Governor Dannel P. Malloy announced a series of grants under the state’s Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP), which will be awarded to 27 towns throughout Connecticut for the purposes of funding a variety of economic development, community conservation and quality-of-life projects.

Several of the towns will use the grant money to repair sidewalks, streets and make their towns more bikeable and walkable. Below is a list from the Governor's Office of what some of these projects include: 
 
Bethel
$430,000 for the installation and repair of sidewalks for various streets throughout the town. These upgrades will provide pedestrian and handicapped pathways to the Downtown Business District as we as the Bethel Metro-North train station.
 
Cheshire
$500,000 to fund the design and construction of 1,630 linear feet of sidewalks throughout the town center. This sidewalk extension project will connect the recently upgraded West Main Street commercial area to a number of municipal facilities, retail establishments and residential neighborhoods.
 
East Hampton
$500,000 to implement Phase II of a comprehensive blight removal, public safety and public parking project.  The project promotes economic development and removes a public health threat by remediating a brownfield at the former site of the Summit Thread Powerhouse and turning it into a public parking area, which will provide easy access to public transportation, retail and restaurant establishments and other area businesses.
 
Marlborough
$500,000 for the North Main Street Exit 12 gateway Economic Enhancement Project.  This project will improve the appearance, enhance vehicular access, improve public safety, and increase the visibility of the businesses located on and adjacent to North Main Street.  The project includes sidewalk extensions, and streetscape and lighting improvements.
 
Old Saybrook
$500,000 for the Main Street Connections Park and Parking Lot Project.  The project involves redeveloping the property where an irreparably storm-damaged municipal building is located and replacing it with a parking area and recreational park.  This will create a place in the center of town where people can relax and recreate.  Features include much needed additional downtown parking, multi-modal canopied pathways, and seating in the park.
 
 
Portland
$363,000 for the fourth and final phase of the Brownstone Avenue Extension project.  The first three phases involved the extension of Brownstone Avenue, new sidewalks and parking, and the construction of a pavilion and outdoor amphitheater stage.  The fourth phase involves installing water and sewer connections to the pavilion, completion of a storage facility, construction of ADA-compliant bathrooms, and various outdoor amenities such as grills and picnic tables.
 
 
Ridgefield
$320,000 for Phase III of the Danbury Road Streetscape project.  Funding for this phase will go toward the installation of decorative streetlights, new sidewalks, and retrofitted handicapped ramps to enhance pedestrian safety.
 
Ridgefield
$180,000 for final design and construction of exterior site improvements to Ridgefield’s Town Hall, including the reconstruction of existing walkways and stairs, installation of new lighting, and drainage improvements to improve site safety and aesthetics.
 
Seymour
$200,000 for Phase III of the Seymour Sidewalk Replacement Project, making them ADA compliant.  Streets include Pearl Street, Washington Ave and Roberts Street.
 
 
Willington
$500,000 for Phase III of the reconstruction of Turnpike Road, including drainage and improvements.  The road was heavily damaged by flooding in October 2005 and the town has been working diligently to repair it to ensure a smooth and safe drive for commuters.
 
Wilton
$500,000 for the Wilton Train Station Walkway Project, which consists of the design and construction of a pedestrian travelway that connects the Wilton Train Station, Wilton Center and several multi-family residential communities.  The project will provide a safe pathway for people to walk throughout the center of town.
 
Woodbridge
$500,000 for pedestrian and traffic flow improvements to the north entrance of the Beecher Road Elementary School.  The renovation will improve safety and access to the school for students, employees and the residents of Woodbridge.
 
Read the full list of grants here. 

The City of New Britain has been awarded a $3 million grant for improvements in downtown New Britain at Columbus Blvd., Main St. and Bank St. 

According to a news release from the Central Connecticut Regional Planning Agency (CCRPA), the project help enhance the connection between downtown New Britain and the CTfastrak bus station. 

