Those of us who have gotten stuck in traffic on Route 27 near Mystic Seaport on a Saturday afternoon or tried driving from one side of the river to the other in downtown Mystic on a Friday night well know that there are too many cars on the road - a frustrating experience for tourists lured here by promises of picturesque charm in a historic setting, as well as for local residents trying to run errands or commute.

We therefore are heartened by plans to study the idea of a transportation center near the Interstate 95 Exit 90 interchange, where visitors could park their cars and then board trolleys, take water taxis, hop on bicycles or simply walk to such attractions as Olde Mistick Village, Mystic Aquarium, the Seaport and downtown.

But before we enthusiastically embrace the concept it must address some concerns.

First of all, where would this so-called transportation center - read: giant parking lot - be located? The interchange already is clogged with a hodgepodge of restaurants, hotels, gas stations and other commercial development that typify the clutter found at many busy highway exit ramps across the country. Adding a parking lot might not exactly enhance the ambience of the Golden Triangle.

Secondly, this transportation center, however well-intentioned, is based on a model in which most of the 4 million tourists who visit Mystic every year would continue to arrive via I-95. We would not support this proposal if it detracted from our long-stated goal of reducing traffic on the interstate by improving mass transportation options in southeastern Connecticut.

Finally, past attempts involving a Mystic shuttle have failed, largely because the various interests served by it could not agree on how to pay for it. The study must establish a reliable source of funding to guarantee a reliable shuttle schedule. Given the current fiscal climate, this may prove the study's biggest hurdle.

The $450,000 federally funded Mystic Mobility Study, initiated by Stonington officials and led by the URS Corp. of Rocky Hill in cooperation with the town of Groton and a number of other entities, is not scheduled for completion until February 2011, so there is plenty of time to consider these matters.

The public also will have ample opportunity to weigh in by attending hearings expected to begin next month and by commenting on the study team's Web site, www.mysticmobility.org.