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Connecticut
Stamford Approves Funds for Downtown Light Rail Feasibility Study
''Anyone who drives around Stamford now realizes that we're really in gridlock,'' said the city's Democratic Representative Patrick White as its board voted 19-11 -- with 10 members absent -- for a $141,000 downtown light rail feasibility study, adding ''Probably the most efficient way of moving masses of people is a light rail system.''
Republican Representative Carl Fransetti, reports Stamford Times writer Chase Wright, thought light rail might not work for the city, because of a low I-95 underpass, steep South End inclines, traffic delays during construction, and some system characteristics.
He suggested a comprehensive study of all options to ease downtown congestion, advice in line with Democratic Representative John Zelinsky's concern about light-rail costs, estimated at roughly $110 million to $120,000 million.
He dismissed city transportation planner Josh Lecar's argument that state and federal governments would be interested in funding light rail. ''Let's not kid ourselves,'' he told the planner. ''The money is going to come from our constituents, our hard-pressed taxpayers.''
In contrast, Democratic Representative Eileen Heaphy put the issue in a larger context.
''We have to look to the future,'' she stressed. ''We can't just stay where we are with all the changes going on around us and not consider the transportation challenges we will be facing in the future.'' -- Stamford Times 7/11/2008
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