The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) recently launched the Transportation Rural Improvement Program (TRIP) which supports rural communities with grant funding to complete needed infrastructure upgrades.
“CTDOT’s commitment to maintaining Connecticut’s roads is inclusive of communities in rural areas across our state,” CTDOT Commissioner Joe Giulietti said. “This investment will improve safety and increase mobility for residents from our most remote areas in Connecticut. We encourage municipalities to work with their regional Council of Government to take advantage of this opportunity to upgrade their community’s infrastructure for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists.”
TRIP is a competitive grant program supported by bonded state funds through the expanded CTDOT Capital Program. It will run for three years, providing $5 million annually.
The program is designed for communities with more than 50 percent of their populations living in a rural area and is to be used for small- to medium-scale improvements, including roadway, bridge, and pedestrian projects.
Eligible projects include sidewalks, multi-use trails for safer pedestrian and cyclist accessibility, on- and off-road bicycle facilities, and roadway, signal, and bridge structural and safety improvements of 20 feet or greater on a rural road.
Communities can apply for grants through Feb. 28.