[Cambium]

So from Route 7 Connector to Greenwich exit it used to take 25-30 minutes with regular rush hour traffic between 7-9am..

Past couple months its now taking 40-50 minutes. So yeah, sometimes double the time. The amount of volume has been extreme and I know this from using the road everyday at the same hour. There is no way new drivers are on the road or people that moved to Lower Fairfield and work in NY in a matter of 2 months. So it dawned on me!


Ever since they started on the whole I-287 renovation area Merritt has built up. For those of you who don't know, either Google it or drive by on I-95 to the NY/CT border and look for yourself. Insane amount of work being done to expand the ramps and area where 287 meets I-95. 1 lane exit for 287 and 2 lanes for I95 south. This has created a back up on I-95 right lane for miles.


Did I lose you yet??


So it dawned on me. .. more and more people are finding the Merritt to be an alternate route vs just sitting on I-95 to get to 287.


The volume on the merit is insane and over the limit now. Where it used to open up in Stamford, is now crawling. Where it used to crawl is now standstill. Stop & Gos are a shorter distance.


But this is what would happen is tolls were JUST put on I-95 only. I see the future happening if they do that.

[MrGompers]

Originally Posted by Cambium

So from Route 7 Connector to Greenwich exit it used to take 25-30 minutes with regular rush hour traffic between 7-9am..

Past couple months its now taking 40-50 minutes. So yeah, sometimes double the time. The amount of volume has been extreme and I know this from using the road everyday at the same hour. There is no way new drivers are on the road or people that moved to Lower Fairfield and work in NY in a matter of 2 months. So it dawned on me!

Ever since they started on the whole I-287 renovation area Merritt has built up. For those of you who don't know, either Google it or drive by on I-95 to the NY/CT border and look for yourself. Insane amount of work being done to expand the ramps and area where 287 meets I-95. 1 lane exit for 287 and 2 lanes for I95 south. This has created a back up on I-95 right lane for miles.

Did I lose you yet??

So it dawned on me. .. more and more people are finding the Merritt to be an alternate route vs just sitting on I-95 to get to 287.

The volume on the merit is insane and over the limit now. Where it used to open up in Stamford, is now crawling. Where it used to crawl is now standstill. Stop & Gos are a shorter distance.

But this is what would happen is tolls were JUST put on I-95 only. I see the future happening if they do that.

People won't switch roads if the tolls are low enough i.e. .50 cents - 1.00 dollar.

[1000fc]

Originally Posted by MrGompers

People won't switch roads if the tolls are low enough i.e. .50 cents - 1.00 dollar.

and even if they did, it would just make the tolled road faster....

[SteveM85]

Originally Posted by Cambium

So from Route 7 Connector to Greenwich exit it used to take 25-30 minutes with regular rush hour traffic between 7-9am..

Past couple months its now taking 40-50 minutes. So yeah, sometimes double the time. The amount of volume has been extreme and I know this from using the road everyday at the same hour. There is no way new drivers are on the road or people that moved to Lower Fairfield and work in NY in a matter of 2 months. So it dawned on me!


Ever since they started on the whole I-287 renovation area Merritt has built up. For those of you who don't know, either Google it or drive by on I-95 to the NY/CT border and look for yourself. Insane amount of work being done to expand the ramps and area where 287 meets I-95. 1 lane exit for 287 and 2 lanes for I95 south. This has created a back up on I-95 right lane for miles.


Did I lose you yet??


So it dawned on me. .. more and more people are finding the Merritt to be an alternate route vs just sitting on I-95 to get to 287.


The volume on the merit is insane and over the limit now. Where it used to open up in Stamford, is now crawling. Where it used to crawl is now standstill. Stop & Gos are a shorter distance.


But this is what would happen is tolls were JUST put on I-95 only. I see the future happening if they do that.

Merritt was smooth sailing through Greenwich this am. I get on at Old Stamford Rd and it usually opens up after the Den Rd exit. Sometimes there is a little slowdown before the Lake Ave exit but you fly in to NY after that. No way though would I ever live east of Rt 7, we're CT Stubbers.

[JayCT]

So it appears there is growing opposition to the Republican Plan to tap into the Rainy Day Fund to pay down pension obligations and then borrow money to fund some of Governor Lamont’s CT2030 transportation projects. Not surprising since the plan really is gambling on our future and once again placing the financial burden on future generations. Jay

https://ctmirror.org/2019/11/20/wood...fidence-in-ct/

https://ctmirror.org/2019/11/20/some...-analysts-say/

[Fuele]

Originally Posted by JayCT

So it appears there is growing opposition to the Republican Plan to tap into the Rainy Day Fund to pay down pension obligations and then borrow money to fund some of Governor Lamont’s CT2030 transportation projects. Not surprising since the plan really is gambling on our future and once again placing the financial burden on future generations. Jay

https://ctmirror.org/2019/11/20/wood...fidence-in-ct/

https://ctmirror.org/2019/11/20/some...-analysts-say/

However Democrats don't seem to be concerned about " placing the financial burden on future generations." in regards to State Employee Pensions , SHHHH

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by Fuele

However Democrats don't seem to be concerned about " placing the financial burden on future generations." in regards to State Employee Pensions , SHHHH

The Republicans share that blame. Remember we had 20 years of Republican Governors that did nothing to change things. They just kicked the can down the road. Jay

[ryanthegoldengod]

The idea that nothing has been about pensions is a giant myth. The contract has been re-negotiated many times--with less cushy pensions for state employees each time. Why haven't we seen a major change as far as tax burdens? Because they grandfathered it in. Many of the current retirees are Tier 2---a very generous pension plan. But state employees currently working won't be so lucky. So the pension burden is going to lessen, we just have to wait.

The real question might be: why did they grandfather this in? Probably because going after seniors seems to be a political non starter. You don't want to appear like you're leaving old folks out in the cold and seniors vote at higher rates than any other voting block.

[SteveM85]

Originally Posted by ryanthegoldengod

The idea that nothing has been about pensions is a giant myth. The contract has been re-negotiated many times--with less cushy pensions for state employees each time. Why haven't we seen a major change as far as tax burdens? Because they grandfathered it in. Many of the current retirees are Tier 2---a very generous pension plan. But state employees currently working won't be so lucky. So the pension burden is going to lessen, we just have to wait.

The real question might be: why did they grandfather this in? Probably because going after seniors seems to be a political non starter. You don't want to appear like you're leaving old folks out in the cold and seniors vote at higher rates than any other voting block.

You are correct but in the case of Teachers (on CT STRB), they don't get Social Security so they HAVE to be grandfathered.
Do other state employees get SS? I am not sure.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by ryanthegoldengod

The idea that nothing has been about pensions is a giant myth. The contract has been re-negotiated many times--with less cushy pensions for state employees each time. Why haven't we seen a major change as far as tax burdens? Because they grandfathered it in. Many of the current retirees are Tier 2---a very generous pension plan. But state employees currently working won't be so lucky. So the pension burden is going to lessen, we just have to wait.

The real question might be: why did they grandfather this in? Probably because going after seniors seems to be a political non starter. You don't want to appear like you're leaving old folks out in the cold and seniors vote at higher rates than any other voting block.

The reason they are grandfathered in is because the contract retirement benefits in place when an employee is hired follows them throughout their career and the Courts have ruled that Can’t be changed. It’s been tried to break the contract but has failed. Jay