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It was a short sentence in a lengthy speech, but it won United Technologies Corp. CEO George David the biggest gasp - and the loudest applause.

What, when he said, you can Hartford to New York in one hour?

The entrepreneurs in the audience laughs, sighs, schnaubte, then heard. UTC, after all the components built space shuttle, jet engines and military helicopters. A David and its engineers have a suggestion?

“I know absolutely nothing about transportation, Chief Executive Officer said.” I know, less than any other in space. But it seems to me that, as it is really important. ”

The quantity hué by applause.

“It is not difficult. This can happen with a will, “he said.” It is a question of priorities. ”

Speech to the Connecticut Business and Industry Association, David cited transport as one of the best economic problems facing Connecticut, with education.

“The results of this would be huge,” he said. “It would be tailor New England.

After his speech, transportation, all experts ears. In a good day, Hartford to New York is a two-hour drive. In a bad day, four. Amtrak’s high-speed Acela trains pick up passengers in New York about 1-1/2 hours, but what is New Haven. A trip direct Hartford lasts nearly three hours.

“Talk about a visionary statement that you want to go to Hartford to New York in one hour,” said R. Nelson “Oz” Griebel, chairman of the State Transportation Strategy Board.

Griebel was in the audience. He agrees that in a fast route from New York, a remake of the region. But how is it done?

“I doubt not the answer,” said David. “But I know what I need to start, I wish you a ruler and a map.”

A Straight-shot travel from Hartford to Manhattan is less than 70 miles, one way is intended to cover the distance with the car or the train in one hour. But the road sees nothing like the news, winding queue States Intergroup 91 and 95

The straight through reductions Naugatuck, Redding and west around Fairfield County and New York in White Plains, instead of rye and New Rochelle.

“It is nice to draw a line on the map, but I do not know if this is feasible, even for any technology,” said Jim Boyce, chief of policy and planning for the State Department of Transportation. ” could start with helicopters tomorrow.

John Wiltse, a spokesman Dir John G. Rowland, David’s challenge called “a bold vision, but he said should be measured by the costs.

David says that it is possible. France’s high-speed TGV train from Paris to Avignon - roughly the same distance as from Boston to Washington - at least 3-1/2 hours

Griebel said he would prefer the first state concentrates its efforts on passengers receive a base serving the Hartford New York, ie, they would not have to change trains. If the trip was 1-1/2 hours or a little longer, he said he would still succeed.

And it was not safe railway line. The cost would be several billion dollars and take years.

“The technology is there to do whatever you want,” said spokesman Dan Stessel Amtrak. Trains run can reach 300 km / h, cutting quite south-west of Connecticut in a flash.

“It is not only a buzz exorbitant,” said Stessel, “but most of the property value on this continent: the North-East.”

It is a challenge, said David. “If you do not have big goals, you will not be big result.”

Griebel, the idea, but said it would be easier said than done. If the CEO of UTC issues a directive, the company reacts, “said Griebel.

“If someone says we want to make the high speed rail line from Hartford to New York, not everybody gets up and welcomes,” he said. “Probably most people than other gestures digital bliss.”