WALLINGFORD — The new train station will stretch the reaches of downtown, but create a transit-oriented district larger than most. A study being presented Wednesday night aims to show that might not be a bad thing.
A full presentation of a transit-oriented development study will be given at a special meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission Wednesday evening at Town Hall at 7 p.m. Urban designer Francisco Gomes, of Fitzgerald & Halliday Inc., will present the strategies, which show several development opportunities within a three-quarters-of-a-mile radius from the new train station at the corner of Cherry and Parker streets.
The study follows a similar one conducted by Fitzgerald & Halliday for the South Central Connecticut Council of Governments (SCROG). The study looked at TOD economic opportunities for communities along the new Hartford Line and the expectation of increased rail service from New Haven to Springfield.
According to Town Planner Kacie Costello, Wallingford fared well in the regional study and the town paid $75,000 in state funds to the same firm for more specifics.
Adopted TOD regulations and recommendations will be incorporated into the town’s Plan of Conservation and Development, which will also be revealed during the same meeting.
“Where we focused on in the TOD are certain areas, the commercial and industrial corridors,” Costello said. “On the northwest side a significant portion is the Q River and flood plains. We shifted the circle if you will.”
Moving the train station north may have solved a traffic problem at the Center Street, Quinnipiac Street and Hall Avenue intersection, but it also meant a longer distance from the town’s downtown, which has a healthy economic infrastructure.
According to Costello, the walk from the station is less than half a mile but improving the walkability through improvements is a consideration CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Stonington — The K-12 School Building Committee and the project architect unveiled the preliminary designs for the upcoming $69 million renovation and expansion of West Vine Street and Deans Mill schools during a community meeting Tuesday night.
About 50 school officials, teachers and residents also asked questions about topics such as security, parking and alterative energy systems.
The learned that the 14-month period to design the project has begun and will be completed in January 2017.
The 15-month construction period is projected to commence in April 2017 and be completed in July 2018. The new schools will be open when students return to school the following month.
Gilbane Inc., the contractor for the high school expansion and renovation project, has been hired to do the elementary school project and will have two teams working on both schools simultaneously.
The design for both schools call for separate areas for buses, parent drop-off and prekindergarten drop-off.
Separate play areas for younger and older children are being considered and discussions are ongoing about incorporating alternative energy systems into the new schools.
The design the committee is working on for West Vine Street School calls for a 56,400-square-foot school that will accommodate 437 students in prekindergarten through fifth grade compared to the 112 now in kindergarten through second grade. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Construction Trend Shows Rising Demand for Apprentices
The Orange County Register is reporting that in Orange County, a construction boom and aging workforce is driving demand for apprentice electricians, plumbers and entry-level workers in other trades. Demand matches what's happening across the state and country as the economy improves and government agencies push apprenticeships as an alternative to college for training for middle-income jobs. As opportunities increase, unions and organizations that sponsor apprentice programs are looking to expand the candidate pool, reaching out to career changers, military veterans and minorities, as well as to women, who've historically been underrepresented in the construction business.
Getting a college degree is often cited as the best path to financial security. According to a 2014 Pew Research Center survey, college graduates ages 25 to 32 working full time earn 62 percent more than their peers with only a high school diploma.
But trade jobs can pay well, too. If an apprentice electrician completes classroom training, puts in five or more years and passes a state certification needed to become a journeyman, they make about $36 an hour, or close to a full-time wage of $75,000 a year, plus benefits and pension. Entry-level apprentices start at about $15 an hour, not including benefits.On the upswing
California apprenticeships fell during the recession when corporate belt-tightening led to a drop in construction projects and higher unemployment. Total apprenticeships in the state declined to 52,763 in 2011 from 60,060 in 2010 before rebounding to 55,280 in 2013, according to the state Department of Industrial Relations. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE