Branford Eagle

Transportation

Mayors, Immigrants Rally For Driver’s Licenses

by Melissa Bailey | Apr 30, 2013 2:20 am

Jose Sanchez and other undocumented immigrants showed up at the Capitol to pose a late-session question: While the state awaits federal action on immigration reform, what to do now about all the immigrants driving without licenses?

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Most Branford Roads Cleared

by Marcia Chambers | Feb 11, 2013 12:05 pm

After back-breaking work, payloaders and public works trucks cleared a majority of all Branford streets by this morning, leaving narrow lanes available for what officials say is icy and treacherous driving, as the clean-up from Winter Storm Nemo continued. The next issue facing the town is opening storm drains buried under snow piles on town streets.Flooding has begun.

Larger pay loaders were called in to push mounds of snow from the streets. Drivers need to handle one lane roads and face backing up and getting stuck. First Selectman Anthony “Unk” DaRos said only a dozen streets had not been plowed as of this morning. After a morning of icy rain, flooding was reported in the Amtrak Bridge area near Kohl’s and on Cedar Street, a major road that connects Branford to I-95.  Here was Kohl’s parking lot yesterday. 

DaRos said after Governor Malloy’s visit to Branford shortly after noon today that his primary concern as the day unfolded was street flooding, the result of storm drains trapped under mounds of snow. “We are working on it,” he said. There are a total of 12 trucks of various sizes out on the roads today, he told the Eagle. He said he hoped the last of the roads would be opened today, but that it might take days to move the huge mounds of snow at corners all over town. 

The center of town was closed to traffic today as big payloaders sought to remove mounds of snow near the center’s businesses. 

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Two Tries To Take Down Old Bridge Beams

by Sally E. Bahner & Mary Johnson | Jan 28, 2013 9:13 am | Comments (1)

The process for removing the original beams under the old Amtrak railroad bridge was trickier than expected, but on the second try they finally came down. With that move, the two new railroad bridges, higher than the one old one, took stage center. 

Everything had been in place Saturday night, Jan. 12, for taking down old beams. All the unnecessary elements had already been removed from the old structure, which was built in 1928. 

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Trolleys Make Santa Run

by Sally E. Bahner | Dec 24, 2012 12:00 pm

A trolley ride on the Branford Electric Railway is always special, and it’s even more special at Christmastime.

It’s a must do destination for families and kids such as Sebastian, age 6 ¾, and Raffi, age 4 ¾, as well as Maisie, 5; Gus, 3; and Stella, 7; and David, 3.

One vintage car held an elaborately decorated train set for families to visit as Christmas Eve arrives tonight.

Another antique car was beautifully decked out with flowers that glowed against the wooden chairs and car panels.

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Stay Sober Saturday Night

by marcia chambers | Nov 30, 2012 10:06 am

Heading for a night on the town this Saturday? Be careful driving back into Branford. The town’s sobriety cops will be out in force on Dec. 1 from 6 p.m. to 4 a.m.

They will be conducting DUI checks on Route 1 during those hours.  Exactly where they will be stationed they aren’t saying but last year they set up check points in and around the area of Business Park Drive, near Exit 56 off I-95. 

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Clang, Clang, Clang Went the Shoreline Trolley

by Sally E. Bahner | Jun 26, 2012 7:59 am

As the hurricane season approaches, Shore Line Trolley Museum officials remember all too well the devastation wrought by Storm Irene to some 90 historic trolleys, the ones that take passengers across the beautiful marshes that link East Haven and Short Beach in Branford.

The devastation, the flooding of rails and trolleys was horrific, officials said. But recovery is on the way for the museum, described by state Sen. Len Fasano as a “true jewel.” The museum is located on River Street, near the East Haven Green. The museum has experienced a longstanding flood problem and Storm Irene knocked 90 trolleys out of service, essentially closing down service between the two towns. 

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Track Switched; Road Widened

by Sally E. Bahner | Apr 10, 2012 5:40 am | Comments (1)

If you’ve noticed an uptick in activity in the Amtrak Bridge area – including lots of extra whistle-blowing – that’s because two crucial parts of the job are taking place.

As of last Thursday, railroad track 1 was shifted to a new portion of the bridge. (See photo above.) Track 2 will be moved to an existing alignment to make room for construction of a new portion of the bridge, which is supposed to take place later this month.

A second part of the $44.7 million Department of Transportation project, the widening of Route 1, starting at Alps Road,(pictured left)  to accommodate the bridge is also underway. The overall project is expected to cost about $70.5 million.

The changes have necessitated a new Shore Line East schedule from New Haven to Branford.  Click here to see the new Shore Line East spring schedule.

According to the state Department of Transportation, changes have been made in the Shore Line East commuter spring train schedule to accommodate the construction since only one track will be available for train service between New Haven and Branford.

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“I Thought I Could Make It To The Truck Stop”

by marcia chambers | Apr 2, 2012 6:51 am

The driver of a car carrier holding five new Audis and four new Volkswagens noticed smoke coming from his right rear tire as he drove south on I-95 Friday about 8 p.m.

He had just passed the truck stop at Exit 56 and he thought he had a shot at getting back to it.  To do so he had to turn around. He got off at the next exit, drove by various areas where he could have stopped, then turned back onto I-95, going north, fire officials said.

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Thimble Island Ferry Gets Green Light

by marcia chambers | Feb 2, 2012 9:24 am | Comments (1)

A new Thimble Island Ferry that will shuttle residents and a few “tag-on” passengers between the Stony Creek dock and the islands received the stamp of approval from the Board of Selectmen (BOS) last night.  The board acted after the town counsel determined that the new ferry service does not fall under the town’s commercial boating ordinance and did not require a permit to operate. 

“The ferry is the thread that stitches together the life of our community,” Charlie Goetsch, a New Haven attorney, told the BOS two weeks ago. Goetsch is the lead attorney on the project and the district’s first president.

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Ferry District A Go

by marcia chambers | Jul 31, 2011 10:04 pm

A special Thimble Island Ferry District has been formally approved in order to provide reliable service for those families with homes on the islands.

Ferry problems developed several years ago, a combination of economics and a change in ferry ownership. The islanders sought to find a permanent way to solve their common problem. On Saturday, by a 51-4 vote, they did. 

The major island owner, Christine Svenningsen, did not attend the meeting in part because her houses are listed as corporate entities; under state statute, corporations cannot vote, and she cannot stand for election.  She now owns 10 of the two-dozen inhabitable Thimble Islands. Eight of her islands have houses on them but the majority of her houses stand empty.  Her attorneys have been apprised of the new ferry district. 
 

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