The project includes a redesign of intersections, bike lane additions and the upgrading of sidewalks. These improvements are based on the recommendations of the City's Complete Streets Master Plan for Downtown New Britain. 

Read more here. 

The Southington Town Council voted unanimously on January 13th to seek a grant to give the Plantsville section of the town a makeover. 

According to the Hartford Courant, the grant will be used to mill and repave 1,900 feet of streets in the village center, add decorative curbing, sidewalks, benches and other improvements. 

The grant also calls for clearing brush from a section of the Quinnipiac River so pedestrians can see the river. 

Read the full article here. 

The State of Connecticut granted $1.5 million in funding to support the Riverwalk South and Gateway project in Hartford. This is the last piece of a three-mile loop of fully accessible riverwalks between the Founders and Charter Oak Bridges.

According to a news release from Governor Malloy's Office, the funds will allow for improvements to be made to Riverfront’s existing gravel walkway. Ultimately, the project will include a new entrance to the Riverfront linking the historic Coltsville and Sheldon Charter Oak neighborhoods to the Riverfront parks.

“This project will help revitalize Hartford and East Hartford along the Connecticut River, creating a vision that will spur activity along the riverfront while highlighting some of the region’s most charming assets,” said Governor Dannel P. Malloy. “The funding will help the project accomplish important design goals as well as create up to five short-term jobs.”

“This exciting project also benefits hundreds of children who attend one of five schools in the Sheldon Charter Oak neighborhoods,” said Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman. “These students will now have direct access to the Riverfront. In addition, this project will create jobs and reconnect Hartford with the Connecticut River.”

 A $200,000 state grant was awarded to purchase 41 acres of property for use as open space land as part of the Oswegatchie Hills Nature Preserve in East Lyme.
 
According to a new release from Governor Malloy's Office, the Oswegatchie Hills Nature Preserve overlooks the Niantic River and is currently over 400 acres in size.  Purchasing the 41-acre Bayreuther Property, which abuts the current 420-acre preserve, will bring the total preserved acreage for Oswegatchie Hills to 461 acres.
 
The preserve was created through a public/private partnership between the Town of East Lyme, Friends of Oswegatchie Hills Nature Preserve, East Lyme Land Conservation Trust, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, various federal agencies, and others.  The preserve is open to the public and offers numerous hiking trails over this large undeveloped coastal waterfront forest.
 

The Reminder reports Westfield, MA approved the completion of phase two of the Columbia Greenway section of the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail. 

The city will use a $2 million grant from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environment Affairs to construct the trail. Construction is slated to start in March 2014 and the trail will open late summer or early fall 2014.

Read the full article here. 

The town of Fairfield received a $1.2 million grant for improvements to the Kings Highway East and Commerce Drive area.

The federally funded grant, which was recently approved by town bodies, was received from the Connecticut Department of Transportation through the Federal Transportation Alternatives Program and will enable the town to make improvements along Kings Highway East from Chambers Street to Brentwood Avenue.

The funding will be used to construct new sidewalks and curbs along both north and south sides, with median improvements for improved pedestrian access and aesthetics. There will also be ADA compliant handicap ramps installed at intersections. Bicycle amenities, such as bike racks, signs and bike parking will also be included, as well as possible bike routes, according to First Selectman Mike Tetreau.

The town applied for the grant following a public informational meeting held last June where requests were made to improve and encourage more walking and biking in this area.

Design for this project is expected to start Spring 2014 and be completed around October 2014. Construction should begin April 2015 with project completion around December 2015, according to Tetreau. 

Canton residents approved the acceptance of a $387,000 Connecticut Main Street Investment Fund Grant during a special town meeting on October 9th. 

Residents also approved taking $40,000 from the town's reserves for the design work on the project. 

The project will help to fix sidewalks in Collinsville, as well as increase signage and improve road safety in the area. 

Residents in Canton will vote on funding streetscape improvements during a special town meeting on October 9. 

