Connecticut eyes $839M in upgrades to state’s transportation system

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The Connecticut State Bond Commission approved $839 million in upgrades to the state’s transportation system on Tuesday as recommended by Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont.

The governor, who serves as the chairman of the State Bond Commission, determines which projects get placed on that agenda. The projects, he said, were long overdue and compliment other projects expected to be paid for with federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act monies.

“Between our administration’s commitment to improving Connecticut’s transportation system and the bipartisan infrastructure bill that was recently approved by President Biden, we are about to enter a new era of transportation upgrades that will finally address some of our state’s most congested areas and transform our roads, bridges, rail, buses, ports, and airports into an efficient network that supports the needs of businesses and the people who live here,” Lamont said in a written statement on Monday.

Included in the projects on the agenda are $280 million to procure dual-power locomotives that will replace the state’s aging diesel locomotives; $30 million for municipalities to maintain local roads; and $51.7 million for the Local Transportation Capital Improvement Program, a revolving fund that supports local roadway projects.

“These transportation priorities are an important down payment on Connecticut’s infrastructure future,” Transportation Commissioner Joseph Giulietti said. “By advancing these state dollars, Governor Lamont is ensuring we can get more transportation jobs out on the street, we can create more jobs, and most importantly, the State of Connecticut will have an opportunity to secure more federal transportation dollars from Washington as we move forward. The federal infrastructure bill is a game-changer, and the governor is making sure the cards are stacked in Connecticut’s favor.”