Jeff Jacobs article in control of XL & the RENT...

[HuskyHawk]

You are aware that there is a new ice surface (well about I think 11 years old now) on campus that already has a posted seating capacity of 2,000 or so?

I don't think it would be that hard to make it 4,000, but I"m not a construction guy. I think they could probably blow out one of the walls make sure the roof is still supported somehow and get to 4,000 pretty easy at the Freitas building.

Yes, that's what I was suggesting. Keep it where it is and upgrade it to whatever capacity Hockey East requires.

 

[CL82]

He's provoking because he can't get intel - from yesterday morning:

jacobscourant Feb 3, 10:13am via Twitter for iPhone
Tired of all the secrecy and garbage rumors. CRDA, Guv, LAZ, AEG, Bushnell, Global Spectrum come out from under the rocks.

jacobscourant Feb 3, 10:08am via Twitter for iPhone
Read Jan 6 about group interested in bringing NHL to CT approaching Gov. Malloy. A month later, nothing. Show your faces or be called ghosts

He sounds like a wise guy wanna be. I didn't think there was a whole lot meat to this article. Just Jeff using his position to bully people for perceived slights.

 

[CL82]

I agree that there's a lot of eminent domain crap going to be involved with any kind of significant widening / high volume road way construction up there. It's the product of 20 years of small town, myopic vision in the leadership of the region.

Smart people, would have been buying up the property around that road and just waiting for the cash in to come from the state when it was time to build the road.

Football people would have done that. Football people in that region, would have understood the incredible amount of business that 40-50,000 people driving in and out of storrs for a few weekends every fall would bring.

Didn't happen though, towns folk up there cried out to the state, that their rights were in trouble, and the football stadium on campus was nixed, and we've got 20 years of small town growth around a handful of bball games a year drawing 8-10,000 visitors.

Ok, I'm going to the darkside. Need to change paths. Check y'all later. Signing day soon!!!

Kelo v. New London, they have no rights. The showing of a economic benefit to the state is enough for eminent domain. It's bad law, but it is the law.

 

[benjordan]

Even if you ignore the BBall aspects of widening the road, if you want to add 6,000 students like the Gov does.. the old infrastructure isn't going to work.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Well, the funny thing, is that about 12-15 years or so ago, that road was trully a two lane road going straight through the heart of the middle of nowhere. At exit 68, there was the Electric Blue. A gas stattion on either side of the highway at the end of the exit ramps, the 7-11 about a 1/2 mile up 195 off the highway from i-84 and then nothing, and I mean nothing, until you got to Tony's Garage, adn then what was that country line dancing bar? I can't remember the name, but it was a hopping place back then, now it's an abandoned building, and then there was Kathy John's at the four corners, and really - it was just a four way intersection close to campus with a single blinking light.

20 years - to get what they have now, from a true 2-lane road connecting the highway to the campus. it's slow going up there with development. Not fairfield county.

You drive up there now, and it's like a city compared to not to much longer than 10 years ago. With the continuing development of storrs, and the greater number of people actually taking up residence in the area, necessitating things like grocery stores, and such, eventually there will be a merritt parkway, Rte 34, style highway constructed up there connecting Storrs to 84.

I was there in the mid-80's and it has changed a ton. A lot of new businesses along 195. Ironically, Kathy Johns was just an empty building last time I was there, which is sad. I always wondered whether it would be better to extend 384 rather than widening 195.

 

[CL82]

While I am in favor of expanding 195, I think you could move traffice much more efficiently by just designating some roads as 0ne way after a game (and use both lanes). Rutgers does that and it is pretty effective.

 

[Fishy]

Just thinking about that road, expanding it would be no picnic. There are a lot of places there that just have no frontage and if you think that the state is just going to grab them, think again. They won't have the stomach for that.

I do like the one-way traffic idea - would take a monkey-load of cops to make it work, though.

 

[Waquoit]

Football people in that region, would have understood the incredible amount of business that 40-50,000 people driving in and out of storrs for a few weekends every fall would bring.

Can it match the incredible amount of business that football has brought to East Hartford?

 

[pj]

With so much development on 195, it would be cheaper to build a new road. Run a Merritt type freeway from the I-84 - Rte 74 interchange down to the Rte 195 UConn Forest area.

Also, consider extending 384 toward Mansfield Center to give another outlet.

 

[Whale22]

I'm not sure what you're saying here, but he's saying ice practice time is lost for before, during, after men's and women's basketball games at Gampel.

Dual use is a major headache. Especially with priority BBall gets at UConn, the hockey teams would have major issues getting their regular practice unless you have two rinks similar to Umass set up. BC might be known for their recent run of championships in hockey but they don't practice exclusively at Conte. They used to use Dexter School, St Sebastians, or small rink in Cleveland Circle. (that was couple years ago not sure about now)

 

[Fishy]

I don't think it's practical to convert Gampel, but if we did, we would have two rinks - I assume they wouldn't dynamite Freitas.

 

[scdono]

What's up with Jacobs. His articles are like spot on lately...

