The VTD will accept sealed bids for the RFP until 4:00 p.m. on Friday, September 28, 2018. For more information please see the “For Vendors” page. The complete bid packets can be downloaded at www.valleytransit.org under “public notices.”
This effort, which began in late 2015, included collection of ridership data, an analysis of existing bus routes, a market analysis to identify new areas in need of service, a significant outreach program to stakeholders and the public, and the development of service improvement recommendations. The study area for the effort included Berlin, Bristol, New Britain, Plainville, and Southington.
The Final Report and its Appendices are available for download under “Study Documents” on the study website at http://hartfordtransitstudy.com/new-britain-bristol/.
The proposal must be received no later than 4:00 p.m. on Friday, September 7, 2018. For more information please see the “For Vendors” page.
The anticipated opening of the Ansonia Riverwalk extension will take place on Saturday, August 4 at 10AM. The ceremony will be held at the new Pershing Drive entranceway, just south of the Bridge Street Bridge.
The public is welcome to attend the ribbon cutting and encouraged to walk or bicycle the nearly 700 feet of additional new Riverwalk that now extends from Division Street to Pershing Drive. Referred to as the Segment 8 extension, it is the first expansion since the initial half mile walkway opened in 2012.
An exciting new feature includes a 130 foot steel pedestrian bridge over the Metro-North rail line.
When additional future expansion is completed, the Riverwalk loop will cover approximately two miles continuing north on Pershing Drive, over Bridge St Bridge, up West Main St to South Main St and re-connect at the Naugatuck River eastside levee. “
This continues to be a wonderful recreational asset for our residents,” said Mayor Dave Cassetti. “We expect the daily use of Riverwalk will continue to increase as we expand its length.”
This most recent Phase 2 addition now extends the walkway to nearly 3/4 mile, and also remains pet friendly for dog walking.
In 2005 the Connecticut General Assembly passed Public Act 05-142 (CGS Section 26-141a and b) which required the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) to work with the Department of Public Health and stakeholders to update standards for maintaining minimum flows in rivers and streams. The act required these standards to balance river and stream ecology, wildlife and recreation while providing for public health, flood control, industry, public utilities, water supply, public safety, agriculture and other lawful uses of water.
Extensive effort by DEEP and numerous stakeholder work groups culminated in adoption of the Stream Flow Standards and Regulations on December 12, 2011. The process of classifying the streams and rivers of the State began with the Southeast Coastal, Pawcatuck and Thames Major basins and the stream flow classifications were finalized on October 7, 2014. Stream flow classifications for the South Central Coastal River Basin were finalized on September 6, 2016. Stream flow classifications for the Connecticut River Basin were finalized on February 6, 2018.
On June 12th, 2018 DEEP released proposed stream flow classifications for the remainder of the state which includes most of the NVCOG region. Proposed classifications can be explored in this Interactive Webmap developed by DEEP.
Public comments will be accepted until September 30th 2018, and interested parties are encouraged to review the proposed classifications and provide feedback.
Additional information can be found at the CT DEEP Stream Flow Standards and Regulations Webpage.
The Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG), in cooperation with the towns of Thomaston and Watertown, will hold a public information meeting on Thursday, June 21st, 2018 to present preliminary design concept for a short section of the Naugatuck River Greenway (NRG) trail in Thomaston and design of critical features along the future NRG trail in Watertown. The meeting will begin informally at 6 p.m. with a formal presentation beginning at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will be held in Thomaston Town Hall, Meeting Room 1, at 158 Main Street, Thomaston, CT. It is being held to provide residents and stakeholders an opportunity to learn project details, review concept plans and project timeline, and provide input on the design. Anyone interested in the project is encouraged to attend.
The project is being funded by a federal Recreational Trails Program grant administered through the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). The purpose is to design and construct a trailhead and trail on town property in Thomaston adjacent to the town water pollution control and animal control facilities, and design critical features including drainage and rail separation for a trail to be constructed in the future in Watertown. The project is part of the larger 44-mile NRG trail that is planned to follow the Naugatuck River from Torrington to Derby.
The design work in Thomaston and Watertown is being conducted by Vanasse Hangen Brustlin Inc. (VHB) an engineering and design firm with offices in Wethersfield, CT.
The project will include:
It is currently expected that the design will be completed in the Summer 2018, with construction following in Spring 2019.
“The June 21st public information meeting will provide the residents of Thomaston and Watertown and the wider region extensive information about the plans for upcoming NRG development,” said Mark Nielsen, NVCOG Director of Planning. “It will also allow residents and stakeholders an opportunity to provide input and comments on the project before it enters the final design phase.”
More information about the project can be found at the project webpage HERE
The Metropolitan Area Planning (MAP) Forum announces its 2018 Spring Meeting on June 4, 2018 at 10:30 am in Bridgeport, Connecticut. For security purposes, anyone interested in attending in person should RSVP via Eventbrite at https://2018springmapforum.eventbrite.com/”>https://2018springmapforum.eventbrite.com. Please also have a photo ID at the meeting location. See agenda here.
