Department of Transportation

At a Glance

JAMES F. BYRNES, JR., Commissioner

James A. Adams, Deputy Commissioner

Established – 1969

Statutory authority – CGS P.A. 69-768

Central office – 2800 Berlin Turnpike,

Newington, CT 06131-7546

Authorized number of full-time employees – 3,751

Recurring operating expenses - $363.5 million

Capital budget - $723.7 million

Organizational structure – Office of the Commissioner, Bureau of Aviation and Ports, Bureau of Finance and Administration, Bureau of Engineering and Highway Operations, Bureau of Policy and Planning, Bureau of Public Transportation, State Traffic Commission.

Mission

To provide a safe, efficient and cost-effective transportation system that meets the mobility needs of its users.

Statutory Responsibility

The agency shall be responsible for all aspects of the planning, development, maintenance and improvement of transportation in the state (Section 13b-3 C.G.S.). The agency serves its customers by providing safe and efficient systems for the movement of people and goods within, to or from the state, whether by highway, air, water, rail or other means (Section 13b-2(I).

Information Reported as Required by State Statute

The agency shall develop and revise, biennially, a comprehensive long-range transportation plan designed to fulfill the present and future needs of the state and to assure the development and maintenance of an adequate, safe and efficient transportation system (Section 13b-15 C.G.S). The purpose of the Master Transportation Plan is to provide its customers, the Administration, the General Assembly, local elected officials, and the general public with a comprehensive understanding of the transportation projects and programs that the agency will be pursuing over the next ten years. The strategic goals of the agency are to ensure safety, maintain the existing system, increase system productivity, promote economic development and provide required capacity.

Affirmative Action Policy

It is the established policy of the Department to guarantee equal employment opportunity and to implement affirmative action programs. All services and programs of the Department are administered in a fair and impartial manner, pursuant to the State Code of Fair Practices and all other relevant state and federal laws and regulations. The Department continued to work cooperatively with the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities and other state and federal compliance agencies in conducting reviews and providing requested information.

Improvements/Achievements 2002-03

Bradley International Airport's terminal improvement program focused on completion of the new Unified Terminal. The East Concourse opened offering temporary relocation facilities to airlines while portions of Concourse C were renovated. The airport's new Federal Inspection Station/International Arrivals Building opened and immediately provided services for charters, corporate aircraft and cargo services.

The Bureau of Aviation and Ports worked with Bradley's Board of Directors to implement new marketing programs including a redesigned website and refined media ads. The airport continued participation in the development of a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) funded New England Regional Airport System Plan.

Through a public/private partnership, a new control tower was opened at Waterbury-Oxford Airport staffed by the FAA.

The Department continued to manage all programs and projects to maximize federal funds allocated to Connecticut for improvements to all transportation facilities. Significant completed projects include: reconstruction of I-95 in Stamford; and construction of a 50,000-square-foot warehouse designed for heavy cargo at the Admiral Harold E. Shear State Pier in New London. Major projects under way include: resurfacing, safety improvements and bridge repairs on I-84 in Danbury, Southbury and West Hartford; reconstruction of the west side at the Admiral Harold E. Shear State Pier in New London; upgrading and reconstruction of I-95 in Bridgeport; reconstruction of Route 15 over the Housatonic River between Milford and Stratford; and reconstruction of the Stamford Railroad Station Center Island Platforms.

The Bureau of Engineering and Highway Operations continued to manage all programs and projects to maximize federal funds allocated to Connecticut for improvements to all transportation facilities. Significant completed projects include: replacement of the Tomlinson Bridge in New Haven; reconstruction of I-95 interchange 56 in Branford; resurfacing of I-91 in Windsor Locks and resurfacing of I-84 in West Hartford. Major projects under way include: resurfacing, safety improvements and bridge repairs on I-84 in Danbury, Southbury, Waterbury and Cheshire; upgrading and reconstruction of I-95 in Bridgeport, Darien and Branford; reconstruction of Route 15 over the Housatonic River between Milford and Stratford; and reconstruction of the Stamford Railroad Station center island platforms.

The largest capital program within the Department's current plan is the I-95 New Haven Harbor Crossing Corridor Improvement Program. The program includes both roadway and transit improvements to increase capacity and reduce congestion between New Haven and Branford. A new commuter railroad station at State Street in New Haven was opened last year and the Branford portion of the highway reconstruction is well under way. Additional contracts will proceed to construction in East Haven and New Haven in the coming year. The entire program will occur in stages through 2012.

