Author: Richard Crowther Jr

NVCOG Designated “SolSmart Bronze” for Advancing Solar Energy Growth

FOR RELEASE: August 23, 2022

CONTACT:
Desira Blanchard
Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments
203.489.0353
dblanchard@nvcogct.gov

NVCOG Designated “SolSmart Bronze” for Advancing Solar Energy Growth

The Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG) has received a Bronze designation from the national SolSmart program for advancing the growth of solar energy across the Naugatuck Valley Region. This designation recognizes NVCOG for taking steps that make it faster, easier, and more affordable for local homes and businesses to go solar by way of education and training municipal officials.

SolSmart is led by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) and the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office. SolSmart uses objective criteria to award points based on the actions taken to reduce barriers to solar energy development. Organizations that take sufficient action are designated either Gold, Silver, or Bronze.

“Solar energy is an invaluable tool for improving grid reliability, reducing costs for residents, and fighting the climate crisis,” said Regional Environmental Planner Christine O’Neill. “This Bronze designation represents NVCOG’s commitment to fostering a sustainable, pro-solar region.”

As a regional organization, NVCOG is helping local communities coordinate on setting goals and strategies for sustainable energy growth. Earlier this year, NVCOG launched a series of webpages to promote the development of solar energy in the region and to provide municipal staff as well as residents and developers with resources. This includes an interactive solar map of the region, on-demand webinars, and a tool that will help analyze the potential for rooftop solar on any property. NVCOG also hosted virtual training sessions in June on planning and zoning for solar as well as inspection and permitting.

All municipalities, counties, and regional organizations are eligible to join the SolSmart program and receive no-cost technical assistance to help them achieve designation. Interested communities and regional organizations can learn more at SolSmart.org.

DPH Guidance for Municipalities COVID-19 Test Kit Distribution

The CT DPH has issued the following guidance for the at-home, rapid COVID-19 test kits being distributed this week. This guidance was issued following Governor Ned Lamont’s recent announcement of plans to distribute three million COVID-19 at-home rapid tests and six million N95 masks to help curb the spread of COVID-19 during this heavy travel and holiday season.

The at-home tests and N95 masks are being distributed by the state to municipalities and school districts. Each municipality and school district will then determine how best to provide them to people who live in their respective cities and towns. The guidance includes one FAQ for the municipalities and one FAQ for the public. It is recommended that the town hand out the public FAQ to recipients at the municipal POD.

COVID-19 Self-Test FAQs

Community Guidelines for COVID-19 Self-Tests and Masks

Public Information Meeting: O’Sullivan’s Island Fishing Pier Project

Public Information Meeting: O’Sullivan’s Island Fishing Pier Project

NVCOG held a public information meeting for the O’Sullivan’s Island Fishing Pier project on Tuesday, September 28th at 5:30 p.m. in the Aldermanic Chamber at Derby City Hall (1 Elizabeth Street). The project involves the construction of an accessible observation platform and a fishing pier extending into the Housatonic River. A recording of this meeting is available to watch on the NVCOG YouTube Channel.

For any questions concerning the project, please contact Christine O’Neill, Environmental Planner, coneill@nvcogct.gov.

NVCOG Analysis of 2020 Census Redistricting Data

NVCOG, along with its municipalities, non-profits, and businesses, worked tirelessly to get residents to participate in the 2020 Census count to show the growth the Naugatuck Valley region was experiencing. The results of the count show that not all towns and cities grew in population. However, the results did show growth in racial diversity throughout the region.

Results from the analysis NVCOG has completed on the data released by the U.S. Census Bureau for redistricting purposes can be found in a dashboard or is available for download on our data page. In the NVCOG 2020 Census Redistricting Data dashboard, view the changes in the population from 2010 to 2020 in each of our municipalities, see how diverse the region’s population was in 2020, and more. Data tables on population and self-response counts, housing, and race and ethnicity are available for download on our Data Download page.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census Redistricting Data, with analysis by NVCOG GIS Department. Made with Visme

For any questions concerning the 2020 Census Redistricting Data analysis, please contact Richard Crowther Jr, GIS Analyst.

Even though NVCOG is not directly affected by redistricting, as a regional planning agency funded through state and federal sources that rely on Census data for financial distribution, we take each decennial Census seriously. Funds for our transportation projects, brownfield remediation, and environmental sustainability assessment all contain Census population counts as a factor in the funding.

