CONNECTICUT, USA — More than $1.6 billion in state funding will go toward improving the state's transportation system, Gov. Ned Lamont announced Friday.
Lamont is chairman of the State Bond Commission and determines which projects get on the agenda for approval.
“We’ve been really fortunate here in the state and most of this country to have pretty strong economic growth and that’s what this agenda is all about today, I think, its economic growth and opportunity,” Lamont said at the start of Friday’s meeting.
More than $1.1 billion alone is going toward transportation improvements.
“For a state like Connecticut, which has a lot of old infrastructure, which is roads and bridges and rail, it's going to be absolutely transformative,” said Lamont.
The funding includes more than $666 million for public transportation and over $300 million for roads and bridges.
“That's what puts us in the position to actually spend our funds,” explained Garrett Eucalitto, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Transportation. “Without that, and without showing the feds that we're ready to go and we're willing to make that investment, they wouldn’t look favorably upon our grant applications.”
Some projects approved include:
Northeast Corridor match program: Over $398 million will go toward 13 projects that will upgrade the outdated passenger rail infrastructure and improve transit efficiency, speed, and capacity. This allocation will provide a match up to $2.1 billion in matching federal funding.
Installation of advanced wrong-way driving technology: Part of the state's ongoing efforts to mitigate the risk of wrong-way driving, over $12 million will support the implementation of wrong-way driver detection systems. These systems will be at 70 high-risk locations across the state and will alert drivers of incorrect directions by flashing red lights. State police will also be notified in real-time through special alerts.
Fix-it-first bridge repair: This project will take $98 million for rehabilitation, reconstruction, repair, or replacement of bridges on state highways, matching $40 million in federal funds. Some of the projects under this include replacing the bridge carrying I-91 over a brook and five bridges that carry Route 72 through New Britain and Plainville.
New Haven Union Station improvements: There will be three enhancements to the station that will cost $15 million. Those enhancements include a new multimodal hub, a parking structure, and a rental car facility in the West Lot, and the realignment of Union Avenue near Union Station to help traffic.
State, local bridge program improvements: Over $7 million will be put towards grants to help local bridge projects across the state, which will be matched by $7.1 million in local funds. Some of these bridge projects include Covey Road over Bunnell Brook in Burlington, Humphrey Street over Mill River in New Haven and Pleasant Valley Road over Podunk River in Windsor.
Other projects were also announced with the funding and you can read more details here.
The commission also approved around $540 million for other projects, like a historic investment for the University of Connecticut and money to purchase new voting machines.
“Probably the biggest contribution to the University of Connecticut ever,” Lamont said. “That's in around what we're doing in terms of nursing and filling that real need.”
UConn is getting $40 million to finance the planning, design, and construction of a new nursing program facility.
“It will support not only the building and equipment but also substantial scholarships for our students, as well as support for faculty and staff,” said Anne D'Alleva, UConn’s provost.
The Secretary of the State’s Office will get $25 million to purchase new ballot-counting tabulators for each municipality in the state.
“We don't know where the final bidder will fall in terms of pricing, and that will determine how many machines we can purchase,” Sec. Stephanie Thomas said. “Our initial figure was for 3,000 machines.”
Thomas said the new machines likely won’t be installed in time for the 2024 presidential primary elections. Her office is aiming for sometime in 2025.
Jennifer Glatz is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. She can be reached at jglatz@fox61.com.
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