State of CT Grants to Help Improve Road and Sidewalks in Small Towns

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.