Department of Transportation

At a Glance

STEPHEN E. KORTA, II, Commissioner

Established – October 1, 1969

Statutory authority – CGS P.A. 69-768

Central office – 2800 Berlin Turnpike,

Newington, CT 06131-7546

Authorized number of full-time employees – 3,225

Recurring operating expenses - $411.7 million

Fiscal Year 2006 Capital budget - $648 million

Organizational structure – Office of 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 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

The Department of Transportation is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the established policy of the Department to assure equal 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 continues to work cooperatively with the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities and other state and federal compliance agencies in conducting various reviews and providing requested information.

Improvements/Achievements 2005-06

The Bureau of Aviation and Ports, in concert with the Bradley International Airport Board of Directors completed a new Master Plan to guide development of the Airport over the next 20 years. The Master Plan focuses on additional terminal, parking, rental car, cargo and related infrastructure improvement projects. The Bureau and Board also took a major step forward in securing efficient funding of these Master Plan projects by executing two forward starting interest rate swap agreements. These agreements lock in today’s favorable interest rate environment providing significant savings on either a refunding of existing Airport revenue bonds or issuance of additional bonds for future development in the year 2011 when funding will be needed to implement the Master Plan. The current terminal improvement program at Bradley will be completed with the opening of the renovated Terminal A scheduled for the fall of 2007. The Bureau continued significant business development efforts for Bradley as well, and was successful in securing additional concession services in the terminal complex. The Bradley Air Service Development Fund was tapped for the first time, providing incentive funding to Delta Airlines for new service to Los Angeles. The Board and Bureau extended the Fund for an additional year and increased its focus on securing trans-atlantic service to Europe.

Improvements at the state-owned general aviation airports include the extension of Taxiway B at Oxford Airport, construction of a new access road, aircraft parking apron and security improvements at Windham Airport, and the realignment of Taxiway’s B & C at Groton-New London Airport. Improvements at the State Pier Facility include providing utilities to the state’s western finger pier (formerly CVR Pier) and security improvements.

The Bureau of Aviation and Ports, in support of the Connecticut Maritime Commission, has brought needed attention to the dredging needs of the state’s ports and waterways. The Maritime Commission drafted a Maritime Policy Statement forwarding the document to both the Governor and the legislative leaders.

The Maritime Policy focuses on two areas: dredging and economic development. The Policy statement addresses the importance of dredging to maintain channels and harbors that are vital to the state’s economic stability and the regions that extend beyond Connecticut borders. Dredging of the channels is crucial to the viability of the three major ports in Connecticut. However, maintaining adequate water depths in the smaller port harbors and channels also has an economic effect that will impact employment and the quality of life that is so much enjoyed in Connecticut.

The second part of the Maritime Policy concerns economic development itself. It addresses the importance of stimulating various maritime capital projects to promote the maritime community so it can flourish and maintain a strong economic base for the state.

On a related matter, the Bureau of Aviation and Ports brought a new focus to the Connecticut Pilot Commission (CPC). Working with the CPC, the Bureau submitted legislation to increase the Commission’s responsibilities and to increase the membership of the Commission.

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: the Emergency Bridge Project (due to a tank truck fire over the Norwalk River) on Route 7, Ridgefield; the reconstruction of the Columbus Boulevard bridge over the Whitehead Highway, Hartford; the construction of the Columbus Boulevard roadway at the Convention Center, Hartford; the reconstruction of Route 66, Middletown (Phase 1); the bridge rehabilitation of Route 82 over the Connecticut River, Haddam; the reconstruction of Interstate (I-95) in Bridgeport; the reconstruction of I-95 in East Haven (Contract C1); the reconstruction of I-95, Interchange 81, Waterford; and the upgrading of the Branford Railroad Station have been substantially completed. Major projects underway include: the reconstruction of I-84 in Waterbury, Cheshire and Southington; the reconstruction of Route 6 in Brooklyn; the reconstruction of the Amtrak bridge over 372 in Berlin; the reconstruction of I-95, Interchange 42, West Haven; the replacement of the Route 15 bridge over the Housatonic River, Stratford; the reconstruction of Route 7, New Milford; the rehabilitation of the Devon Bridge in Milford; the reconstruction of I-95 in New Haven – (Contract C2); the construction of the New Haven Rail Yard – Phase 1 – Running Repair Shop; the reconstruction of Route 66, Middletown (Phase 2); the reconstruction of the Madison Railroad Station Platform; and various safety and operational improvements throughout the state.

The largest capital program with 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 in 2002, and the Branford portion of the highway reconstruction was completed in 2004. The reconstruction of I-95 in the East Haven portion of the highway is completed and a soil preloading and advance utility contract at the I-95/I-91 Interchange is well underway. The contract for the new Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge has been advertised by the Department and is expected to start construction next year.

The first of its kind in the United States, the cable stayed extradosed bridge is estimated to cost $400 million. The entire New Haven Harbor Crossing Corridor Improvement Program is estimated to cost $1.3 billion and will be completed in late 2014.

The Department is also developing a preliminary design for a new transit system, the New Britain-Hartford Busway. This new transit system will provide a direct connection along a new fixed guideway between downtown New Britain and downtown Hartford. Up to ten intermediate station stops are planned along the Busway route. The Department is waiting for the Federal Transit Administration approval to enter final design, and the approval is anticipated by September 30, 2006. The design of the Busway is presently underway and is expected to be complete by 2008. Construction is expected to start in 2007 and take approximately four years, resulting in an anticipated revenue operations date for the bus rapid transit system of 2011.

