Malloy defends busway project amid criticism

HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) -- Governor Malloy defended the proposed New Britain to Hartford busway as an important project for the future of the state.

Opponents of the New Britain to Hartford busway project are now calling it Malloy's Folly, but unemployed construction workers call it a major jobs plan.

"We have 12,000 building trades people in the state of Connecticut out of work. It's time to provide opportunity for them," said Ed Riley from the Building Trades Union.

"I want to know what you're plan is to put us back to work because I don't see one," said David Rocke from the Building Trades Union. "You're telling me about something that maybe we could do, but I don't see you introducing any legislation that's going to help us get back to work or anything like that."

Out of work building trades workers from around the state invaded a news conference called by opponents of the New Britain to Hartford busway project who are planning to introduce an amendment to halt the half a billion dollar project. They say existing bus service between the two cities is barley used now.

"We're going to run, instead of two busses an hour 20 buses an hour between New Britain," said Sen. Joe Markley. "The ridership is not there."

"Several times you guys have mentioned taxpayers. We are taxpayers, we're the unemployed, we're the minority community, we're the disadvantaged community. Let's build Connecticut," Riley replied.

"I've been out of work about a year, a little better than a year. This job will open up a lot of opportunities for people like myself that's been on the bench," said Perry Newsome.

"I've been out of work four months, I think that the busway is important," said Kevin Daly. "Not only as a jobs builder, but as a start of mass transit in Connecticut."

"I want to see you working on a project which is worthy of your talent and your dedication and I think that is the existing infrastructure which we have in Connecticut," Markley said. "Let's fix that first."

But the Governor said that Markley has it backwards. He said the busway must be finished as soon as possible because extensive reconstruction of the I-84 elevated roadway coming into Hartford from the West will take at least 10 years and people will be looking for an alternative way into the city. He also pointed out that three administrations have backed it.

"If it's Malloy's Folly, it's Rowland's Folly, and it's Rell's Folly, and everyone's else's folly, and it's not folly at all," Malloy said. "Reality is is this is an important project to the future of the state of Connecticut."

Markley and State Representative Whit Betts of Bristol say this project is so unpopular with the public they will push their amendment so that all state lawmakers will have to vote up or down, on the record, on the busway.