The Department is also developing a preliminary design for a new transit system, the New Britain-Hartford Busway. Upon completion of the preliminary design and securing the necessary funding, a design-build contract will be advertised and awarded to complete the final design and construct the busway.

The Bureau of Policy and Planning completed major planning studies for I-84 (from the New York state line to Waterbury and Hartford); Truck Stop and Rest Area Parking; Feeder Barge Feasibility; and Intrastate Passenger Ferry Service Feasibility. The Bureau also initiated studies for Statewide Airport Systems; I-95 Southeast Corridor; and the New Haven to Springfield Commuter Rail Service Feasibility.

The Bureau of Policy and Planning provided extensive support for the Transportation Strategy Board (TSB) program initiatives, studies and projects.

The Bureau of Public Transportation maintains a fiscally constrained Transit Capital Plan that fully programs all state and federal funds expected to be made available for a 20-year period. Significant activities by the Bureau included: condition studies and structural improvement plans for the state’s railroad bridges; catenary rehabilitation along the New Haven Rail Line; rehabilitation of a significant portion of the state’s rail rolling stock to maintain reliable service schedules; a major study to determine the next generation of rail rolling stock needed; purchase of replacement buses for the Connecticut Transit System and Southeast Area Transit; planning studies to assess the viability of new rail services, new rail station locations, and bus and rail governance options; and investigation of opportunities for innovative financing programs such as design/build and tax advantaged leasing.

The Bureau of Public Transportation developed an Implementation Plan for a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) System for the capital area from New Britain to Hartford.

The new State Street Railroad Station was opened in New Haven marking the completion of the first of several projects as part of the I-95 New Haven Harbor Crossing Corridor Improvement Program. The I-95 New Haven Improvement Program involves both roadway and transit improvements to increase capacity and reduce congestion in the I-95 corridor between New Haven and Branford. The program includes construction of a new ten-lane Pearl Harbor Memorial (Q) Bridge, expansion of I-95 between Exit 46 in New Haven and Exit 54 in Branford, and reconfiguration of the I-95/I-91/Route 34 interchange, as well as railroad station enhancements in Branford, Guilford, Madison and Clinton. The entire project will occur in stages through 2012.

The Bureau of Policy and Planning conducts planning activities for transit, highways, goods movement, commuter parking, bicycle and recreation, airports, and performs environmental analysis for all projects. The Bureau also coordinates statewide transportation planning activities with the Regional Planning Agencies.

The Bureau of Policy and Planning administered programs for commuter parking facilities and pedestrian and bicyclist needs. Continuing major studies include Statewide Airport Systems Plan; I-95 Branford – Rhode Island; New Haven-Springfield Commuter Rail Service; Rail Station and Parking Governance; I-95 Commuter Shoulder and Hartford East Bus Rapid Transit. Major studies initiated include Danbury Branch Electrification; I-84/Route 8 Interchange; Oxford Airport Master Plan.

The Bureau of Policy and Planning published the 2003 Master Transportation Plan and provided extensive support for the Transportation Strategy Board (TSB) program initiatives, studies and projects.

The Bureau of Public Transportation’s mission is to provide mobility to the residents of the state and to enhance economic development, access to jobs and the environment by providing safe, efficient, economical, and reliable transportation alternatives. Significant improvements/achievements include:

o Development and maintenance of a fiscally constrained Transit Capital Plan that fully programs all state and federal funds expected to be made available over a 20-year horizon.

o Development of condition studies and structural improvement plans for the state’s railroad bridges.

o Construction of catenary rehabilitation along the New Haven Mainline.

o Rehabilitation of a significant portion of the state’s rail rolling stock to maintain reliable service schedules.

o Continuation of major study to determine the next generation of rail rolling stock needed.

o Completion of the New Haven Interlocking project, a major reconfiguration of the tracks serving New Haven Terminal to allow for improved commuter operations and for Northeast Corridor express trains.

o Purchase of replacement buses for the Connecticut Transit System and Southeast Area Transit.

o Expansion and renovation of Connecticut Transit bus facility in Stamford.

o Preliminary design for two major bus maintenance facilities in Watertown and Hamden.

o Investigation of opportunities for innovative financing programs such as design/build.

o Implementation of innovative financing program utilizing tax advantage leasing.

o Continued the implementation plan for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) System for the capitol area from New Britain to Hartford and the project is currently in preliminary design.