WEST HARTFORD, Conn. — The town of West Hartford announced in a release on Thursday that it will receive $697,000 from the state for sidewalk accessibility enhancements.
The state’s Department of Transportation awarded the town the funding through the Community Connectivity Grant Program, which is an infrastructure improvement program that provides funding for local projects to improve safety and accessibility for pedestrians, bicyclists and transit users in communities across the state.
The grant program recently awarded over $12 million to 17 towns and cities in Connecticut to enhance safety and accessibility. West Hartford will use its share of the funding to upgrade aging infrastructure and make sure all residents can safely traverse the town.
State Rep. Kate Farrar (D-West Hartford, Newington) said in the release that the funding will have a major impact on the lives of West Hartford residents.
“This project aligns with our state and town efforts to better design streets for all users and create safer roadways that eliminate roadway failures and injuries,” Farrar said in the release. “This improvement of our sidewalks is a crucial step to build a healthier, safer and more vibrant and connected West Hartford.”
In the release, Farrar extended her thanks to Gov. Ned Lamont, CTDOT Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto and the town of West Hartford for their efforts in securing the funding.
State Rep. Tammy Exum (D-West Hartford, Avon) said she supports and welcomes these much-needed local infrastructure improvements.
“This funding will increase safety and accessibility in addition to making West Hartford a more connected community,” Exum said in the release.
State Rep. Jillian Gilchrest (D-West Hartford) is quoted in the release saying she looks forward to the improvements. She thanked Lamont and CTDOT for their support.
“Economic activity and overall quality of life in our communities is greatly served by the ability of residents to safely and efficiently navigate and move around the neighborhood,” Gilchrest said in the release.
State Rep. James Sanchez (D-West Hartford, Hartford) also weighed in, in the release. He said he and his colleagues welcome the grant with open arms and that the investment will increase safety and accessibility for both pedestrians and bicyclists.
“Improved sidewalks will encourage more people to use this new, healthy and environmentally sustainable mode of travel,” Sanchez said in the release. “It will also increase foot traffic and give our community and small businesses more opportunities to thrive. This is yet another step toward further safety and economic development in our amazing community.”
Also included in the release was state Sen. Derek Slap (D-West Hartford, Farmington, Burlington, Bloomfield), who said the program not only invests in the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists, but it also fosters “healthy, walkable and connected communities.”
“I am hopeful that this, coupled with the $1 million we secured for West Hartford’s Vision Zero, will lead to constituents choosing environmentally friendly and physically active modes of transportation when running errands like going grocery shopping or dropping their kids off at school,” Slap said in the release, while also thanking Lamont and Eucalitto.
Vision Zero is an effort that many communities in the country are undertaking to ensure roadway networks are designed to make sure inevitable traffic crashes do not result in severe injuries or death.
West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor also appeared in the release, noting that the Infrastructure Improvement Grant gives the town an opportunity to focus on its most vulnerable users – pedestrians and those with mobility challenges.
“The grant also aligns with West Hartford’s Vision Zero Action Plan, which prioritizes the health and safety of all users and modes of transportation,” Cantor said in the release. “We are truly grateful to Gov. Lamont and West Hartford’s delegation for selecting our community for this generous grant.”
Lastly, Eucalitto offered a statement in the release.
“The Community Connectivity Grant Program helps towns and cities make their infrastructure safer and more accessible. We’re happy to support West Hartford’s plan to build and upgrade sidewalks to help improve accessibility for all users,” Eucalitto said in the release.
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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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