 

[UCFBfan]

I was there in the mid-80's and it has changed a ton. A lot of new businesses along 195. Ironically, Kathy Johns was just an empty building last time I was there, which is sad. I always wondered whether it would be better to extend 384 rather than widening 195.

Kathy Johns is actually gone now. Was up there in October and the whole area was gone. Not sure what they're building there but I was a little sad to see the place gone. Used to go there with some friends a bunch of times while I was in school.

Wasn't 384 built with the intent to be a highway to Storrs?? Instead it stops and you have to take 44 the rest of the way.

 

[Orac]

With so much development on 195, it would be cheaper to build a new road. Run a Merritt type freeway from the I-84 - Rte 74 interchange down to the Rte 195 UConn Forest area.

Also, consider extending 384 toward Mansfield Center to give another outlet.

It's been years since I made the drive along route 44 from the end of 384 to Storrs. Is there more room for a road expansion than along 195?

I believe I've read about the original 384 plans (which was actually 84, with what is now that part of 84 going towards Massachusetts being numbered 86) following route 6 toward Providence (which is why there is a small highway section of 6 in Willimantic).
But perhaps following 44 and connecting Hartford to Storrs more directly would be a doable project...

 

[UCFBfan]

It's been years since I made the drive along route 44 from the end of 384 to Storrs. Is there more room for a road expansion than along 195?

I believe I've read about the original 384 plans (which was actually 84, with what is now that part of 84 going towards Massachusetts being numbered 86) following route 6 toward Providence (which is why there is a small highway section of 6 in Willimantic).
But perhaps following 44 and connecting Hartford to Storrs more directly would be a doable project...

I feel like there are a lot of half-@$$ed road projects in this state. 384 was supposed to be more but never was and probably never will. RT 11 was supposed to connect Rt 2 to 95 and that was half done and supposedly being looked at again. There's the phantom overpasses at the end of Rt 9 over 84. The phantom exit ramps off of the Sisson Ave exits on 84 in Hartford....wtf is up with this state! I've only been here since I started at UConn in '99. Crazy stuff for such a small state. Who approved and did these road projects?

 

[specialisthusky]

It's been years since I made the drive along route 44 from the end of 384 to Storrs. Is there more room for a road expansion than along 195?

I would say 44 would be a more difficult project. There is a section in Coventry (i believe) that has commercial real estate and shopping plazas that would be difficult to expand around. It also is is about 2 miles longer than 195 from 84 to N. Eagleville.

Depot campus is on 44 though. Anyone know what they are using that for? I know Special Olympic tournaments are held there on that new field they put up., but don't recall seeing much else going on there. I always envisioned knocking that hell whole down and creating a sports plaza out there in my HFD-esque UConn 50 year plans.

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

They recently widened and straightened about a 1/8th mile section of 195 right at the top of the hill just before the long descent to the intersection with 32. Considering how expensive that project was, and how long it took them to do it, I can only imagine what doing the same to the other 7 1/2 miles would entail.

Count me among those that think they should extend 384 instead. Even though it's twice as long a section of road, the cost of the project would probably be similar.

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

Depot campus is on 44 though. Anyone know what they are using that for?

One section has been renovated and is being used as grad assistant offices. The rest is derelict. The prison is empty now too.

 

[Orac]

I feel like there are a lot of half-@$$ed road projects in this state. 384 was supposed to be more but never was and probably never will. RT 11 was supposed to connect Rt 2 to 95 and that was half done and supposedly being looked at again. There's the phantom overpasses at the end of Rt 9 over 84. The phantom exit ramps off of the Sisson Ave exits on 84 in Hartford....wtf is up with this state! I've only been here since I started at UConn in '99. Crazy stuff for such a small state. Who approved and did these road projects?

Those phantom overpasses at the 9/84 interchange is one of my favorite abandoned road projects. That was part of the Hartford "Beltway" (Of which only the 291 section was completed). I believe 291 was supposed to continue roughly along the route of 218, before turning south to meet up with the 9/84 interchange.

The highway part of 3 that takes you from 91, over the Connecticut River, and ends at 2, was also supposed to continue and link up with 291.

Instead we have bits and pieces of abandoned projects all over the place...

 

[Orac]

They recently widened and straightened about a 1/8th mile section of 195 right at the top of the hill just before the long descent to the intersection with 32. Considering how expensive that project was, and how long it took them to do it, I can only imagine what doing the same to the other 7 1/2 miles would entail.

Count me among those that think they should extend 384 instead. Even though it's twice as long a section of road, the cost of the project would probably be similar.

And would have the benefit of being a more direct (even if only by a few miles) link to Hartford...

 

[zls44]

I don't think it's practical to convert Gampel, but if we did, we would have two rinks - I assume they wouldn't dynamite Freitas.

There are a small handful of DI programs with separate men's and women's team rinks.

 

[hthusky74]

It's been years since I made the drive along route 44 from the end of 384 to Storrs. Is there more room for a road expansion than along 195?

I believe I've read about the original 384 plans (which was actually 84, with what is now that part of 84 going towards Massachusetts being numbered 86) following route 6 toward Providence (which is why there is a small highway section of 6 in Willimantic).
But perhaps following 44 and connecting Hartford to Storrs more directly would be a doable project...

