[Pike]

I'm big on preserving on the environment, so I would only be in favor if the EI could be minimal or mitigated.

However, I really feel that the traffic in CT, the pollution from traffic, and overall common is lacking that there is not at least one, if not two bridges connecting Westchester/CT to LI.

I've read before that LI residents are more in favor than CT residents, which really makes no sense.
I think a bridge, if properly designed for the environment, to minimize neighborhood intrusion, and with proper tolls, would be an asset to both states.

1) It would allow CT residents who are traveling south of Westchester to bypass the NYC-Stamford-New Haven mess.
2) It would allow CT residents to have access to the Hamptons....instead of just Cape Cod.
3) It could help bring in tourists to Mystic/Foxwoods/Mohegan with greater LI access...currently AC/Yonkers is likely easier.
4) Just think of all the trucks and other long distance traffic that would be OFF I-95 from New Haven to Greenwich...which could be now be as ORIGINALLY intended when built in the 1950s...for LOCAL traffic.

I would think the best design would be one that would go from I-91 in New Haven this way it would allow NY-BOS traffic, RI/Cape Cod/ski traffic from LI/NYC to bypass CT.
I would think another component would be for the route to be VERY limited with access...this way it does NOT become another commuter route and encourage development along the path.
I would also feel a good toll rate would be important. You wouldn't want a rate that would be prohibitive, but one that would reflect this is a route for long-distance, non-commuter, vacation traffic.

So my questions
1) Why has this been rejected before?
2) Why are CT residents opposed?
3) Wouldn't my ideas help allievate concerns?
4) Any chance this gets done anytime soon given the fact that
-An emphasis is now being placed on the aging infrastructure
-I-95 to New Haven really has limited options?

[Silli]

So your solution to improving the environment is to promote more driving?

[nhctguy]

Originally Posted by Pike

I'm big on preserving on the environment, so I would only be in favor if the EI could be minimal or mitigated.

However, I really feel that the traffic in CT, the pollution from traffic, and overall common is lacking that there is not at least one, if not two bridges connecting Westchester/CT to LI.

I've read before that LI residents are more in favor than CT residents, which really makes no sense.
I think a bridge, if properly designed for the environment, to minimize neighborhood intrusion, and with proper tolls, would be an asset to both states.

1) It would allow CT residents who are traveling south of Westchester to bypass the NYC-Stamford-New Haven mess.
2) It would allow CT residents to have access to the Hamptons....instead of just Cape Cod.
3) It could help bring in tourists to Mystic/Foxwoods/Mohegan with greater LI access...currently AC/Yonkers is likely easier.
4) Just think of all the trucks and other long distance traffic that would be OFF I-95 from New Haven to Greenwich...which could be now be as ORIGINALLY intended when built in the 1950s...for LOCAL traffic.

I would think the best design would be one that would go from I-91 in New Haven this way it would allow NY-BOS traffic, RI/Cape Cod/ski traffic from LI/NYC to bypass CT.
I would think another component would be for the route to be VERY limited with access...this way it does NOT become another commuter route and encourage development along the path.
I would also feel a good toll rate would be important. You wouldn't want a rate that would be prohibitive, but one that would reflect this is a route for long-distance, non-commuter, vacation traffic.

So my questions
1) Why has this been rejected before?
2) Why are CT residents opposed?
3) Wouldn't my ideas help allievate concerns?
4) Any chance this gets done anytime soon given the fact that
-An emphasis is now being placed on the aging infrastructure
-I-95 to New Haven really has limited options?

CT residents would be oppposed b/c by and large we do not go to Long Island. The Hamptons are beautiful but unworthy of having a bridge across LIS to get there. I know that LI residents would be more likely to support b/c I see a significant amount of NY license plates on I 95 in the summer so a bridge would really serve them more than anyone else. Just my opinion.

[JayCT]

A bridge/tunnel between Connecticut and Long Island has been talked about in the past but it would be very expensive, have a big impact on the environment and have limited use and ability to pay for itself. There are not a lot of people in Connecticut that have a need or desire to go to Long Island which means it will not be able to pay for itself. And a bridge/tunnel would not serve as a bypass around New York City since the connections to the south of New York are pretty busy already. As for getting to the Hamptons, don't they already have enough people out there from the city??? Jay

[JViello]

Long Island sound is a nice buffer for CT from LI. Please keep it in place.

[Pike]

I tend to disagree
a bridge to LI

1) If made to have LIMITED access might not promote traffic or harm the environment
2) If having a well priced toll reflecting it being a bypass not commuter route could help pay for itself
3) Could bring in revenue to CT with people going to Mystic/Foxwoods/Mohegan
4) This could take trucks and traffic going from BOS/Cape Cod in the summer and Ski areas in winter OFF of I-95....which would HELP reduce traffic
-I 95 was meant to be a local route with all the exits...it can't really be expanded to what it needs to be...why not build a bridge to divert some of the traffic?
5) This traffic would LI residents AND NYC residents...additionally if a southern bypass connecting LI to SI/NJ was built you'd have a true bypass
-Why not use the stimulus cash and infrastructure emphasis?

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by Pike

I tend to disagree
a bridge to LI

1) If made to have LIMITED access might not promote traffic or harm the environment
2) If having a well priced toll reflecting it being a bypass not commuter route could help pay for itself
3) Could bring in revenue to CT with people going to Mystic/Foxwoods/Mohegan
4) This could take trucks and traffic going from BOS/Cape Cod in the summer and Ski areas in winter OFF of I-95....which would HELP reduce traffic
-I 95 was meant to be a local route with all the exits...it can't really be expanded to what it needs to be...why not build a bridge to divert some of the traffic?
5) This traffic would LI residents AND NYC residents...additionally if a southern bypass connecting LI to SI/NJ was built you'd have a true bypass
-Why not use the stimulus cash and infrastructure emphasis?

Regarding number 4, have you heard of the LIE (I-495)? Just as bad as 95 and it, too, was meant to be a local route with all the exits. It would never fly.

Lets focus on Super 7 first.

[Pike]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

Regarding number 4, have you heard of the LIE (I-495)? Just as bad as 95 and it, too, was meant to be a local route with all the exits. It would never fly.

Lets focus on Super 7 first.

Upgrade the LIE...it would easier to do than I-95 since it is more of a local route not going through cities.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by Pike

Upgrade the LIE...it would easier to do than I-95 since it is more of a local route not going through cities.

I think you should take a drive on the LIE. It's not easily upgradable. Tons of traffic (arguably more than 95) and not much wiggle room. No trucks would willingly take the LIE over 95 since they'd have to be rerouted many miles and have to pay a hefty toll just to cross.

I think the only people who would support this are those on the east end of LI who need more options for a day trip.

[goldenband]

A bridge could actually be very good for Bridgeport and New Haven. I'm living on Long Island right now, and don't really like it here at all; I'd certainly consider living in Black Rock if I could commute. I know a few people who do make that commute, actually, though the ferry is a pain. Long Island is very expensive, with high wages as a consequence, and a bridge could conceivably send more of those $$$ north.

In addition, right now all traffic from New England has to go through NYC to get to LI, which is a bottleneck that's terrible for NYC and Fairfield County. Plus there's no good way to evacuate the island in the event of a terrorist attack on NYC. I don't know that you'd see that many people choosing to take the LIE and a bridge instead of 95, but there are certainly a few people who do that now with the ferry.

I think a bridge is going to happen sooner or later, but it's probably decades away.