The main recommendation in the Transportation Strategy Board's January report is for its continuing existence. The report suggests that a permanent fifteen-member Board charged with developing and monitoring a long-term transportation strategy should be legislatively established by June 1st, 2001. The Governor's budget allots roughly $10 million out of the expected $531 million FY2001 surplus to the operations of a permanent Board through 2003.

Governor Rowland also supported putting a further $40 million of the surplus towards funding needed projects, studies, and pilot programs identified by the Board as implementable in one to two years. These projects include the construction of additional New Haven Line rail maintenance facilities, more rail station commuter shuttle service in Westport, Greenwich, and Stamford, and expanded bus routes and service in Fairfield County and the Hartford area. In addition, the Board report recommends studies for a new commuter rail service between New Haven and Springfield, MA and a new rail station in either Orange or West Haven.

The report also promotes a controversial pilot program to close seven ramps on I-95 during peak morning and evening rush hours. The 1998 Southwest Corridor Update concluded that closing half of the ramps between Greenwich and New Haven would reduce traffic on I-95 by 6.7%. However, traffic would be increased on US 1 by 11.7% and congestion worsened on other arterial and local roads. Other highway-related projects are studies that would consider widening I-95 in Southeastern Connecticut and Route 8 from Seymour to Waterbury.

House Speaker Moira Lyons (D-Stanford) and other lawmakers told newspapers they would push to earmark even more of the surplus for fast-track transportation projects. The Transportation Strategy Board urged that at least $150 million be set aside this year and warned that serious transportation reform across the state over the next ten to fifteen years would require a multi-billion dollar investment.

Governor Rowland clearly considers the surplus a one-time infusion and continues to trim the budgets of many agencies, including ConnDOT (MTR #268).