The mayors opposed the project as recently as last month, demanding more transit service in line with recommendations from the Intermodal Concept Development Committee (ICDC), an advisory panel that worked on the I-95 traffic problem. ICDC's plan called for an 8-lane bridge and extensive investment in transit.

Although the municipalities say DOT met some conditions, the state offered no concrete commitment to transit other than a $300,000 alternative commute p.r. campaign. The road/bridge project costs $800 million.

"DOT's offer is indicative of their non-existent commitment to get automobiles off of the roads," said Karyl Lee Hall of CT Fund for the Environment (CFE). Besides the ad campaign, ConnDOT Commissioner James Sullivan told the New Haven Register that DOT will "reconsider" a request for a Shore Line East station in East Haven, train schedule changes and station improvements, and more bus service. He did not say whether ConnDOT had resources for such measures.

CFE suggests ConnDOT played hardball with the cities and towns, which rely on DOT for other projects.