Western Connecticut Safety Improvements
The Western Connecticut Council of Governments (WestCOG) has been awarded $3.96 Million from US DOT to implement safety improvements in western Connecticut. The total project cost of $4.95 Million includes a 20 percent non-Federal match. The proposed projects are based on the recommendations from WestCOG’s Regional Transportation Safety Plan (RTSP, 2021).
The RTSP was endorsed in June 2021 and serves as a road map and strategy to reduce fatalities and serious injuries. The RTSP was funded by and worked on collaboratively with the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT). The RTSP is data-driven, multimodal and multidisciplinary. The plan was developed involving local stakeholders representing the four Es of transportation safety: engineering, enforcement, education, and emergency response. The RTSP identifies the region’s high-frequency crash locations involving fatalities, serious injuries and all injuries for both motorized and non-motorized users. The plan also outlines effective countermeasures and strategies to improve safety at each of these high-risk locations.
WestCOG has coordinated with our member municipalities to identify safety projects from the RTSP and develop a regional program of systemic safety improvements at 93 locations throughout western Connecticut. These improvements include traffic signal retroreflective backplates, new or restriped crosswalks, high visibility crosswalks, curb extensions, installation of dynamic speed feedback signs, leading pedestrian intervals at traffic signals, conversion of some intersections to all-way STOP control, adding or replacing signage, striping edge lines, roadside design improvements at curves, adding or restriping pavement markings, and enhanced lighting. Safety projects are proposed for road intersections and corridors under both CT state and local jurisdiction.
This project will take the safety projects through the engineering and design process, environmental review, right-of-way acquisition (if needed), permits and approvals, and construction. Consultant(s) will be retained for design and construction supervision and a contractor will be selected for construction.
Initiation of this project is pending a final review by the US Department of Transportation in Washington, DC. Once underway, design and construction activities are expected to occur over a period of five years. Please contact Mike Wilson at 475-323-2074 to learn more about this project.