Traffic Lane Shift on the Derby-Shelton Bridge

Project No.: 0126-0174

Headline: Traffic Lane Shift on the Derby-Shelton Bridge (Bridge No. 01659) over the Housatonic River Which Carries Bridge Street in the Town of Shelton

The Connecticut Department of Transportation is announcing that lanes will be shifted towards the south side of the Derby-Shelton Bridge and the north-side sidewalk will be closed for Stage 1 of construction work starting on or about Wednesday, August 25, 2021.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation is announcing that the traffic flow will be reconfigured to accommodate the Stage 1 construction work. Both East and Westbound travel lanes will be reduced to 11’ wide and the northernmost sidewalk will be closed. Pedestrians and cyclists will still be able to cross the structure on the existing 10.5’ southern sidewalk. A row of precast concrete barriers will be installed to delineate the work area and reconstruction of the existing parapet will begin.

Utility work associated with the project will continue in and around the Main St., Olivia St., and 3RD St. Triangle.

The project consists of the rehabilitation and realignment of the travel ways on the existing structure. The final condition will provide a 5’ wide concrete sidewalk (north) and a 7’ wide sidewalk (south). One 11’ wide Westbound travel lane and two 11’ wide Eastbound travel lanes with 2’ shoulders for vehicles. A 3’-8” buffer zone, and a 10’ wide paved bike lane (south).

DOT Project No. 0126-0174 was awarded to Mohawk Northeast, Inc. on January 26, 2021, at a cost of $6,393,565.45 and is scheduled to be completed by November 27, 2023. This project is administered by the Office of Construction – District 3, New Haven.

Please visit the Derby-Shelton Bridge Pedestrian and Bicyclist Enhancements page for further information.

TRAFFIC IMPACT INFO

Motorists can expect normal conditions except for the new fixed 11’ wide lanes. The current schedule allows for work behind the barrier both day and night if needed. Pedestrians and cyclists will be restricted to the existing southern sidewalk for passage during this stage.

The New Mix: A Long-term Plan for the I-84 & Route 8 “Mixmaster” Interchange

Aerial photo of the Mixmaster from the train station

An introduction of future plans to local leaders for what is locally known as the “Mixmaster” in Waterbury from HNTB and CTDOT. The presentation includes a brief history of the Mixmaster, what has been completed thus far, the analysis of options to move forward, and how the public will be involved.

Watch a recording of this presentation on the NVCOG YouTube Channel.

This does not discuss the rehabilitation work that is currently being completed.

Resilient Connecticut NVCOG Regional Spring Workshop

Regional Vulnerabilities and Resilience Opportunities

Following up on the winter workshops, join the Resilient Connecticut team for their spring series across New Haven and Fairfield Counties.

This workshop will focus on the regional vulnerability results that emerged from their outreach, research, and technical analysis. The workshop will present highly vulnerable areas and potential resilience opportunity areas. The workshop will include small group collaborative exercises to explore select resilience opportunity areas.

Your local knowledge and expertise are important as they wrap up this phase of the Resilient Connecticut project. We encourage you to learn more by reading the project’s story map and use the “Provide Input” tab to help shape resilient communities in our region.

Please register by May 20, 2021, at the following: https://s.uconn.edu/nvcog2may.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email on how to join the virtual meeting. Participants also receive information beforehand to prepare for this collaborative workshop.

For language assistance or other accommodations, contact CIRCA at circa@uconn.edu.
Para asistencia con el idioma y otras adaptaciones, por favor póngase en contacto con CIRCA al circa@uconn.edu.
Para obter assistência língua ou outras acomodações, entre em contato com CIRCA em circa@uconn.edu.
Pour obtenir de l’aide linguistique ou d’autres mesures d’adaptation, contactez CIRCA à circa@uconn.edu.
Aby uzyskać pomoc językową lub inne zakwaterowanie, skontaktuj się z firmą CIRCA pod adresem circa@uconn.edu

Naugatuck River Greenway Updates

Naugatuck river Greenway in Beacon Falls

There have been some recent developments in planning and construction of the Naugatuck River Greenway Trail and other region multiuse trails.

