[Stylo]

Annexing towns near Hartford and New Haven would put them on paper at the same scale as, say, Cincinnati and other mid size cities.

It would be smart and could be done in a way that doesn't ruin the schools

[jxzz]

Originally Posted by BPt111

Heart of Boston 100 miles from Hartford, Midtown Manhattan is 115 miles which one is closer

Distance is one thing, the real life feeling is different. I do believe currently Hartford residents probably feel closer to NYC than Boston mainly because of trains.

Just used google map, Hartford residents have to drive 1 hour and 7 minutes to get to a train in Worcester to go to Boston, while it only takes 43 minutes from Hartford to New Haven to get a metro north train to NYC.
Infrastructure from CT to NYC is a lot better than to Boston. I personally heard of people who take train from Hartford area to work in NYC. I never heard of people who commute to Boston for jobs.

This could change if Springfield to Boston high speed train is getting built in the future. For now, Hartford is isolated, too far from NYC, too far from Boston.

[NOLA101]

Originally Posted by BPt111

Heart of Boston 100 miles from Hartford, Midtown Manhattan is 115 miles which one is closer

Manhattan is much "closer".

Distance has nothing to do with it. NYC is about 5x as big as Boston, and obviously extends its influence much further. You don't measure relative connectivity by just comparing distance on a map, especially when comparing two cities of completely different size.

Everything from Manhattan to Hartford is solid development, and has been for decades. In contrast, there's lots of empty land between Hartford and Boston, and that gap will never be filled.

And, Hartford is getting commuter rail connecting to Manhattan. There will probably never be commuter rail from Boston. Furthermore, Connecticut, overall, is part of the tri-state metro area. Mass is a different thing, and more connected to NH and Maine.

[jxzz]

Originally Posted by NOLA101

Manhattan is much "closer".

Distance has nothing to do with it. NYC is about 5x as big as Boston, and obviously extends its influence much further. You don't measure relative connectivity by just comparing distance on a map, especially when comparing two cities of completely different size.

Everything from Manhattan to Hartford is solid development, and has been for decades. In contrast, there's lots of empty land between Hartford and Boston, and that gap will never be filled.

And, Hartford is getting commuter rail connecting to Manhattan. There will probably never be commuter rail from Boston. Furthermore, Connecticut, overall, is part of the tri-state metro area. Mass is a different thing, and more connected to NH and Maine.

Tri-state or greater New York area only includes 2 counties in CT: FFC and NHC. It is difficult to include Hartford into greater New York region today. But of course things could change, if there will be enough of commuters from Hartford area through Hartford line to NYC, then Hartford may be included in tri-state area as part of greater New York region.

[in_newengland]

Originally Posted by NOLA101

Manhattan is much "closer".

Distance has nothing to do with it. NYC is about 5x as big as Boston, and obviously extends its influence much further. You don't measure relative connectivity by just comparing distance on a map, especially when comparing two cities of completely different size.

Everything from Manhattan to Hartford is solid development, and has been for decades. In contrast, there's lots of empty land between Hartford and Boston, and that gap will never be filled.

And, Hartford is getting commuter rail connecting to Manhattan. There will probably never be commuter rail from Boston. Furthermore, Connecticut, overall, is part of the tri-state metro area. Mass is a different thing, and more connected to NH and Maine.

Agree. Hartford is more connected to NYC. Even Springfield, if connected to anything, is more connected to NYC. Boston is Boston. Boston workers do commute from southern NH but usually not from Springfield and Boston people don't usually even know that Springfield and environs even exist! They also consider CT to be flyover country.

I can't foresee any commuter rail from Springfield or Hartford to Boston. I can see Springfield, Hartford, New Haven, and NYC being connected. We are all near the river and that seems to be the dividing line where you get more of a NYC vibe than a Boston vibe and influence.

[jxzz]

Originally Posted by in_newengland

Agree. Hartford is more connected to NYC. Even Springfield, if connected to anything, is more connected to NYC. Boston is Boston. Boston workers do commute from southern NH but usually not from Springfield and Boston people don't usually even know that Springfield and environs even exist! They also consider CT to be flyover country.

I can't foresee any commuter rail from Springfield or Hartford to Boston. I can see Springfield, Hartford, New Haven, and NYC being connected. We are all near the river and that seems to be the dividing line where you get more of a NYC vibe than a Boston vibe and influence.

To include Springfield into greater NY area is little too much. Hopefully western mass get their wish of commuter train to Boston and that will benefit Hartford fore sure. Simply linking Hartford to Worcester with train will benefit both states.

I actually did search on this topic online recently. There are some recent changes that made me to believe that Springfield to Boston commuter train will happen in the near future, maybe within a decade.

One factor that is $95 million Springfield Union Square investment completed recently, this is a major investment into western mass infrastructure already.
Second is that it seems that virtually all MA congressmen support the high speed train from Springfield to Boston, this sounds like that this is something everybody agrees in MA.

[BPt111]

Hartford is not connected with NYC only FFC and New Haven area

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by jxzz

Tri-state or greater New York area only includes 2 counties in CT: FFC and NHC. It is difficult to include Hartford into greater New York region today. But of course things could change, if there will be enough of commuters from Hartford area through Hartford line to NYC, then Hartford may be included in tri-state area as part of greater New York region.

Three counties. You forgot Litchfield.

[BPt111]

Originally Posted by jxzz

Tri-state or greater New York area only includes 2 counties in CT: FFC and NHC. It is difficult to include Hartford into greater New York region today. But of course things could change, if there will be enough of commuters from Hartford area through Hartford line to NYC, then Hartford may be included in tri-state area as part of greater New York region.

Hartford to NYC would be almost 3 hour commute by train If you going work in Manhattan no way.

[jxzz]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

Three counties. You forgot Litchfield.

How do the folks from Litchfield county commute to NYC?

There are no trains in metro north line to Litchfield county