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PRESS RELEASE: The City of Bristol Receives a Connecticut Recreational Trails Program Grant to Fund Planning and Design of an Accessible Structured Trail for All Bristol Residents

NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: (Bristol CT) May 19, 2023

THE CITY OF BRISTOL RECEIVES A CONNECTICUT RECREATIONAL TRAILS PROGRAM GRANT TO
FUND PLANNING AND DESIGN OF AN ACCESSIBLE STRUCTURED TRAIL FOR ALL BRISTOL RESIDENTS

BRISTOL, CT – The City of Bristol is one of 28 municipalities in Connecticut to be awarded a
Connecticut Recreational Trails Program grant in the amount of $320,000. The funding will be used
for the planning and design of a recreational bike/pedestrian trail to provide a safe continuous
connection between Rockwell Park/Muzzy Field to the West End neighborhood to Downtown. The
proposed trail will traverse the West End neighborhood to public transit lines through the downtown
area improving equitable access to outdoor recreation for all Bristol residents. Eventually, it is hoped
that this accessible structured trail will eventually connect to the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail.

In order to create a public involvement process that was collaborative, accessible, and inclusive, the
City of Bristol partnered with the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG) to engage the
public in a study to gather information about how best to accommodate all users. NVCOG conducted
interviews with stakeholders, created an online survey to gather public feedback, developed
an interactive map, conducted public information meetings, held a walk audit in the area where the
trail will be located, and provided frequent updates to the Bristol community to help guide the
planning process. This study aims to build off the recently completed Route 229 Corridor Study which
recommends adding a shared-use side path between Interstate 84 in the south to Route 6 in the
North. These two routes combined will provide a north-south and east-west connection through
Bristol, ensuring a safe and accessible corridor for non-motorized users to travel.

“This grant will allow the City to design a recreational bike/pedestrian trail that will create new
opportunities to connect the West End neighborhood with downtown, thus providing all Bristol
residents with a safe way to access public transportation and amenities in the downtown area,”
stated Mayor Jeffrey Caggiano. “Additional funding will be sought in the future to make the
connection from Route 229 to a meeting point with the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail in Plainville.

See press release via Bristol All Heart

PRESS RELEASE: Governor Lamont Announces $9 Million in State Grants To Plan, Build, Expand, and Improve 50 Recreational Trails Across Connecticut

Seal for the Office of the Connecticut Governor

Click here to access the press release from the office of Governor Ned Lamont

05/15/2023

Governor Lamont Announces $9 Million in State Grants To Plan, Build, Expand, and Improve 50 Recreational Trails Across Connecticut

Grants Awarded Through DEEP’s Connecticut Recreational Trails Program

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont and Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner Katie Dykes today announced that approximately $9 million in state grants are being released through the Connecticut Recreational Trails Program to plan, build, expand, and improve a total of 50 multi-use trails across Connecticut.

The program is administered by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). Funding for this grant round was allocated by the State Bond Commission in July 2022. Governor Lamont serves as chairman of the commission.

“I am thrilled to announce funding for these 50 projects, which will improve and expand recreational trail opportunities around Connecticut,” Governor Lamont said. “The incredible response to this grant round shows the high demand for outdoor recreation in our state. Our residents and visitors continue to explore state parks, forests, and municipal open spaces and land trust preserves at record levels.”

DEEP has seen demand for outdoor recreation increase dramatically since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020. Annual visits to locations in the Connecticut State Parks and Forests system reached an estimated 17 million in 2022 – a 75% increase from pre-pandemic visitation levels of between 9 and 10 million in 2019. Additionally, the economic value of hiking, climbing, and tent camping increased by 50% from 2019 to 2021. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the value of outdoor recreation in 2021 contributed nearly $4 billion to the state and supported more than 40,000 jobs.

