Gov. Ned Lamont wants a vote on tolls by next week, the House speaker says that’s ‘unrealistic’

Despite strong pushback from veteran legislators, Gov. Ned Lamont was advocating Thursday for a vote on highway tolls before the end of the regular session next week. House Majority Leader Matt Ritter, D-Hartford, said Lamont is well aware of the sometimes slow-moving and deliberative process of the legislature, which often leads to long debates on […]

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Sen. Chris Murphy says rail financing system “fundamentally broken” after Mystic River bridge gets stuck and delays Amtrak train

“Some of these Amtrak brides were built during the Grover Cleveland Administration (no joke),” Murphy tweeted. “It’s time to admit that the current financing system for rail in the northeast is fundamentally broken and needs to be rebuilt from scratch.” The truss-style swing bridge was built in 1984 and replaced a previous span that dated […]

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Waterbury school board to vote on construction contract for new school

The Board of Education will convene a special meeting Thursday to vote on a contract with Hartford-based Newfield Construction – the firm the city had selected to oversee the construction of a new Wendell Cross Elementary School. The proposed contract outlines $3,164,916 in fees and costs – most of them related to pre-construction and construction […]

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Four developers submit bids to renovate Waterbury’s Odd Fellows building

Four development groups are interested in renovating the former Odd Fellows building at 36 North Main St. with the backing of $10 million from the state. It could take a considerably longer to finish negotiating an agreement that satisfies the city, the developer and the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development. The DECD holds […]

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Meriden wraps up Pratt Street Gateway project

Public Works Director Howard Weissberg said the project, which began in December 2017, is scheduled to finish next week. The city pursued the project, Weissberg said, primarily to improve traffic safety and cut down on motor vehicle accidents along Pratt Street by reducing the number of travel lanes and adding turning lanes. The work on […]

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Connecticut’s largest labor organization endorses Gov. Lamont’s toll plan

The Connecticut AFL-CIO joins other labor groups in backing tolls as a way to fund transportation upgrades and repairs. “The Building Trades represent thousands of skilled construction workers across Connecticut who are trained and certified to meet our state’s workforce demands,” said David Roche, president of the Connecticut State Building and Construction Trades Council. “We […]

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CT lawmakers to consider $60M XL Center upgrades

State lawmakers are considering a plan to invest $60 million into Hartford’s XL Center over the next two fiscal years, in addition to exploring a public-private partnership that would relieve the state and taxpayers from shouldering future investments. The potential bonding package would fund up to $30 million in each of the next two fiscal […]

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Time To Fix Connecticut’s Aging Transportation Infrastructure

57% percent of Connecticut’s roads are in poor condition, and over one-third of Connecticut’s bridges are either structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. There are currently three options being put forward to fix the state’s failing transportation systems. The first is to continue to do nothing. The second is to borrow billions of dollars through bonding, […]

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Benefits of Killingly Energy Center begin with jobs

NTE, the developer and owner of KEC, will fund and construct all infrastructure improvements that are required, which will support Killingly’s future economic development needs by improving the community’s critical infrastructure, including replacing older natural gas pipelines, connecting neighboring water systems and enhancing existing roadways. In fact, NTE is committed to investing $700 million in […]

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Lamont willing to compromise on transportation — if tolls are involved

The Democratic governor pledged to dedicate more resources to transportation construction between now and 2024 — the first year toll receipts might be available. But the governor also insisted any bargain would have to include electronic tolls, saying this was essential to provide long-term fiscal stability to a transportation program otherwise headed for insolvency. This […]

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Stamford’s Atlantic Station construction resumes

Excavation and foundational work are underway at 405 Atlantic St., on a 325-unit structure that is expected to take about two years to complete. “Atlantic Station, as a development, is really creating that connectivity between downtown living and mass transit,” said Joseph Graziose, vice president-project executive of RXR Realty, the Manhattan-based owner and co-developer of […]

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E. Windsor senior housing breaks ground

New York company Calamar is developing the property, a 55-and-over housing development expected to open next summer, and its vice president of facilities, Marc Guizzo, said East Windsor has been a strong partner. Calamar has said the development represents a $16 million investment in East Windsor. First Selectman Robert Maynard said the project represents economic […]

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Lamont backs tribal casino in Bridgeport, sources say

As gambling negotiations with the Connecticut tribes enter their fifth month, Gov. Ned Lamont is privately inclined to back efforts to bring a tribal casino to Bridgeport, instead of a deal for an MGM resort in the city, multiple sources said. Lamont does not want to risk losing state revenue by jeopardizing a longstanding gambling […]

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New Fairfield moves ahead with school plans

The school board voted unanimously Wednesday night to ask the selectmen if the district could seek state funding for both projects, which would cost $109.4 million without the grant. The plan is to build a $79.3 million high school on the site of the existing campus and construct a $30.1 million addition onto Meeting House […]

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A railroad bridge in the Elmwood section of West Hartford is getting a makeover

With Amtrak steadfastly refusing to strip and paint the bridge, the state government has stepped in to commission a $331,000 makeover. Atsalis Brothers Painting is blasting off the peeling paint and putting down primer this week and next, and will repaint the bridge before the contract deadline of May 19, Verrangia said. Atsalis Brothers Painting […]

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Amazon on pace to open North Haven facility this summer

Richard Dyce, director of operations at the new plant, told about 180 area business leaders late last month that the Amazon robotics fulfillment center set to open in August is more technologically advanced than any currently in operation throughout the company’s massive network. Amazon eyed the former Pratt & Whitney site in North Haven, less […]

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Avoid I-95 gridlock for Stamford bridge replacement, officials warn

Officials believe the short-term headache will be well worth the nuisance since the accelerated timeline of the project will create the least amount of strain on drivers. Using accelerated bridge construction technology, two separate spans of the prefabricated bridge will be rolled into place over two weekends. Using traditional methods, the construction project could have […]

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Lawmakers make push to wrest control of CT’s credit card from governor

The Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee voted 46-4 to approve a bill that transfers control of the State Bond Commission, a statutorily created 10-member panel that acts as a check on borrowing, from the governor to the legislature. The state borrows billions of dollars annually to pay for school construction, capital projects at state universities, […]

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Democratic leaders say Trump agrees to $2 trillion infrastructure tab

President Donald Trump and Democratic congressional leaders agreed Tuesday to work together on a $2 trillion infrastructure package — but put off for later the difficult question of how to pay for it. Pelosi and congressional Democrats had asked for the meeting with Trump to discuss launching an ambitious building program that’s a top priority […]

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