You are right. Route 84 as we know it today actually was route 86 for a few years and what became 384 was supposed to have become route 84 and go all the way to Providence. Two issues scrapped the project. Rohode Island made it clear they could/would not carry it through Providence to the Mass border, and the tree huggers in eastern CT wanted no part of it. Amazingly Gov. O'Neill wanted to build it to the Rhode Island border anyway, but the cost and tree huggers put a stop to it.

 

[kingdobbs]

I feel like there are a lot of half-@$$ed road projects in this state. 384 was supposed to be more but never was and probably never will. RT 11 was supposed to connect Rt 2 to 95 and that was half done and supposedly being looked at again. There's the phantom overpasses at the end of Rt 9 over 84. The phantom exit ramps off of the Sisson Ave exits on 84 in Hartford....wtf is up with this state! I've only been here since I started at UConn in '99. Crazy stuff for such a small state. Who approved and did these road projects?

They are, for the most part, for ancient (read: 40s/50s/60s) projects that were planned (and when it came to the interstates, those "phantom bits" had to be done then and there for practical reasons) and then scrapped due either to local opposition or cost overruns.

The Rt. 9 overpasses were for a 3/4 loop starting in Rocky Hill, crossing 84 in Newington, 91 in Windsor, and following current 291 into Manchester. Towns like Avon and Farmington weren't interested in having the highway go through them, though.

The Sisson Ave onramps were for an expressway stretching north to either Granby or Bradley Airport. That plan also didn't last long.

 

[Alum86]

Aren't we supposed to play Hockey at the XL when we upgrade? And do you guys work for D.O.T? You all sound like the SNL skit The Californians

 

[auggie22]

Even if you ignore the BBall aspects of widening the road, if you want to add 6,000 students like the Gov does.. the old infrastructure isn't going to work.

I think that is why the $2B budget included $770m in "infrastructure". I guess we will have to wait for this to get legislative approval before we find out what those planning the expansion are thinking.

 

[metsfan2323]

What's up with Jacobs. His articles are like spot on lately...

This has been the case for a while now, he must have read a Tony Robbins book or something. I'm reminded of the Taxi episode where Reverend Jim decided he was going to be the best Taxi driver he could be, or maybe he decided to write the opposite of everything his instincts tell him to write like George Costanza.

 

[UCFBfan]

Aren't we supposed to play Hockey at the XL when we upgrade? And do you guys work for D.O.T? You all sound like the SNL skit The Californians

They're only playing at the XL Center until an on-campus rink is built or the current one is expanded. It would be awful for the hockey program to play so far away from campus. Students probably don't even realize we have a hockey team. Putting it an hour away in Hartford, permanently, would be stupid.

 

[06029]

You are right. Route 84 as we know it today actually was route 86 for a few years and what became 384 was supposed to have become route 84 and go all the way to Providence. Two issues scrapped the project. Rohode Island made it clear they could/would not carry it through Providence to the Mass border, and the tree huggers in eastern CT wanted no part of it. Amazingly Gov. O'Neill wanted to build it to the Rhode Island border anyway, but the cost and tree huggers put a stop to it.

There was way more than tree huggers. Significant issues included alot of encroachment of wetlands and every time they re-routed, they hit other environmental and engineering obstacles. Not to mention the issues they were hititng in acquiring the land. The state spent almost 2 decades trying to figure out how to get it built. Biggest issues were thru Coventry and then thru Brooklyn. That short section of Route 6 in Willi that is a highway (dragstrip for me and my friends in the 80's) was part of the project too.

Today, fix the current bridges on the interstates before you widen 195. Better traffic management with cops and making some roads one way would work. Hell, even BC makes part of Comm Ave and Beacon Street 1 way on game days.

 

[jdb50]

If they are going to enlarge Freitas then they should put up something better than a metal shed which is what it is now. The space is there to build a larger better quality building around the existing rink though soccer will lose a few behind goal seats. Redesigning gampel and gutting it out to get more seats in there could be possible. Since the practice facility will have the hoops offices and such maybe the walkways could be put behind the stands and better concessions bathrooms etc could be created even if some had to be added outside the original circular frame. A new rink would have fit nicely where Memorial Stadium was but we have the hoops project under way. It's a game of musical chairs. The original hoops project was supposed to have 15,000 seats and be rectangle in shape but that was back when the coaches were driving chevettes from the State motor pool. I think politics in Hartford downsized it.

 

[HuskyHawk]

It's been years since I made the drive along route 44 from the end of 384 to Storrs. Is there more room for a road expansion than along 195?

I believe I've read about the original 384 plans (which was actually 84, with what is now that part of 84 going towards Massachusetts being numbered 86) following route 6 toward Providence (which is why there is a small highway section of 6 in Willimantic).
But perhaps following 44 and connecting Hartford to Storrs more directly would be a doable project...

I grew up in Manchester. What is now 384 didn't connect to 84/86 then. It was a hell of a dragstrip though. Empty at night and basically went from the Manchester border with Bolton to the border with East Hartford. Originally it was part of a planned highway to Providence.