[BobNJ1960]

Originally Posted by BPt111

Will CT use AI in near future help make Metro North more efficient as artificial intelligence gaining ground in all industries.

“By analysing data on passenger demand, train schedules, and track availability, AI algorithms can determine the most efficient use of resources. This can minimise delays and improve the overall passenger experience”

Anything would be better than the Ct DOT Human intelligence presently used.

[Beeker2211]

Originally Posted by BPt111

Will CT use AI in near future help make Metro North more efficient as artificial intelligence gaining ground in all industries.

“By analysing data on passenger demand, train schedules, and track availability, AI algorithms can determine the most efficient use of resources. This can minimise delays and improve the overall passenger experience”

Short answer: no. Longer answer: no, this is how we get terminators. Joking aside AI can do a few things well, and honestly logistics hasn't been one of them even if you'd think that'd be prime for it. It can manage a **** load of data points but can never (or at least we hope) factor in goals. It's mostly hockum.

[Mike 75]

Originally Posted by simonusa3

I've driven all over the United States...and (considering where it is in proximity to large population centers), the Merritt Parkway is the most outdated and dangerous road I've ever been on. The short exit and entrance ramps alone are a huge hazard. Its just another example of outdated things that CT refuses to let go of.

Disagree. The Saw Mill and the Taconic parkways in NY are way more outdated and dangerous. Narrower than the Merritt in most places, at grade crossings, including traffic lights on the Saw Mill

The two issues with the Merritt are the lack of lights at night and the left lane campers. Even with those issues, I find it a much easier and more pleasurable road to travel on than 95.

[MrGompers]

Originally Posted by Mike 75

Disagree. The Saw Mill and the Taconic parkways in NY are way more outdated and dangerous. Narrower than the Merritt in most places, at grade crossings, including traffic lights on the Saw Mill

Taconic Prky allows left hand turns across oncoming traffic. That seems really insane to me. I wonder how many accidents take place on the Taconic every year because of this.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by MrGompers

CT is the capital of neo liberalism. That's why infrastructure hasn't been improved for 30+ years. And we'll be in the same position 30+ years from now. Only thing that will fix this is rocket packs that you can strap on your back.

Oh come on now. In the past 30 years CTDOT has done a lot.

Let’s start with the massive $2 billion reconstruction of I-95 in New Haven, East Haven and Branford. I-95 was also rebuilt and widened in Bridgeport. The old open grate decked Sikorsky Bridge was replaced with a large modern structure. The HOV lane on I-84 east of Hartford was extended into downtown Hartford. I-91 Northbound Exit 29, a major bottleneck and safety hazard has been reconstructed. I-95 over West River, Saugatuck River and the Housatonic River have been rebuilt. I-84 east of Waterbury has been widened and rebuilt and most interchanges on the Merritt Parkway have been rebuilt and modernized.

CTDOT started both CTfastrak rapid bus service and CTrail commuter rail service as well as improved service on Shoreline East. The New Haven Rail Yard, which is the base for the New Haven line and CTrail was completely rebuilt and expanded at a cost of $1 billion. Improvements were also made to rail yards in Stamford and Bridgeport as well.

New train stations were added to the New Haven line in Fairfield (Metro) and West Haven. New stations were also added to Shoreline East in Branford, Guilford, Madison, Clinton, Westbrook and Old Saybrook. Stations were also added to the Hartford line in Wallingford, Meriden, Berlin and Windsor. Then there’s all the new M8 trains on the New Haven and Shoreline East lines.

CTtransit has also upgraded ALL of its buses and built new service centers in Hartford, Waterbury and Stamford.

These are just major projects and improvements off the top of my head. There are many more from small culvert replacements to streetscape improvements. It’s pretty impressive given CTDOT limited resources and the lack of any significant new revenue sources in over 20 years. Jay

[MrGompers]

Originally Posted by JayCT

Oh come on now. In the past 30 years CTDOT has done a lot.

Let’s start with the massive $2 billion reconstruction of I-95 in New Haven, East Haven and Branford. I-95 was also rebuilt and widened in Bridgeport. The old open grate decked Sikorsky Bridge was replaced with a large modern structure. The HOV lane on I-84 east of Hartford was extended into downtown Hartford. I-91 Northbound Exit 29, a major bottleneck and safety hazard has been reconstructed. I-95 over West River, Saugatuck River and the Housatonic River have been rebuilt. I-84 east of Waterbury has been widened and rebuilt and most interchanges on the Merritt Parkway have been rebuilt and modernized.

