Governor Lamont’s CT2030 Transportation Plan Now Includes Bike- And Pedestrian Infrastructure

(Or so they say.)

The Governor acknowledges that we need to increase the use of public transit and that public transit needs to work better. But how are people supposed to get to a train or bus station?  One way is by bicycle!

The first public release of Governor Lamont’s Transportation Plan includes no mention of bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. Obviously, such infrastructure needs to be included in any smart transportation plan. To address climate change, air pollution, and highway congestion, we need to reduce the miles traveled by car, and to do that we need to improve access to public transit. Bicycles do that by providing a way for people to reach trains or buses (the “first mile”) and a way to reach their final destination (the “last mile”).

We are happy to report that our campaign to contact the Governor and to raise this issue was immediately felt by the Governor’s office. Within a week, at a Bike-Walk CT Legislative Reception, the CT Department of Transportation presented plans for a $100 million bike-ped investment over 10 years.  That’s $10 million per year.  Obviously, these plans exist somewhere in the background and the lack of attention to bike-ped infrastructure in the press releases and website for CT2030 was at least partly an oversight. Still, it is great that the public spoke out and the need for bike-ped improvements got the Governor’s attention.

Now, we need to reinforce our position by asking the Governor to include bike-ped improvements in CT2030 website.   You can comment on the CT2030 plan by clicking here to reach the Governor’s email form. Or you can call the Governor’s office at 860-566-4840.  Let us know that you took action by copying John Hall, or use the “Contact” button above. We want to know if our campaign is generating responses.

Contact your State Senator and Representative by email. They need to hear from us.

Sen. Matthew Lesser [email protected]
Sen. Norm Needleman  [email protected]
Sen. Mary Abrams [email protected]
Rep. Christie Carpino  [email protected]
Rep. Joseph Serra  [email protected]
Rep. Quentin Phipps  [email protected]
Rep. Christine Palm  [email protected]
Rep. Irene Haines  [email protected]

If you don’t know who your legislators are, go to https://www.cga.ct.gov/ and click on the “Representation” tab or see the “Find Your Legislator” tool at the bottom of the page.