The meeting will decide if the Town of Canton will appropriate $40,000 from the Undesignated Fund Balance for the purpose of designing public improvements to Collinsville and accept a Connecticut Main Street Investment Fund Grant in the amount of $387,000 for the purpose of funding some of the public improvements. The grant money will be used for sidewalk improvements, wayfinding signs, tress, pedestrian lights, crosswalks and other improvements. 

The meeting will take place at the Canton Public Library & Community Center, 40 Dyer Ave., Canton, CT in Room F. 

Governor Dannel P. Malloy announced on August 1 that 17 small towns throughout Connecticut are being awarded grants under the state’s Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP) to be utilized for certain capital improvement projects, such as road maintenance, public works upgrades, public safety improvements and other municipal service projects.

The towns to receive the grants include: Bethel, Canaan, Canterbury, Clinton, Colebrook, Darien, Deep River, Ellington, Glastonbury, Litchfield, Montville, North Canaan, Salisbury, Seymour, Sherman, Wallingford and Westbrook.
 
“STEAP grants give us the opportunity to invest in quality of life improvements in small towns across our state. Projects like road and bridge enhancements and improvements to public spaces and historic places make our small towns better places to live and work,” Governor Malloy said. “These STEAP grants will assist small towns in completing important capital projects that otherwise may never get financed.”

This set of grants are the second round this year of STEAP grants, a previous round of grants was announced in July. 

The grant highlights that include funds for safer walking and cycling include:

Bethel will receive $250,000 for a sidewalk project that includes the replacement of stairs at several entrances to the CJ Hurgin Municipal Center and sidewalk replacement/construction in three locations: the Municipal Center; the intersection of Main Street, Maple Avenue and Chestnut Street; and the Bethel Police Department. 

Clinton will receive $500,000 for streetscape improvements including sidewalks, signage, lighting, landscaping for the downtown business district area and the burial of some utility lines. The project will benefit 25 local businesses by making the area, which has not been upgraded in three decades, more attractive and pedestrian friendly.

Deep River will receive $400,000 for improvements to Plattwood Park, the town’s major recreation center. The project includes an ADA-compliant pavilion, bathrooms and associated facilities; ADA-compliant recreation areas for the handicapped; sports fields and a walking trail.

Glastonbury will receive $250,000 for public access and parking to four open space parcels (the former Arbor Acres, Grayledge, Longo Farm and Slocumb properties) that were recently acquired by the town. The project provides greater access for passive recreation including hiking, walking and cross-country skiing, and expands the inventory of trails available for public use. Two additional parking and access points will be added to the Shenipsit Trail; public access points will be added to the Flat Brook Open Space Acquisition (part of the Arbor Acres parcel), which was acquired with state assistance; and access will be provided to the state-stocked Roaring Brook for fishing.  The project supports and furthers several of the priorities identified in the State Conservation and Development Plan.

Montville will receive $250,000 for sidewalks along Chesterfield Road. The project will include a new sidewalk and amenities to provide safe pedestrian connections between Montville High School and Leonard J. Tyl Middle School. In addition, the project will provide connections by crosswalks and trails to the Fair Oaks Community Center and the Montville Conservation Center.

Seymour will receive $168,000 for phase III of the town sidewalk replacement for various town roads to improve pedestrian safety.

Wallingford will receive $181,000 for the design and construction of roadway and parking improvements to Veterans Memorial Park. The project will reconfigure the roadway and create additional parking while improving vehicular and pedestrian safety.  The project also includes related site work and landscaping.

Westbrook will receive $500,000 for phase II of the Town Center Enhancement Project, which includes the design and construction of a municipal parking lot and relocating Knothe Road. This is the final phase of the project and is a part of a comprehensive plan to enhance the economic and social value of the town center by creating a compact, walkable, transit-oriented village center. The phase II improvements will enable implementation of shared parking to the rear of existing buildings to more effectively serve local businesses, improve overall circulation within the town center and create development opportunities through efficiencies gained by reconfigured, multi-use parking.