CTDOT started both CTfastrak rapid bus service and CTrail commuter rail service as well as improved service on Shoreline East. The New Haven Rail Yard, which is the base for the New Haven line and CTrail was completely rebuilt and expanded at a cost of $1 billion. Improvements were also made to rail yards in Stamford and Bridgeport as well.

New train stations were added to the New Haven line in Fairfield (Metro) and West Haven. New stations were also added to Shoreline East in Branford, Guilford, Madison, Clinton, Westbrook and Old Saybrook. Stations were also added to the Hartford line in Wallingford, Meriden, Berlin and Windsor. Then there’s all the new M8 trains on the New Haven and Shoreline East lines.

CTtransit has also upgraded ALL of its buses and built new service centers in Hartford, Waterbury and Stamford.

These are just major projects and improvements off the top of my head. There are many more from small culvert replacements to streetscape improvements. It’s pretty impressive given CTDOT limited resources and the lack of any significant new revenue sources in over 20 years. Jay

And despite all of this CTDOT hasn't made a dent in traffic. If anything its worse. With all the people fleeing CT one would think traffic would subside. Also, being the 3rd smallest state in the US we should have top tier roads since we don't have much space to cover.



Even though I am against tolls, the state really missed a big opportunity by NOT tolling the new Q bridge. 3 bucks each way or 6 bucks one way. We could catch all the people visiting the casinos every weekend.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by MrGompers

And despite all of this CTDOT hasn't made a dent in traffic. If anything its worse. With all the people fleeing CT one would think traffic would subside. Also, being the 3rd smallest state in the US we should have top tier roads since we don't have much space to cover.



Even though I am against tolls, the state really missed a big opportunity by NOT tolling the new Q bridge. 3 bucks each way or 6 bucks one way. We could catch all the people visiting the casinos every weekend.

I’m sorry but your logic of Connecticut being the 3rd smallest state should mean better roads because there is less area to cover makes no sense. It’s true we don’t have a large area to cover but being the fourth most densely populated state means more roads and railways on bridges. Bridges are much more expensive to build and maintain than the at grade roadways you find a lot of in less densely populated states.

That’s true about traffic but unfortunately every time the state tries to increase highway capacity, it meets with massive opposition. Just look at the previously discussed Route 7/15 interchange in Norwalk. The opposition to the original multi level interchange was massive, well organized and had deep pockets.

The very existence of Shoreline East train service and the improvements made to it are because of agreements made with opposition to widening I-95 in New Haven, East Haven and Branford. Governor John Rowland was ready to kill SLE but agreements to add lanes on the highway came with agreements to improve service on it. The list goes on and on.

I agree the state missed a good opportunity to implement tolls. It would have meant hundreds of millions of dollars from out of state drivers who use our roads for free. That’s hundreds of millions of dollars that Connecticut taxpayers don’t have to come up with.

I think Lamont handled the toll question poorly. He should have identified an annual amount of revenue increases we need and then given options on how to raise it. The options could include doubling the gas tax, upping the sales tax, or tolling which would get out of state drivers to pay a good portion of it. He could have tied tolls to eliminating the very unpopular annual automobile tax. I think a lot of people would realize and like tolls for that. Unfortunately he did not see that. Jay

[BHW2436]

Originally Posted by JayCT

I’m sorry but your logic of Connecticut being the 3rd smallest state should mean better roads because there is less area to cover makes no sense. It’s true we don’t have a large area to cover but being the fourth most densely populated state means more roads and railways on bridges. Bridges are much more expensive to build and maintain than the at grade roadways you find a lot of in less densely populated states.

That’s true about traffic but unfortunately every time the state tries to increase highway capacity, it meets with massive opposition. Just look at the previously discussed Route 7/15 interchange in Norwalk. The opposition to the original multi level interchange was massive, well organized and had deep pockets.

Why are you associating population density with number of bridges? What does that have to do with anything. Number of bridges depends of topography and geography not number of people.

CT ranks 37th in number of bridges in USA (13 states have fewer bridges). CT has much more money than those 13 states as well.

Population density might support an argument of more wear and tear but it’s more wear and tear on a lot less structures.

[BobNJ1960]

We also do not need many long bridges, simply due to geography.

[BPt111]

Originally Posted by MrGompers

And despite all of this CTDOT hasn't made a dent in traffic. If anything its worse. With all the people fleeing CT one would think traffic would subside. Also, being the 3rd smallest state in the US we should have top tier roads since we don't have much space to cover.



Even though I am against tolls, the state really missed a big opportunity by NOT tolling the new Q bridge. 3 bucks each way or 6 bucks one way. We could catch all the people visiting the casinos every weekend.

I think roads was built for 1950s population people back then didn’t know population going triple but CT did miss opportunity past 20 years.