“These projects are timely and will improve our state’s connectivity and accessibility to open space, which benefits our residents and visitors physically and mentally, enhances our state’s outdoor economy, and makes our state such an attractive place to live,” Commissioner Dykes said. “Investing in projects that support sustainable commuting opportunities, that reduce pollution from transportation, and provide safe, enjoyable alternatives to car travel are the type of projects we’d love to see in more communities across the state. My thanks to Governor Lamont and the State Bond Commission for supporting these important investments in our state-wide trail systems.”

A total of 28 of the awarded projects are within or serve Connecticut’s distressed municipalities and environmental justice communities, improving equitable access to outdoor recreation. Many of the awarded projects are bicycle paths that can support both commuting and recreation, including Naugatuck Greenway Projects in Naugatuck, Ansonia, Thomaston, Waterbury, and the Greenwich-Stamford multi-use path, among others. The grant money can be allocated for a wide variety of purposes, including planning, design, land acquisition, construction, construction administration, and publications for bikeways, walkways, and greenways, as well as for equipment and trail amenities, such as parking lots, toilet buildings, signs, and benches.

The Connecticut Greenways Council assisted DEEP with the competitive grant selection process. Funding for program administration of 5%, pursuant to state statutes, is also included in the grants. DEEP anticipates most of the awarded projects being completed by 2026.

The following is a list of projects receiving grants under this round:

