A ceremony was held on Tuesday afternoon to kick off the controversial New-Britain to Hartford busway project.
The line, called CTfastrak, will be built on an abandoned railroad corridor from downtown New Britain to Union Station in Hartford and make 11 stops along the route.
Buses will operate from 4:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. During peak times, buses are expected to arrive every three to six minutes.
“CTfastrak is an important part of Connecticut’s overall investment in transportation,” Gov. Dannnel Malloy said. “For years, Connecticut public transit has languished—outdated systems and antiquated infrastructure have slowed travelers, commuters, and commerce. With the investment in bus rapid transit, putting new railcars in service in southern Connecticut, and moving forward to build interstate higher speed rail, we are well on our way to turning the page on years of neglect. Thanks to the support of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, legislative leaders and advocates, we are creating jobs, modernizing our infrastructure, and bolstering our economy.”
The cost of the project is $567 million and it is expected to create 4,000 construction jobs and 100 permanent positions.
Some officials have argued that the project is a waste of money.
"The reckless spending of nearly $600 million taxpayer dollars is no cause for celebration,” Sen. Joe Markley, R-Southington, said in a statement. “The busway -- now rebranded CTfastrak -- is a waste of money that would be better spent on our crumbling bridges and roads."
Several homeowners are also opposed to the project because the state plans to take part of their land through eminent domain.
However, Gov. Dannel Malloy has said he hopes the busway will spur business growth and help the economy.
The groundbreaking happened at 2 p.m. at Park Street and Francis Avenue in Hartford, the site of the future Parkville Station.
The first phase of construction is a 5.8-mile stretch from just north of Cedar Street in Newington to just north of Sigourney Street in Hartford.
The $130 million contract for this segment also includes the construction of seven stations, a new $19.9 million bridge at Flatbush Avenue in West Hartford and the construction of a new gravel maintenance road for Amtrak.
