CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NEWS RELEASE 2800 BERLIN TURNPIKE P.O. BOX 317546 NEWINGTON CONNECTICUT, 06131-7546

FOR RELEASE: November 1, 2013

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS TELEPHONE: (860) 594-3062 FAX: (860) 594-3065 WEB SITE: www.ct.gov/dot

New Local Transportation Improvement Program Takes Effect

      A revised and streamlined program for assisting towns with local transportation funding grants, approved during the 2013 legislative session, with a launch date of November 1, is now in effect, the Connecticut Department of Transportation announced today.  The $45 million annual program is designed to be far less burdensome to cities and towns making local capital improvements.

      Under the Local Transportation Capital Improvement Program, the DOT will request state bond funding for municipalities in lieu of federal transportation funding currently available and administered by the DOT. The bond request would match the anticipated federal funding levels available for the local transportation program.

      “This idea was put forth in an effort to implement efficiencies in state government and streamline the flow of capital transportation funding to cities and towns,” said DOT Commissioner James P. Redeker. “Working with our local partners, this program was designed to significantly reduce the DOT’s oversight role with the goal of enabling local governments to deliver projects faster, better and less expensively.  This is one more example of our commitment to streamline our programs and partnerships across the entire Department.”

      Towns will now design projects on their own with little or no DOT involvement and then, when the project is ready to go out to bid, they will present the plan – through their Regional Planning Organization (RPO) – to the DOT for review. Once plans are approved and bids have come in, the DOT will distribute the required money for construction to the town and the work can begin – again with little or no DOT involvement.

      There are 13 Regional Planning Organizations in Connecticut. The $45 million for fiscal year 2013-2014 will be requested at the next meeting of the State Bond Commission.