Please note that the meeting will also be available as a webinar if you cannot attend in person. To participate in the webinar go to https://meetny.webex.com/meetny/j.php?MTID=m44bdf71391b4a8296937a0303844b929.
Directions: http://www.housatonic.edu/about-us/directions-to-hcc
(NOTE:the meeting locations is a short walk from the Bridgeport Railroad Station. A map showing walking directions is available through the following link: https://goo.gl/maps/ErB9bL6NR7s )
REQUEST FOR CONTRACTOR
REGIONAL ELECTION MONITOR
The Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG), based in Waterbury, CT, seeks a consultant to perform regional election monitoring under the supervision of the NVCOG Director of Municipal Services and at the direction of the Connecticut Secretary of the State. This is a contractual position to be funded by the Connecticut Secretary of the State through NVCOG. The contractor will also work with registrars and other town officials from the 19 NVCOG member municipalities.
Minimum requirements include current certification by the Secretary of the State or becoming certified by the Secretary of the State as soon after execution of such contract as practicable. The Secretary shall certify the regional election monitor if such individual successfully completes the training required. Such certification training shall include successful completion of Moderator Certification Training pursuant to CGS §9-229; successful completion of the Secretary of the State’s On-Line Poll Worker Training Program; and successful completion of modules four (4) and seven (7) of the Registrar of Voters Certification Program pursuant to CGS §9-192a. (Approximately 12 hours of training total)
Work is generally required on the day of or around primaries, general elections, referenda and region-wide training.
Compensation will be per diem or hourly by negotiation. Click here for more details.
Each applicant interested in providing these services shall submit their resume, and a cover letter outlining their relevant experience. Consulting or law firms are also invited to respond with the same information.
The proposal should be sent to the Municipal Shared Services Director, NVCOG, 49 Leavenworth Street, Waterbury, CT 06702 no later than 2:00 pm on Friday, June 8, 2018. Electronic submissions are acceptable to jobs@nvcogct.org. An interview with a committee organized by the NVCOG Municipal Shared Services Coordinator may be required. NVCOG is an Equal Opportunity Employer. EOE/M/H/F
The Connecticut Trail Census (CTTC), a program tracking use on multi-use trails statewide, has released publicly available data for the 2017 calendar year on their website http://www.cttrailcensus.uconn.edu/. The CTTC collects data regarding trail use patterns including who is using these trails, when people are using them, how, and why at multi-use trails across Connecticut. The Census currently includes 15 trail locations on 11 multi-use trails. Trail use is tracked with infrared counters and by trail user intercept surveys deployed by volunteers. In 2017, the program recorded 1.4 million trips taken on trail segments where counts are being conducted, and analyzed 1,003 trail user surveys collected by over 63 volunteers from trail advocacy groups around the state. The trails with the highest volumes were the Naugatuck River Greenway in Derby (303,550 uses), the Still River Greenway in Brookfield (197,945 uses) and the Hop River Trail in Vernon (133,016 uses).
“We hope this data will be used by communities and trail advocacy groups, researchers, and funding organizations to show the impacts of multi-use trails on public health, transportation systems, and local communities,” said Kristina Kelly, the Statewide Coordinator of the Census.
The program is funded by a 2016 Recreational Trails Grant received from the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and is overseen by the Connecticut Greenways Council. It is being undertaken in a partnership between UConn Extension, The Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments, and the UConn Center for Land Use Education and Outreach (CLEAR).
The infrared counters record hourly totals of trail use year-round, and show use patterns seasonally, by time of day, and day of week. The heaviest use occurred between the months of April and October when approximately 76% of trail uses across all sites were recorded. Because all trails involved in the program are of similar typology (multi-use, two-directional, and either paved or stone dust), the trail use data can be utilized to explore variables that may affect trail use. For example, trails that offer connection between towns and cities such as the New Britain Fastrak and the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail, seem to show less difference in the number of users between weekday and weekend. The counters are installed semi-permanently, which also will allow trails to measure the effects of future trail improvements.
The 2017 intercept survey data showed trail users who completed the survey tended to be older than the general population of Connecticut with 63% of trail users being over the age of 45 versus only 44% of the general population. While the majority of users got to the trail by car or motorcycle alone (49%), an encouraging 31% traveled in a car with someone else. Demonstrating the potential economic value of trails, 61.5% of all respondents reported spending $277 annually related to their trail use. The 2018 Trail Census Program will launch the second week of May at trail sites across the state. Trails with an interest in participating should contact the Census Coordinator Kristina Kelly at cttrailcensus@gmail.com. Existing data including infrared counter and survey data reports and recording of a recent webinar with in-depth discussion of the available data are on the Connecticut Trail Census website at http://www.cttrailcensus.uconn.edu/. All data collected is free and available to explore and download.
Contact: Kristina Kelly – cttrailcensus@gmail.com