Connecticut Recreational Trails Program May 2023 Grant Round
Applicant	Project Title	Project Type	Grant Funding
Borough of Naugatuck	Naugatuck River Greenway Trail – Phase II	Planning/Design	$352,800
Branford Land Trust	Branford Land Trust Handicap Accessible Braille and Sensory Trail	Planning/Design	$15,000
City of Bristol	Bristol Recreational Trails Grant Planning	Planning/Design	$320,000
City of Hartford	Keney Park Trail Connectivity	Planning/Design, Outreach, Education	$186,320
City of Meriden	Brookside Park to Giuffrida Park Multi-Use Trail	Planning/Design	$179,000
City of Shelton	Shelton Housatonic Riverwalk	Planning/Design	$113,000
City of Torrington	Red Mountain Trail Design and Construction – Torrington, CT	Planning/Design, Construction, Amenities	$396,100
City of Waterbury	Waterbury Naugatuck River Greenway Trail Mad River Spur Design	Planning/Design, Outreach	$390,000
City of West Haven	Hubbard Park Interpretive Trail	Planning/Design, Construction	$26,196
City of West Haven	Plainfield Community Trailway Project	Planning/Design, Construction	$32,020
Connecticut Forest and Park Association	CT Forest and Park Association Public Engagement and Stewardship	Planning/Design, Construction, Maintenance, Education, Equipment, Outreach	$445,412
Connecticut Resource Conservation and Development	12 Town Airline State Park Trail Regional Association Formation & Marketing	Planning/Design, Amenities, Publications, Outreach	$75,000
Friends of the Litchfield Community Greenways, Inc.	Litchfield Greenway – Phase 4 – Bantam Connection	Planning/Design, Construction, Amenities	$241,125
Goodwin University	Goodwin University Trails Expansion – Phase VI	Planning/Design Construction, Maintenance	$123,204
Hop River Trail Alliance (Town of Coventry Fiduciary)	Hop River State Park Trail Signage and Wayfinding	Amenities, Publications, Outreach	$44,793
Newtown Bridle Lands Association Inc.	Improving Multi Use Access to Newtown Trails	Planning/Design, Construction, Maintenance, Amenities	$44,080
Parks & Point with DEEP Outreach & Education	Words from the Trails: Poetry and Nonfiction Inspired by Connecticut’s Recreational Trails	Education, Publication	$13,840
Riverfront Recapture, Inc.	Hartford and East Hartford Riverwalk Trail Counting Initiative	Equipment, Amenities	$66,800
Shoreline Greenway Trail	Shoreline Greenway Trail Extension in Hammonasset State Park	Planning/Design	$120,000
Town of Ansonia	Naugatuck River Greenway (Ansonia Riverwalk)	Planning/Design	$272,000
Town of Canton	Extension of Farmington River Rail Trail, East, Additional Design Funds	Planning/Design	$60,000
Town of East Haddam	Lower Connecticut River Valley Heritage Trail/ Bike Path – East Haddam	Planning/Design, Outreach	$32,000
Town of East Hampton	Air Line Trail Gap Phase 4	Planning/Design, Construction	$404,800
Town of Greenwich (Stamford as Partner)	Greenwich-Stamford Multi-Use Path	Planning/Design	$270,400
Town of Manchester	Hop River Trail Extension to Cheney Trail	Construction	$440,000
Town of New Hartford	New Hartford Multi-Use Trail Phase 1	Planning/Design, Construction	$616,000
Town of Newington	Newington Greenway Expansion	Planning/Design	$75,000
Town of Newtown	Al’s Trail Greenway Feasibility Study	Planning/Design	$80,000
Town of Norfolk – Rails to Trails	Proposed North Brook Trail Section	Planning/Design, Construction	$399,725
Town of Old Lyme	Multi-purpose Trail and Bridge at Lieutenant River	Planning/Design	$28,500
Town of Oxford	Rockhouse Adaptive Trail Network	Planning/Design, Construction, Equipment, Amenities	$278,500
Town of Plainfield	Kate Downing Rd Open Space	Planning/Design	$10,000
Town of Preston	Poquetonuck Cove and Village Heritage Trail	Planning/Design, Construction	$59,400
Town of Putnam	Air Line Trail Connection and Improvements Project	Planning/Design, Construction, Maintenance, Publications, Outreach	$175,000
Town of Thomaston	Naugatuck River Greenway	Planning/Design	$150,000
Town of Thompson	Thompson, CT – STILL More Than Just a Train Wreck	Construction, Amenities	$457,500
Town of Watertown	Naugatuck River Greenway – Frost Bridge Rd. to Branch Brook, Watertown	Planning/Design	$299,935
Town of Wethersfield	Heritage Way Trail Improvements at Cove Park	Planning	$95,000
Town of Wilton	Norwalk River Valley Trail – WII Walk Extension	Construction	$243,000
Town of Winchester	Mad River Recreation Area Phase 1	Construction	$60,000
Town of Wolcott	Scovill (Mill Pond Way) Trail Improvements	Planning/Design, Construction, Maintenance, Equipment, Amenities	$72,000
Trust for Public Land	Mono Pond State Park Master Plan	Planning/Design	$76,725
University of Connecticut	UConn Connecticut Trails Program	Education, Outreach	$392,724
Wyndham Land Trust	Parking for Bull Hill Preserve	Planning/Design, Construction, Outreach	$24,000
Mooween State Park	Mooween Trail Parking Lot	Construction	$120,000
Harkness Memorial State Park	Harkness Boardwalk Renovation	Construction	$16,000
George Waldo State Park	Improve Access to Housatonic River	Construction	$23,090
Bennett’s Pond State Park	Green Trail Restoration	Maintenance	$34,125
Kettletown State Park	Boardwalk Replacement	Construction	$16,000
Statewide Trail Systems	Statewide Trail Maintenance & Materials	Maintenance, Equipment	$120,000

Twitter: @GovNedLamont

Facebook: Office of Governor Ned Lamont

PUBLIC NOTICE – 2023 MAP Forum Spring Meeting

Click here to access the meeting.

Click here to view the full PDF.

PUBLIC NOTICE – Metropolitan Mobility Network Meeting May 3

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC) and the Metropolitan Area Planning (MAP) Forum announce the next meeting of the Metropolitan Mobility Network on Wednesday May 3, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.

The meeting will be available as a webinar using the following link: https://meetny.webex.com/meetny/j.php?MTID=m713e40d9f1c8de97cf2114ca0c54ebdf .

In person attendance will be available at the NYMTC office, 25 Beaver Street, in lower Manhattan. Please RSVP by sending an email to NYMTC-Public-Info@dot.ny.gov. Note that in-person attendees will be required to go through security upon entering. Please allow ample time and bring a valid photo ID.

