Highway fund driving at deadline
The state’s already bumpy and congested roads could become even worse if Congress fails by the end of the month to replenish the nearly broke federal Highway Trust Fund.
The fund, which annually provides Connecticut with about $500 million to fix highways and bridges, will run out of money July 31, in part because of steadily declining federal gas tax revenue due to more fuel-efficient cars.
State and federal officials warn transportation projects could come to screeching halt if the hundreds of billions of dollars needed to shore up the fund are not allocated.
“Cash flow quickly would become a significant problem, jeopardizing even active construction projects,” said Judd Everhart, a spokesman for the state Department of Transportation.
In a letter distributed to the states last week, U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx warned of dire consequences if the fund is not restored, including suspended projects and furloughs of federal employees who assist states with road building and repair.
“Careening from self-inflicted crisis to self-inflicted crisis undermines our system,” Foxx said. “We need Congress to break the cycle of short term extensions; we need a long-term bill with significant growth.” CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
I-84 Waterbury Project info session August 1
By Susan Tuz
The CT. Department of Transportation is holding a public listening session about the ongoing I-84 Waterbury widening reconstruction project on Aug. 1 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m at the Brooklyn Baking Company, 464 Reidville Drive, Waterbury.
The I-84 Waterbury Project includes the widening and addition of a third travel lane and full width shoulders in each direction and safety improvements to a 2.7 mile segment from Washington Street, east to Peirpont Road in Waterbury. Also the realignment of the interstate roadway in the vicinity of Harper’s Ferry Road, interstate ramp reconfiguration, state and local road construction, and the relocation of the Mad River and Beaver Pond Brook.
For accommodations for disability or language assistance call the DOT communications office at 860-594-3061 or 860-594-3090 (TTY).
Commission seeks up to $50K for Berlin police station proposals
BERLIN — Before things can move further along with the redesign of the new police station on Farmington Avenue, the Public Building Commission is looking to get expert advice in writing its Request for Proposal for the project.
“The police department proposed building project is now back with the Public Building Commission,” Town Manager Denise McNair said. “The commission has decided, or requested, some additional assistance to help them develop an RFP for the design-build construction specifications.”
That assistance will cost between $35,000 and $50,000.
The good news, McNair said, is that the money is available thanks to a surplus in the police personnel account.
Police Chief Paul Fitzgerald said the surplus comes as a result of few officers having been out on workers’ compensation last year. “Having the funds in the personnel account looked like a good opportunity, that way we wouldn’t have to go into other accounts” to find the money, he said.
He added that the commission is going the design-build route as it may be a cheaper alternative to construct the new station. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Pomfret town meeting on $8M sewer project tonight
POMFRET — Pomfret residents will decide tonight whether to accept roughly $8 million in federal grants and loans for the construction of a new sewer line.
The town is proposing construction of a new sewer line to be open to the Pomfret and Rectory schools, along with Loos & Company, an aircraft rope and wire manufacturer. A public hearing is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at the Pomfret Community School, followed by a town meeting at 7 p.m. Five years ago, the town submitted a $5.9 million grant and loan package for the project, which was scrapped this year in favor of a $7.4 million package, a figure officials said better anticipated the project's cost. Town officials said that second application will soon be amended to request $7.99 million in grants and loans to reflect new short-term financing information. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
City Point residents , DOT discuss traffic, construction concerns
NEW HAVEN >> It’s going to get worse before it gets better, but it will get better, representatives of the state Department of Transportation told residents living around the ongoing work to reconfigure Sea Street and Ella T. Grasso Boulevard.
The meeting was the latest in what promises to be a series of meetings to hear residents’ concerns and get input on the $130 million project, which includes the replacement of the West River bridge that passes over the area and the reconfiguration of the exit and entrance ramps below the bridge.
“We know there have been challenges and we are trying to sort through them,” DOT designer Rich Anderson told the crowd of about 60 people Tuesday. He admitted that with construction already underway, it’s not the most opportune time to elicit suggestions from the public, but he is hoping the meetings will result in strategies that will make it easier for the residents to handle the closures and detours that are a part of the project.
Steps already have been taken to alleviate backups, DOT engineer Jim Pelletier said, including the opening of two lanes of traffic on southbound Ella T. Grasso Boulevard and the addition of pavement markers indicating lanes that are exit-only on the highway. But for a while, it’s going to be harder for residents to maneuver around the area, he said. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE