MARKLEY, BETTS HAND OVER PETITION FORCING ENVIRONMENTAL HEARING ON BUSWAY

Senator Joe Markley – with petition in hand – on the steps of the Department of Environmental Protection in Hartford – demanding an environmental hearing on the busway from New Britain to Hartford.

Hartford, CT – Today, Senator Joe Markley (R-Southington) and Representative Whit Betts (R-Bristol) handed over a petition to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) securing a public hearing on the environmental impact of the New Britain to Hartford busway.

“The Department of Environmental Protection now has our petition with more than 50 signatures on it. These are folks who join us in wanting to have a say on the affect this project will have on the waterways in their neighborhoods,” said Senator Markley.

On Thursday Senator Markley and Representative Betts gathered signatures in West Hartford from concerned citizens. The state was trying to waive a hearing on the environmental permit process, 25 signatures were needed to force a hearing.

Senator Markley said, “We are told that once a hearing is granted – by law a notice will be published in local newspapers. However, we will certainly keep everyone informed of our progress as well. ”

Meantime, Markley and Betts have launched a website dedicated to stopping the busway. To learn more, log onto www.BlockTheBus.com