NRG Trails Priority Projects Identified

On March 10, the Naugatuck River Greenway Steering Committee (NRGSC) endorsed updated NRG Trail Project Priorities. The NRG Trail Project Priorities – March 2021 Report and accompanying Interactive Map, provide details about the seven identified priority sections and criteria used to identify them as such. It also provides up to date information about the routing and status of all trail sections.

Ansonia Riverwalk Sections 3 and 4 Construction Underway

Construction on Ansonia Riverwalk Segments 3 and 4, part of the NRG Trail, is underway. The sections consist of a paved walkway on the existing levee embankment that will extend from South Main Street to the parking lot on the Target property on the East side of the Naugatuck River. There will be two rest areas with benches and one observation platform to view the natural habitat. Additional trees and landscaping improvements will be made at the main entrance adjacent to the Target parking lot. Schultz Corporation will be doing the construction and the project was designed by Luchs/DeCarlo and Doll. The project was funded through the Transportation Alternatives Set Aside Program.

Waterbury Phase I Delayed

The first NRG section in Waterbury along the Naugatuck River is going to be delayed a bit longer due to shortages of building material that stems from issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to city officials. The City planned to start this spring on a 2.2-mile stretch of the pathway, which will eventually be part of of the City’s 7.5-mile section of NRG Trail. Now, Mayor Neil M. O’Leary expects to begin work in mid-June.

Improvements to Derby-Shelton Bridge Underway

Construction has commenced on a project to renovate and rehabilitate the Derby-Shelton Bridge. Improvements will include a connection between the NRG Trail in Derby and Shelton’s River Walk with the creation of a larger pedestrian space and a bi-directional cycle track to separate bicyclists from both vehicular traffic and pedestrians.

Watertown Steele Brook Greenway Segment Funded

Funding has been awarded to Watertown for the construction of a section of Steele Brook Greenway, a multi-use trail in Watertown. This project will connect two existing sections of trail and construct a new pedestrian bridge over Steele Brook near French Street. Watertown was awarded federal funding for the project under the Transportation Alternatives Set Aside Program. The project has not yet been initiated.

Visit our Naugatuck River Greenway page for more information.

Work to Begin on the Derby-Shelton Bridge

Renovation work on the Derby-Shelton Bridge is moving forward, as the state has tapped a contractor for the project which should begin by April 1. The bridge was built in 1918 and is historically significant. While the substructure is in good condition, many elements have deteriorated over time, including the pavement structure, parapet walls, and lighting.

The intent of the project is to renovate and rehabilitate the elements along the top of the bridge and enhance the bridge’s aesthetics. Because it connects two downtowns, there is an opportunity to improve not only its function but also its form and create an aesthetically pleasing public space for pedestrians and bicyclists. The project limits extend from the intersection with Route 34 (Main Street) in Derby to the west end of the Derby-Shelton Bridge and includes the connections to Canal Street. This is part of a series of improvements along the Route 34 corridor in recent years.

The $6.3 million contract was awarded to Mohawk Northeast, Inc. Construction. The bid was almost $1.5 million below its pre-bid estimate on the work, completion of which should be December 2023.

Please visit this project’s webpage for more information.

April Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event

NVCOG is hosting Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) and Paint Collection Day on Saturday, April 17, 2021. This is the first event currently scheduled in 2021.

The event goes from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm at Naugatuck Events Center, 6 Rubber Avenue in Naugatuck.

NVCOG’s HHW events only serve the towns of Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethlehem, Cheshire, Derby, Middlebury, Naugatuck, Oxford, Prospect, Seymour, Southbury, Thomaston, Waterbury, Watertown, Wolcott, and Woodbury.

For future updates on this program, visit NVCOG’s HHW webpage as well as information on how to properly dispose of common household items. Also look for postings on NVCOG’s Facebook and Twitter page, as well as local and municipal websites for updates.

Household hazardous wastes are any wastes produced in the home that are poisonous, flammable, reactive, or corrosive. These wastes are harmful to human health and the environment if not disposed of properly. The goal of the program is to keep potentially hazardous waste out of local landfills and sewers, providing extra protection for wetlands and waterways.

Residents may now bring latex (water-based) paint to the collection event. While not considered hazardous waste, the latex paint is also accepted as part of the statewide paint product stewardship program.