Stuck in procedural traffic jam

Certainly the state faces some major transportation challenges and its fiscal problems compound them, but one would think filling a vacancy on a board charged with developing transportation strategies would be manageable.

Think again.

The Connecticut Transportation Strategy Board (TSB) has members from the business community, state agencies and four so-called Transportation Investment Areas, assuring, in theory at least, representation from every quadrant of the state. The last appointee from the Southeast Corridor (that's us) was City of Groton Mayor Dennis Popp.

When Popp resigned from the commission, citing a heavy workload that did not provide him the necessary time to devote to the strategy board, the Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments went about the task of recommending a replacement.

Last August, following the law governing the TSB, the council suggested three possible candidates - first selectmen Robert Congdon, Thomas Sparkman and Philip Anthony of Preston, Lisbon and Griswold, respectively. The COG even provided a little nudge, noting its preference was Congdon, the Preston selectman, "as he expressed the most interest in serving."

The job of picking one of the three rests with the co-chairmen of the legislature's Transportation Committee, currently Sen. Donald J. DeFronzo of New Britain and Rep. Antonio Guerrera of Rocky Hill. As of last week, there had still been no selection.

At Tuesday's meeting of the COG, local officials expressed exasperation that something as simple as making an appointment to the TSB was taking so long. COG Executive Director James Butler also voiced frustration in a Jan. 8 e-mail he sent to Bob Hammersely, TSB manager.

"We followed the prescribed statutory steps in nominating three candidates to represent our region and TIA corridor back in August," wrote Butler. "And I find it incomprehensible that an appointment has not been made or any communication been received back during the ensuing four and a half month period."

I gave a call to the co-chairmen and Rep. Guerrera promptly called me back. The chairmen, he said, saw no real rush to fill the vacancy because the Transportation Strategy Board hasn't been doing much of anything anyway. Unfortunately, no one bothered to explain this to local officials, who actually thought it might help to have someone on the TSB to push such issues as widening Interstate 95 or extending Route 11.

Indeed, until it met last week, the strategy board had not met since July, coming up with various reasons for cancelling its monthly meetings. It was also leaderless until the recent appointment of Bruce D. Alexander as chairman. He is a Yale University vice president and director of New Haven and state affairs for the university.

It's not as if this is an unimportant issue. Sixty percent of eastern Connecticut businesses responding to a recent survey said enhanced roads would help their businesses operate more effectively, while 28 percent pointed to a need for rail improvements.

But the state Department of Transportation issues a report this week that found the major projects needed in southeastern Connecticut - widening I-95, expanding the Mohegan-Pequot Bridge and extending Route 11, are "unfundable."

Guerrera said his committee might revisit the entire role of the Transportation Strategy Board. It seems to study issues and make recommendations, but there is not a lot if implementing going on, he said.

In 2003 TSB produced a comprehensive plan to upgrade and maintain the state's transportation system, from ports, to rail to highways, with a special tax on gas proposed to pay for it all. And two years ago it produced a study of how congestion pricing, which means implementing a toll rate that adjusts to highway traffic, could serve as a source of needed revenue to improve crowded highways.

Of course, it's up to the legislature to implement strategies, and that begins with Guerrera's committee, which couldn't even quickly fill a vacancy on the board.

So there is no money for local projects, the region has no TSB representation and the board's "strategy" is largely ignored anyway.

It doesn't fill one with confidence that Connecticut is going to solve its transportation problems anytime soon.

Paul Choiniere is editorial page editor.