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On The Move Windsor Transportation News |
A ride on the Griffin Line
About 100 people took the two hour train ride in two passenger cars. About 40 people were from Windsor and Bloomfield, including Windsor Mayor Don Trinks and Bloomfield Deputy Mayor Don Harris. Other guests included representatives from the Bloomfield/Windsor Chambers, business leaders, land owners along the Griffin Rail Line such as Griffin Land Resources, local officials, and members of the press. Representative Baram reflected that during his term as Mayor of Bloomfield in the 1980's, the Town organized a consortium of businesses that each paid $25,000 to keep the rail line viable with the hope that it could be preserved for passenger rail in the future. Those members included businesses such as Conn. Printers, CIGNA, and Culbro Land Resources. Representative Baram said, "With the focus on reviving rail transportation in Connecticut, the completion and renovation of the Griffin Line makes good sense. We need to promote Smart Growth, allowing residents the opportunity to travel to and from work without exclusive dependency on their cars. We need to engage in create land use planning by clustering residential and business communities along the rail to facilitate its use. Travelers using Bradley International Airport should have a form of mass transit to take them into the City of Hartford. Rail transportation is our future. It reduces vehicle congestion and pollution, promotes economic development, controls expanding highway construction costs, and affords a quick, easy and cost effective transportation alternative for our residents." Representative Baram said he and other area Legislators plan to meet to discuss ways to promote the Griffin Line into a viable passenger line. With Federal Stimulus monies and new enthusiasm for rail transportation, Representative David Baram said that this is the time to get things moving. |
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Windsor Chamber of Commerce