Rail commuters on Metro-North's New Haven Line will face continuing disruptions and delays over the next 20 years without an additional $3.6 billion to maintain the railroad's basic dependability, according to a regional planning report released Thursday. The report by the Regional Plan Association calls for the immediate replacement of the state's four movable bridges, which are each more than 100 years old, repairing and straightening sharp curves and installing collision avoidance technology by 2020. "The construction doesn't have to be complete by 2020, but we would be moving forward with construction by 2020," said Amanda Kennedy, Connecticut director for the RPA, who led the analysis. "If they don't invest at higher levels they will continue to have to run at slower speeds and we could see the problems of 2013 continue or become worse." CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE READING
House passes &1.1T bill to fund government
WASHINGTON (AP) — A $1.1 trillion spending bill for operating the government until just before next fall's election steamed through the battle-weary House on Wednesday over tepid protests from tea party conservatives, driven by a bipartisan desire to restore painful cuts in domestic and defense programs and show disaffected voters that Congress can do its job. The bill swept through the House on a 359-67 vote and was on track for a big Senate vote by week's end. Republicans voted for the bill by a 2 1/2-1 margin, and just three Democrats were opposed. The measure funds virtually every agency of government and contains compromises on almost every one of its 1,582 pages. It covers the one-third of government spending subject to annual decisions by Congress and the White House, programs that have absorbed the brunt of budget cuts racked up since Republicans reclaimed control of the House three years ago. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE READING
DEEP Commissioner Esty stepping down
Dan Esty, the commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection, will resign in February and return to his position at Yale, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy announced Wednesday.Esty is the first DEEP commissioner, which was reorganized from the old Department of Environmental Protection in order to set energy policy for the state. Esty played a significant role in the formation of the new agency and setting its structure and power after it was created.
Yale granted Esty a three-year leave of absence from his tenured professorship to serve as DEEP commissioner. He was first appointed as commissioner in March 2011, and his last day will be Feb. 3. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE READING
Mansfield inks water agreement
The Mansfield Town Council has approved a long-term supply agreement with Connecticut Water Co., the utility announced. Under the deal, Connecticut Water will supply town residents with water, including those in the Four Corners section and those who have been receiving their water from UConn's water supply. The agreement follows a related supply deal last month between Connecticut Water and UConn — located in the Storrs section of Mansfield. Uconn and Mansfield's water needs are expected to reach as much as 2.2 million gallons per day over the next 50 years. Connecticut Water Co. said it would begin seeking state and local permits immediately, which could take a year. Construction of the pipeline is expected to take an additional 18 months.
Council approves 18-unit apartments in West Hartford
WEST HARTFORD — The town council on Tuesday approved an 18-unit apartment building at the corner of North Main Street and Loomis Drive. Brothers Ari and Niko Koutouvides plan to tear down the existing office building at 24 North Main St. and build a 19,288-square-foot, three-story apartment building with a primarily underground parking garage. The 6,400-square-foot garage is visible from the eastern side of the building because of the site's topography, according to Town Planner Todd Dumais. Jack Kemper of Kemper Associates Architects described an attractive, high-end building during the public hearing Tuesday. "When Niko and Ari came to us, they really wanted to do a special project. They wanted to make sure it fit in. They're excited to be part of the center," Kemper said. They wanted a "traditional building, but have the interiors be kind of sleek and modern, have an upscale feel." CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE READING
Equipment and fuel stolen from construction site
PROSPECT -- Police are investigating the theft of gasoline and equipment from the site of a new elementary school at 75 New Haven Road (Route 69). Sometime between Saturday night and Monday morning, police suspect two people unlocked the gate and drove into the construction site in a pickup truck. They siphoned approximately 800 gallons of diesel fuel (red dyed) from several machines, stole a Champion 1800 watt generator and a red 2011 Polaris Sportsman quad with an Ashtech Z GPS unit mounted on the front. The quad and GPS unit are valued at $48,000.
Police think the pickup truck the suspects used had single tires in the rear and no trailer.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Prospect Resident Troopers Office at 203- 758-6150 or state police 203-393-4200. All calls will remain confidential.