The Office of Maintenance and Highway Operations provided roadway and roadside maintenance to 5,682 effective two-lane miles of roadway and provided snow removal and other roadway maintenance services to 61 state agencies. With respect to snow and ice control, there were 11 winter storms which required the use of 124,810 tons of chloride and 204,815 cubic yards of sand abrasives applied by 632 state trucks and 200 contracted trucks. Maintenance of existing roadways included 344 miles with the following applications: 193 miles of vendor-applied bituminous concrete overlay and 51 miles of liquid surface treatment. In addition, 17,928 feet of drainage pipe were installed along with 202 drainage structures. During the past year, maintenance repairs were performed on 857 of the 3,829 state-maintained bridges through the combined efforts of Department personnel and contractors. The Traffic Services Units painted 3,450 miles of center lines and lane lines; erected 2,620 new traffic regulatory, warning and directional signs; renewed or removed 7,706 existing signs; continued maintenance of 3,775 traffic signals and 1,042 miles of highway illumination; and installed 139 new traffic signals and 91 signal revisions.

The Department’s computerized traffic control signal systems include a total of 891 traffic signals on 56 major arterials in 54 municipalities. The Newington and Bridgeport Operations Centers monitor 251 highway cameras and operate 88 variable message signs and 10 highway advisory radio stations. The Operations Centers responded to a total of 2,363 reported incidents on the state’s limited access highway system. The Department’s Connecticut Highway Assistance Motorist Patrol (CHAMP) Program provided highway assistance to a total of 7,563 motorists along the I-95 corridor from the New York state line to the Branford/Guilford town line. In the greater Hartford area the CHAMP Program provided assistance to 9,852 motorists.

The Bureau of Policy and Planning conducts planning studies and associated activities for the movement of people and goods for all modes of transportation, including highway, rail, bus, aviation, maritime, rideshare/commuter parking facilities, bicycle, and recreational. Alternatives and environmental analysis and documentation are prepared for all proposed projects.

The Bureau of Policy and Planning administered programs during the 2005-2006 fiscal year for commuter parking facilities, pedestrian access, bicycling, and safe routes to school. Continuing major studies include the Statewide Airport System Plan, I-84 Waterbury – Danbury Environmental Impact Statement, Statewide Service Plaza Study, Danbury Rail Branch Electrification Study (Phases I and II), I-84/Route 8 Waterbury Interchange Needs and Feasibility Study, Oxford Airport Master Plan Update, and Federal Aviation Registration Part 150 Noise Studies. Major planning studies initiated include the New Haven Rail Line, Waterbury and New Canaan Branch Lines Study, State Rail Plan Update, New Haven-Hartford-Springfield Commuter Rail Environmental Assessment, Buckland Area Transportation Study (Manchester), Middletown Area River Crossing (Arrigoni Bridge) Needs Assessment, and Danielson Airport Master Plan.

The Bureau of Policy and Planning published the Transportation Planning Process and the Transportation Trends and Planning Data reports and provided extensive support for the Transportation Strategy Board program initiatives, studies, and projects. The Bureau also participates in various planning studies statewide in coordination with the Regional Planning Organizations and other state agencies.

In addition, the Bureau of Policy and Planning maintains the state’s traffic counting program, accident records system, and an inventory of the highway system. This data, as well as future land use and employment projections, is used to estimate future travel demand, identify current and future capacity deficiencies, analyze alternate highway and transit improvements, and is used in environmental studies.

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:

¨ Continued construction of catenary rehabilitation along the New Haven Main Line.

¨ Development of condition studies and structural improvement plans for the state’s railroad bridges and New Haven Line passenger platforms.

¨ Continued rehabilitation of the state’s M2 rail cars, a total of 100 complete, to maintain reliable service.

¨ Began the necessary repairs and reconditioning of 33 Mafersa rail cars purchased from the state of Virginia in order to provide additional seats on the New Haven Line.

¨ Completed the Request for Proposal process for the M8 rail car purchase to replace the New Haven Line Electric Multiple Unit fleet.

¨ Began procurement with Metro-North Railroad for the purchase of six New Haven Line shuttle locomotives and five non-revenue service locomotives.

¨ Issued Requests for Proposals for the purchase of six dual mode locomotives, with options for up to 10, for use on the New Haven Line and Shore Line East.

¨ Began the study phase with Metro-North Railroad to evaluate the New Haven Line communication and signal system to ultimately provide recommendations for the replacement of the system.

¨ Construction began and achieved approximately 60 percent completion for the Running Repair Maintenance Shop in the New Haven Yard.

¨ Completed the design and awarded the construction contract for the New Haven Rail Yard Security project, which includes new fencing, gates, lighting, cameras and a security guard shack.

¨ Began design phase for the New Haven Rail Yard Master Complex.

¨ Achieved approximately 30 percent design for the rehabilitation of the Walk and Saga movable bridges on the New Haven Line.

¨ Construction was completed for new Shore Line East Stations with high-level platforms at Branford, Clinton and Guilford.

¨ Completed the design and awarded the construction contract for Shore Line East improvements at Madison Station.

¨ Purchased 58 replacement buses for the Connecticut Transit System, Southeast Area Transit and Windham Transit District.

¨ Completed final design for a new $80 million bus maintenance facility in Hamden.

¨ Continued advanced preliminary design for the Bus Rapid Transit System for the New Britain to Hartford Busway.