Public Notice

Public Notice – Public Information Metting Scheduled for the Cleanup of 0 Andrew Ave. In Naugatuck

The NVCOG is holding a public information meeting to present key updates on upcoming work and answer public inquiries regarding cleanup at 0 Andrew Ave, Naugatuck. The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April; 27th, 2023 at 6:30 PM and will be held in the Hall of the Mayor and Burgesses in Naugatuck Town Hall, 229 Church Street, Naugatuck, CT 06770.

Remote participation is available at https://tinyurl.com/0AndrewAve

A copy of the Analysis of Brownfields Cleanup Alternatives and the Community Relations Plan for the site are available for public review at the NVCOG offices, 49 Leavenworth Street, Third Floor, Waterbury, CT 06702, and online at: https://nvcogct.gov/project/current-projects/brownfields/naugatuck-0-andrew-avenue/

For additional information, please contact Ricardo Rodriguez, Brownfields Manager at (203)- 982-0797 or RRodriguez@nvcogct.gov or visit https://nvcogct.gov/project/current-projects/brownfields/naugatuck-0-andrew-avenue/.

Written comments may be submitted through May 7th via email to Ricardo Rodriguez, or mailed to NVCOG offices, 49 Leavenworth Street, Third Floor, Waterbury, CT 06702.

For language assistance or other accommodations, contact NVCOG at least five business days prior to the meeting.

Click here to visit the project page.

News Release: Community Walk Audit to Be Held for The Bristol Trail Study

PRESS RELEASE

Bristol, Conn. —The Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG) will hold a community walk audit on Thursday, April 20 at 4:00 p.m. as a part of the Bristol Trail Study. The walk will begin at Brackett Park located at 120 School St. and will take residents between West St. and Main St.

The Trail Study, done in collaboration with the City of Bristol, involves looking at routing options to provide a safe, continuous connection between Rockwell Park in the west to Downtown, continuing east to Route 229. The walk audit will be held to assess and collect community feedback on a section of the proposed trail that has no evident alignment. The information gathered will be used to inform routing decisions.

A public meeting was held on Wednesday March 8 to gather feedback and answer questions from the public about the study and the proposed trail alignment under consideration. Residents can still provide feedback through a community survey developed by NVCOG and the City. To access the survey, type bit.ly/BristolTrailSurvey into the web browser on your computer or smartphone.

If you have any questions, please contact Elliot Wareham, Transportation Planner, at Ewareham@nvcogct.gov or 203-489-0514.

Contact:

Desira Blanchard

Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments

203-489-0353

dblanchard@nvcogct.gov

Household Hazardous Waste and Paint Collection Scheduled for Saturday, April 22 in Middlebury

Do you have paints, cleaners, and other chemicals you need to dispose of? Let the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG) help you dispose of these hazardous wastes. NVCOG and participating municipalities will sponsor a Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) and Paint Collection event on Saturday, April 22. The collection will take place from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is open to residents of the following communities: Ansonia, Beacon Falls,Bethlehem, Derby, Middlebury, Naugatuck, Oxford, Prospect, Seymour, Southbury, Thomaston, Waterbury, Watertown, Wolcott and Woodbury.

The event will be held at the Shepardson Community Center located at 1172 Whittemore Rd., Middlebury. There is no charge to residents. Proof of residency, such as a driver’s license, tax bill, or other identification, is required for entry. There is no need to line up before the 8 a.m. start time.

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.

Examples of wastes that will be accepted include: oil- and latex-based paints and stains, thermometers and thermostats containing mercury, drain and oven cleaners, upholstery cleaners, wood cleaners, strippers and varnishes, pesticides, poisons, pool and photo chemicals, automotive cleaners and fluids, gasoline and motor oil, grease and rust solvents, aerosols, and metal polishes.

Items that will not be accepted include: auto batteries, propane tanks over 1 lbs., compressed gas cylinders, asbestos, smoke detectors, explosives, radioactive or medical waste, grout, joint compound, lead paint chips, and empty containers of any kind. The contractor reserves the right to reject additional materials.

