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State Still Behind Tourist Shuttle Plan
Proposal Remains Stalled Over Lack Of Committed Funding
Norwich — The idea appeared to be an attractive one: provide a free or low-cost shuttle-bus service for tourists, moving them between the major attractions in the region and the two casinos, getting their cars off the roads and making their visit to the region a more pleasant experience.
In January 2005, the proposal, the outgrowth of a $500,000 state grant, was endorsed by the Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments, representing the 20 municipalities in the region. It called for a two-year, $12 million pilot program to test its viability.
At that point the idea stalled for lack of funding and little interest from the region's two largest attractions, Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun.
On Tuesday, local and state officials met in Hartford to see what might be done to revive the proposal. Those attending included James Butler, executive director of the council, Groton Town Manager Mark R. Oefinger, Department of Transportation Commissioner Stephen E. Korta II and Philip L. Dukes, counsel for policy in the administration of Gov. M. Jodi Rell.
Addressing the council of governments at its monthly meeting Wednesday, Butler said the state remains interested in the project but wants to see some involvement and financial commitment from the casinos and other tourism destinations.
“The question is how do we best engage the big players,” Butler said.
He anticipates the meeting will be a prelude to a meeting with tribal officials and representatives of other tourism attractions in the region.
If the state was to financially back the project, Butler said, the expectation would be that the tourist attractions benefiting from the service would help fund it going forward, if the pilot proves successful. Since the casinos are the largest attractions, they would be expected to contribute the largest share to support a shuttle service.
Oefinger said another possibility would be to tap some portion of the approximately $440 million in slot revenues the state receives annually and earmark it for a shuttle system.
Up to this point, both the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes, owners of Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun, respectively, have not committed to the project.
“The tribal nation looks forward to being included in future planning discussions,” said Mashantucket Pequot spokesman Arthur Henick.
He said the tribe has demonstrated its commitment to helping transportation in the region. It is underwriting $51 million in improvements to Route 2 adjacent to Foxwoods, he noted, and it utilizes an extensive shuttle system for its employees.
“The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation remains committed to being an equal partner with other government agencies and businesses to improve the region's transportation system,” Henick said.
There was no immediate comment from the Mohegan tribe.
As envisioned by the study, the shuttle system would primarily move tourists, but there have been discussions about whether employees could also utilize it.
According to the feasibility study, buses would arrive at the rate of three or more an hour at various bus stops. The shuttles would travel in a loop from Union Station in New London along Interstate 95 to the Mystic area, where it could provide service to the Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration, the Mystic Seaport, Olde Mistick Village and hotels.
Shuttle service would continue on I-95 to Route 2, then west to Foxwoods and from there along Route 2 and across Route 2A to Mohegan Sun. The shuttles would circulate back to New London on Interstate 395 and Route 32.
There are also tentative plans to link the shuttle service to Norwich, where a $21 million transportation center is planned, and ultimately to the Utopia Studios theme park, if that project is built as planned on the former Norwich Hospital property in Preston.
The feasibility study estimated 3 million riders a year would use a well-run shuttle system, a figure that does not include the Utopia project, and that as many as 1.2 million additional people a year would visit the region because of the added convenience a shuttle system would provide.
The proposal got a boost in March when it was included in an interim report submitted by the Governor's Commission for the Economic Diversification of Southeastern Connecticut. The report recommended bringing state and local officials together with representatives of the tourist attractions to discuss the project.
In a related matter, council Chairman Keith J. Robbins said discussions are continuing on the fate of Union Station in New London. The current owners have said they cannot profitably operate the station as a transportation hub. The station has leases to service customers of Amtrak and Greyhound Bus Lines. It also is used by riders of the local bus system, Southeast Area Transit, and by patrons of the nearby ferry service.
The transportation hub in New London is a key component of the envisioned shuttle service. Under discussion is using some type of private-public partnership to operate Union Station or having the state purchase it outright.
Also Wednesday, Butler told the council that the state will fully fund the $500,000 spent on the shuttle service feasibility study. In December, it was disclosed that the council might have to return several thousand dollars because too little of the grant money went to minority-owned or women-owned businesses. Butler said the issue was resolved to the state's satisfaction.
About 12.3 percent of the business went to firms meeting the disadvantaged business criteria, just short of the 15 percent mandate.
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