As the risk of flooding increases with more frequent and higher rainfall amounts in Connecticut, the NVCOG has partnered with the other non-coastal Councils of Governments in the state to develop a Transportation Resilience Improvement Plan (TRIP) for local roads. The Inland CT TRIP will complement work currently underway by the CT Department of Transportation. The CTDOT is developing a similar plan for roads owned and maintained by the state. The Inland CT TRIP will assess the vulnerability of low-lying roads, culverts and bridges from heavy rain events and identify high-risk areas. The project will develop conceptual improvements and specific steps that towns can take s to keep the transportation system safe and open by bolstering its resilience to heavy rainfall, inland flooding and climate change
By developing a Transportation Resilience Improvement Plan, all towns within the project area will become stronger candidates and have lower funding match requirements for implementation funding under the PROTECT Program. This study will not only use data to identify the most vulnerable areas but lay out a path for towns to build the improvements needed to keep the transportation system safe and open.
This study will result in three primary outcomes:
- Data based vulnerability and risk assessment – The project team will assess the vulnerability and risks of low-lying roads, bridges and culverts to riverine and rain-driven flooding and, based on a data-driven approach and site-specific engineering assessments, quantify and monetize risks.
- Web-based vulnerability tool – Once the risk assessment is completed, data will be uploaded to an interactive mapping tool to ensure that information is available in real time that can be updated as projects to address vulnerabilities are undertaken.
- Transportation Resilience Improvement Plan – The project team will develop a culminating Transportation Resilience Implementation Plan to advance resilience throughout the project are. The TRIP will compile the data, assessments and findings from previous tasks, present a list of the highest priority actions and projects, and lays out strategies to fund and execute these projects.
Public Engagement
The project team has developed a public participation plan to ensure that everyone is kept updated and informed about the project. A Technical Advisory Committee has been convened. Members include representatives of the COGs, municipalities, state agencies and other non-government organizations. Two Regional meetings will be held to present the results of vulnerability and risk assessments and share capacity building resources and tools.
Feedback from residents and municipal staff will help direct the work that the project team does identifying the areas of highest risk and developing mitigation strategies that work for each community. The project team has created and distributed a Public Flooding Survey to understand how and where flooding affects the community and transportation system, and document relevant experiences, concerns, and priorities from residents. Take the survey.
Feedback from residents will help guide the project team’s efforts to identify the areas of highest risk and develop mitigation strategies that work for each community. Ongoing public information will be provided on this webpage and through NVCOG’s social media platforms.
Upcoming Meetings
The project team will host a series of meetings providing more information to the public regarding the project’s findings and suggested improvements as work progresses. Future public meeting information will be posted here.
Stay Updated on Social Media
As the project progresses, staff will provide ongoing updates and insights into the development of plans and results of the environmental assessments. Stay up to date on the NVCOG website and its social media platforms, which include Facebook, Instagram, X (Formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn.
