Save the Date—the Connecticut Department of Transportation will conduct a public information meeting concerning the proposed construction of the Charter Oak Greenway Shared Use Path in the Town of Bolton, Connecticut, on Thursday, February 27, 2014, at the Bolton Town Hall.
The meeting will start with an informal question and answer session at 6:30 p.m., followed by a formal design presentation at 7:00 p.m. According to a press release from the DOT, the purpose of the project is to extend the Charter Oak Greenway in Manchester and connect with the Hop River State Park Trail in Bolton. This will enhance continuity with the existing bicycle trail system throughout the State, while providing an alternative to motor vehicle transportation. The DOT anticipates construction to begin in the spring of 2016. Governor Dannel P. Malloy appointed Robert of New Haven to serve as Commissioner of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). Klee currently serves as Chief of Staff at DEEP. In that role, he has been responsible for supervising the operations of the agency while also serving as a key advisor to the Commissioner and senior staff on a wide number of environmental and energy policy issues handled by the department. In a press release from the DEEP, Klee said, "I am honored to be nominated as Commissioner and it will be a privilege to serve the state of Connecticut in this capacity. Governor Malloy and Commissioner Esty have developed a forward-looking agenda for this agency that has made Connecticut a national leader in our approach to environmental and energy policy. I look forward to building upon their efforts and to implementing the many groundbreaking programs we have developed with the help of a dedicated DEEP staff, the legislature, the business community, and environmental and energy advocates.” Prior to joining DEEP, Klee was an attorney with Wiggin and Dana, LLP, in New Haven, where he specialized in appellate work and energy and environmental law. He holds a law degree from Yale, a Ph.D. from Yale’s School of Forestry and Environmental Studies in industrial ecology, and an undergraduate degree from Princeton in geology and environmental science. Klee will succeed Commissioner Daniel C. Esty, who recently announced he will be returning to Yale University after a three-year leave of absence from his tenured professorship at the school. The Connecticut Public Transportation Commission released its 2013 Annual Report that contains six recommendations for improving public transportation services in the state.
As a result of public testimony at meetings and hearings, the Annual Report states that cycling has become increasingly popular in Connecticut and as a result there is a demand for more bicycle amenities and facilities. Other recommendations in the report include: the importance of reserving all of the monies directed to the Special Transportation Fund for transportation purposes; secure more funding for the inter-regional Coastal Link bus service on Route 1 between Norwalk and Milford; restore full funding to the State Matching Grant program that provides funding assistance to municipalities for operating dial-a-ride programs for elderly and disabled persons; use the same techniques being used for CTfastrak for other high profiles projects such as the Stamford Transportation Center redevelopment; develop a privately-run, unsubsidized passenger rail service between Danbury and Pittsfield; and the need for more local scale marketing and information for local bus services to assist existing users and encourage new ones. Safe Routes to School will hold a free webcast titled "Bicycle Safety Education: Implement the Best Curricula for Your Community" on Thursday, February 20 from 2-3 p.m.
During the webcast, Safe Routes to School Education experts will discuss various types of bicycle safety that can be taught in the classroom and tips and tricks for success. Click here for more information and to register. The bike/ped community is invited to a presentation on Transform CT at this month's Bike Ped Advisory Board meeting on Tues., Jan 28. The presentation will start at 9:30 am in Room RESHQ11312 at the CT Department of Transportation in Berlin. What: Transform CT Presentation
When: Tues., Jan. 28, 9:30 am Where: CT DOT (2800 Berlin Turnpike, Newington, CT 06131-7546), Room RESHQ11312 The Connecticut Department of Transportation (DOT) released a report titled "Optimizing the State of Connecticut: Transportation Capital Infrastructure Program, December 2013.”
The report reviews the performance of the DOT in delivering capital investments. The goal, Commissioner Redeker noted, is to optimize the capital funding for all its transportation modes and to improve continuously its ability to deliver maximum infrastructure improvements for each dollar expended. “Optimizing the State of Connecticut: Transportation Capital Infrastructure Program” can be found here. The Connecticut Department of Transportation (DOT) released its five-year Capital Plan this week. The plan covers fiscal years 2014-2018 and includes projects in all modes of transportation – highways and bridges, public transportation, ports and waterways and bicycle/pedestrian enhancements.
According to a DOT news release, the department updates the plan annually. The DOT anticipates $1.8 billion in total Capital Program funding in fiscal year 2014. The Five Year Capital Plan spreadsheet can be found here. The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art will be showing the film "Rising From Ashes on Tuesday, February 4 from 7-8:30 p.m. The film shows the triumphant and inspiring true story of genocide survivors who formed a cycle group called Team Rwanda, which later competed in the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Admission is $12 or $10 for current Bike Walk Connecticut members (see list) and museum members. Tickets can be purchased online here or by calling 860.838.4100 Wednesday-Sunday 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. - Submitted by Eric Weis, Bike Walk CT Member and Trail Program Coordinator for the East Coast Greenway Alliance
I'll bet the Merritt Parkway was a wonderful experience, once upon a time. It looks idyllic in those vintage photographs; it was designed to be enjoyed. No wonder they named it "parkway" rather than "highway". For most motorists today, the Merritt has never lived up to its moniker. These days it's a "parkway" mainly when congestion is so bad that traffic is at a standstill, and you shift your car into park so you can stretch your legs a bit. The trees are beautiful, but difficult to enjoy when you're bumper-to-bumper, stressed out, or going 65 with the next car just 10 feet from your rear bumper. But here we are, 80+ years after the Merritt Parkway was built, with an opportunity to put the "park" back in "parkway" - by creating the Merritt Park Trail! Have you ever wanted to truly enjoy the trees, the landscape, and the geologic outcroppings? Only when we're on foot, bike, or horseback will we truly have a "park" experience along the parkway. Early this year, ConnDOT will bring its recommendations for creation of a Merritt Park Trail to the people in Merritt Parkway towns, through a series of town meetings. We urge you to join us for these meetings to express your opinions and demonstrate your support for public parks, safe and healthy recreation, new venues for exercise, and new options for green transportation. A Merritt Park Trail will expand opportunities for each of these in the towns along the Parkway. Those meetings will be scheduled soon, and we'll keep you apprised. Learn more about this great project at http://www.merrittparkwaytrail.org. |
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