GREENWICH, CT — Gov. Ned Lamont and Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto on this week announced that the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is awarding more than $12 million in grants to 17 municipalities for projects that will improve transportation accessibility and safety, and included are funds for Greenwich.
The town will get $799,200 for pedestrian safety improvements at three intersections in central Greenwich, according to a news release from Lamont’s office.
Chief Engineer for the town of Greenwich Gabriella Circosta-Cohee told Patch the intersections are located at:
Find out what's happening in Greenwichwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The first intersection does not have pedestrian push buttons or signals, and the curb ramp is not compliant, Circosta-Cohee said.
The second intersection has push buttons, but they’re in need of upgrades, and the third intersection has curb ramps and push buttons, but the traffic signal itself is aging and needs to be replaced.
Find out what's happening in Greenwichwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“All of these three locations need signal timing upgrades for pedestrian and vehicular phasing to improve safety and efficiency,” Circosta-Cohee added. “Because it was called out in the town’s ADA transition plan, we know that this is critical infrastructure that needs to be improved.”
The grants are being awarded through CTDOT’s Community Connectivity Grant Program.
Now in its sixth round of awards, this state-funded program provides financial support for local infrastructure initiatives that make conditions safer, more accommodating, and equitable for pedestrians and bicyclists in urban, suburban and rural centers.
“Our main streets and community centers serve as vital social, economic and transportation hubs,” Lamont said in a news release. “Improving local infrastructure for all users in community centers is a win for our whole state and opens the door to further economic growth.”
The funding limits for grants awarded in this solicitation can only be used for construction activities that range from $100,000 to $800,000, a news release from Lamont’s office said.
“From sidewalks and multi-use trails to ADA compliant ramps, these 17 projects focus on providing safety enhancements and mobility options to schools, jobs, public transit, and local economic centers,” Eucalitto added. “Thank you to Governor Lamont and the General Assembly for supporting these important capital improvements across the state.”
Funding for the Greenwich intersection projects was originally requested by DPW during the budget process last year, but the department was told to find grant money.
The grant money covers 100 percent of the cost, Circosta-Cohee said.
Once the final design for the projects is completed, the state can grant authorization for the town to go out to bid.
Click Here: women football tracksuits
The news release noted that 138 awards totaling more than $62 million will have been invested in Connecticut’s towns and cities. Municipalities that have been selected to receive grants will be expected to complete the project within three years.
Circosta-Cohee said the work can “definitely” be done within that time frame.
“We’re very fortunate to receive this grant. There was a lot of work and effort on our part to complete the grant application. It was very competitive,” Circosta-Cohee said. “It’s definitely infrastructure that needs to be improved as soon as possible.”
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.