Central Naugatuck Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization Designated a Transportation Management Area

(Waterbury, CT) – The Central Naugatuck Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization (CNVMPO) is pleased to announce its recent designation as a Transportation Management Area (TMA), approved by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation. As specified under the federal transportation regulations codified in 23 USC §134(k)(1), the CNVMPO requested designation because its population did not meet the threshold for such designation automatically. Governor Lamont fully supported and concurred with this request. This significant designation represents a pivotal moment in the CNVMPO’s ongoing commitment to enhancing transportation infrastructure and services in the Waterbury urban area and its surrounding communities.

The CNVMPO, chaired by Mayor of Waterbury Neil O’Leary, is the federally designated metropolitan planning organization for the Waterbury urban area, serving a diverse urban population of 331,564 people, according to the most recent Census statistics. The complex, diverse, multimodal transportation infrastructure in the CNVMPO planning region necessitates a thorough approach to system performance evaluation and identifying opportunities for improvement. TMA designation provides the CNVMPO more local control to implement transportation projects that align with the needs and aspirations of the municipalities it serves. Furthermore, this designation secures federal funding opportunities to drive transformative projects aimed at improving quality of life, decreasing congestion, and protecting the environment.

Richard Donovan, Transportation Planning Director at the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG), expressed his gratitude, stating, “We deeply appreciate the Connecticut Department of Transportation, Governor Lamont, and USDOT for acknowledging the quality of the planning program executed by the staff of the CNVMPO. We eagerly anticipate the positive impact that the TMA designation will bring to our communities. With the aging transportation network in the Waterbury Urban Area, we see a valuable opportunity to revitalize our infrastructure in a way that promotes economic development, enhances safety, and fosters transportation equity within our region.”

This designation was made possible through collaboration and coordination with the CNVMPO’s partners, including the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT). The CNVMPO worked closely with the CTDOT and Connecticut Division of Federal Highway Administration. Their support was invaluable for securing this designation.