
It will be staffed under the leadership of Under Secretary for Transportation Policy and Planning Garrett Eucalitto, who will collaborate with commissioners of several cabinet offices.
The panel is made up of:
-Cameron Staples, chairman. He is president and CEO of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges; he is also a former co-chair of the General Assembly’s Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee.
-Beth Osborne, senior policy adviser at Transportation for America, and a former acting assistant secretary for policy at the U.S. Department of Transportation.
-William Bonvillian, director of Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Washington, D.C., office.
-Joan Carty, president and CEO, Housing Development Fund.
-Bert Hunter, chief investment officer at Connecticut Green Bank.
-Oz Griebel, president and CEO, MetroHartford Alliance.
-Paul Timpanelli, president and CEO, Bridgeport Regional Business Council.
-Stanley Mickus, marketing and public affairs, Cross Sound Ferry Services.
-Emil Frankel, transportation policy consultant. Frankel is also a former USDOT assistant secretary for policy and former commissioner of the Connecticut DOT.