Up to 50 lbs. of residential waste will be accepted per vehicle. Residents should leave materials in the original container whenever possible. When arriving at the collection site, residents are asked to stay in their cars at all times. Trained waste handlers will remove materials from the cars.

Unacceptable materials will be returned or left in the vehicle, and if available, instructions on how to dispose of them will be provided. For further information, please contact hhw@nvcogct.gov or call (203) 757-0535.

Contact:

NVCOG

(203) 757-0535

https://nvcogct.gov/HHW

News Release: THE CITY OF BRISTOL TO RECEIVE $6.85M FOR ROUTE 72 CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

THE CITY OF BRISTOL TO RECEIVE $6.85M FOR ROUTE 72 CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

BRISTOL, CT – The City of Bristol has been approved to receive a Community Investment Fund 2030(CIF) grant from the State of Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development in the amount of $6,850,000 for the Route 72 Corridor Improvement Project. Today’s grant will fund one element of the City’s Route 72 Corridor Improvement Project, which focuses on pedestrian safety enhancements, traffic calming, and streetscape improvements on Riverside Avenue and Park Street.

“Bristol is very excited as this will allow us to build on the momentum of downtown development. The streetscape project represents a tremendous opportunity to transform an entire corridor. We are very thankful for the great support from the entire CIF Board and DECD, who clearly recognizes that Bristol can leverage this support to link the many projects that are currently underway,” stated Bristol Mayor Jeffrey Caggiano.

The Streetscape project will mirror elements already in place on North Main and Main Streets, and will include the installation of sidewalks, lighting, signage, trees, and curbing along the busy corridor. “This will be a significant improvement to an important gateway into Downtown,” said Dawn Leger,

City Grants Administrator. “With all the development in the center of Bristol, we also need to improve the roadways leading into Downtown so that surrounding areas can benefit from the economic and aesthetic changes taking place in the City.”

The Community Investment Fund was established by the State Legislature in 2021 to support economic development in distressed communities by providing grants for capital projects to municipalities and non-profit entities operating in those cities and towns. The proposals must advance the state’s Economic Action Plan by promoting jobs, fostering vibrant neighborhoods, and addressing climate resilience as well as the specific needs of underserved or marginalized groups.

The City submitted an application for a multifaceted project that will incorporate enhancements to the Route 72 corridor, including Park Street, with proposals for capital improvements submitted by several non-profit organizations on Riverside Avenue. These include the BHA/Vesta Group’s redevelopment of the Sessions Factory into housing, plans for expansion and improvements to American Legion Post #2, improvements at the New England Carousel Museum, and potential upgrades to the Disabled American Veteran’s facility that will continue to seek funds in future rounds. The next round of applications for CIF will be reviewed in May 2023 and Bristol will continue to support the applications of all eligible projects, especially those on the corridor.

Photo attached: Mayor Caggiano attended the Community Investment Fund (CIF) 2030 Board meeting at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford on March 14th when Round 2 of CIF funding was announced, here he poses with members of the Legislature and the State of Connecticut. From left to right – Matt Pugliese, Director of CIF of the Department of Economic and Community Development for the State of Connecticut; Rob Hotaling, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Economic and Community Development for the State of Connecticut; State Representative, Mary Fortier; Alexandra Daum, Commissioner, Department of Economic and Community Development for the State of Connecticut; Stephanie Thomas, Secretary of the State; Mayor Jeffrey Caggiano, City of Bristol; and State Representative, Joe Hoxha.

Read the Press Release

Public Information Meeting Scheduled for New Mix Early Action Project

CTDOT logo

Issue Date: 03/09/2023

The Connecticut Department of Transportation welcomes the community to learn about the removal of the Exit 21 Off-Ramp on Interstate 84 Eastbound (EB) in Waterbury!

Join us!

Thursday, March 23rd, 2023, from 6-8 PM

Maloney Magnet School

233 S Elm Street, Waterbury, CT 06706

Click here for more information: https://bit.ly/Exit21NoticeENG

Haga clic aqu para ms informacin: https://bit.ly/Exit21SPNotice

Learn more about the New Mix project

Update your subscription settings

Submit a comment or question on the New Mix project

If information is needed in another language, please contact the CTDOT Title VI Specialist by phone at 860-594-2109.
Caso esta informação seja necessária em outro idioma, favor contar o Especialista em Título VI do CTDOT pelo fone 860-594-2109.
Si necesita información en otro lenguaje, favor contactar al especialista de CTDOT del Título VI al 860-594-2109.
如果您需要其他语言的信息，请联系康涅狄格州交通部（CTDOT）《民权法》第六章专职人员，电话 860-594-2109。
如果您需要其他语言的信息，请联系康涅狄格州交通部（CTDOT）《民權法》第六章專職人員，電話 860-594-2109。

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Public Notice: CTDOT VIRTUAL PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING

CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
VIRTUAL PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING

State Project Nos. 0130-0186 through 0130-0190
Rehabilitation of Bridge Nos. 07042, 07043, 07044, and 07045, Interstate 84 over various named brooks; and
Replacement of Bridge No. 07051, U.S. Route 6 and State Route 67 over South Branch Bullet Hill Brook
Southbury, CT

Please join us on Tuesday, April 4, 2023
Register: http://portal.ct.gov/DOTProject130-186thru190
YouTube Livestream: https://portal.ct.gov/ctdotvpimarchive

The purpose of this meeting is to provide the community an opportunity to learn about the proposed projects and
allow an open discussion of any views and comments concerning the proposed improvements. A Q&A session will
immediately follow the presentation.

The purpose of these projects is to address the deteriorated condition of the bridges and bring the structures to a
state of good repair.

There are temporary and permanent right-of-way easements associated with the proposed improvements.
Construction is anticipated to begin in the spring of 2026 based on the availability of funding, acquisition of rights
of way, and approval of permit(s).

Please register for the virtual public information meeting at http://portal.ct.gov/DOTProject130-186thru190.
Registration is required to participate. Once registered, you will receive a confirmation email with a link to access
the meeting.

Members of the public can submit comments and questions during the two-week public comment period following
the meeting. Please direct comments and questions by April 18, 2023 to: DOTProject130-186thru190@ct.gov and
860-594-2020 or Alvaro Garcia Jr., P.E. by email at Alvaro.Garcia@ct.gov or by phone at (860) 594-3353.

ACCESSIBILITY
This meeting will be livestreamed on YouTube, and closed captioning will be available. Non-English translation
options will be available on Zoom and YouTube. The recording will also be available on CTDOT’s YouTube Virtual
Public Information Meeting playlist: https://portal.ct.gov/ctdotvpimarchive

Persons with limited internet access, use the call-in number 877-853-5257 and enter Meeting ID 857 5640 2822.Persons with limited internet access may also request that project information be mailed to them within one week by contacting Alvaro Garcia Jr., P.E. by email at Alvaro.Garcia@ct.gov or by phone at (860) 594-3353.

Persons with hearing and/or speech disabilities may dial 711 for Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS).

Language assistance may be requested by contacting CTDOT’s Language Assistance Call Line (860) 594-2109.
Requests should be made at least five business days prior to the meeting. Language assistance is provided at no
cost to the public and efforts will be made to respond to timely requests for assistance

Category: Homepage

Click here to access the press release from the office of Governor Ned Lamont

Click here to access the press release from the office of Governor Ned Lamont

Governor Lamont Announces $9 Million in State Grants To Plan, Build, Expand, and Improve 50 Recreational Trails Across Connecticut

Grants Awarded Through DEEP’s Connecticut Recreational Trails Program

Contact:

Desira Blanchard

Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments

203-489-0353

Contact:

NVCOG

(203) 757-0535

The Connecticut Department of Transportation welcomes the community to learn about the removal of the Exit 21 Off-Ramp on Interstate 84 Eastbound (EB) in Waterbury!