Ten-percent tax credits for developers who convert commercial properties into residential dwellings is the center piece of proposed housing priorities for the legislative session, majority Democrats in the state Senate announced on Tuesday. At least 50 apartment units per property would have to be in the conversions, with at least 20 percent designated as affordable housing, under the incentive program aimed at persuading suburbs to develop more units. The proposed initiatives, announced during a morning news conference, include $20 million to fund programs for the homeless, and a $25 million infusion for the state Department of Housing’s rental assistance fund. Over the years, suburbs have been reticent to support affordable housing units, stressing their powers under home rule to decide on zoning issues, even as the state has about 100,000 open jobs and a need for as many dwelling units.

https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/ct-tax-break-residential-commercial-development-18677097.php

The American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) and the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) jointly filed amicus briefs in support of 22 states challenging the Biden Administration’s new Greenhouse gas performance measure for state transportation departments. The two associations noted the new rule is likely to divert resources from vital new infrastructure projects and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) lacks the statutory authority to impose the measure. The Greenhouse gas rule requires state transportation departments to set and report on two- and four-year statewide emissions reduction targets as part of the planning process for highway and bridge projects. States must set initial targets by spring of this year, with subsequent targets due by Oct. 1, 2026. Those states failing to meet these goals must submit updated plans to FHWA outlining actions to achieve them.

https://www.constructionequipmentguide.com/construction-associations-back-state-challenge-to-federal-rule-that-diverts-infrastructure-resources-from-vital-projects/63970

The city this year will bond $2.47 million to pay for infrastructure, emergency service equipment and other capital improvements, including those related to a recent church steeple collapse. The bonding is split into two portions ― $1.8 million for road, sidewalks and other infrastructure work, and $673,000 for fire, police and municipal computer equipment purchases. The total bonding amount is approximately $500,000 less than in past years, Finance Director David McBride said on Wednesday, a reduction he attributed to “numerous reasons.” Public Works’ Director Brian Sear said the $1.8 million bond amount is slightly less than the $2 million or so allotted in past years for infrastructure-related work across the city. In 2020 and 2021, the city received a total of $26.2 million in ARPA funding. McBride said the roughly $1 million in federal funding still not allotted by the city must be earmarked for use by the end of the year.

https://www.theday.com/local-news/20240221/new-london-will-bond-2-4-million-to-pay-for-infrastructure-and-equipment-costs-2/

The head of the Connecticut Airport Authority said Wednesday that federal funding for safety and lighting improvements and snow removal at the Groton-New London Airport continues to help position the airport to realize its longtime goal of commercial airline service. While the airport faces competition from Tweed New Haven Airport and T.F. Green International Airport in Rhode Island, it has a lot to offer with the population and businesses in the region, said Connecticut Airport Authority Executive Director Kevin A. Dillon. About $2.9 million in funding will benefit improvements, starting this spring, on two of the airport’s taxiways, said Bob Bruno, director of planning, engineering and environmental services for the Connecticut Airport Authority. Existing lights and signs will be replaced by brighter, more energy-efficient LED lights and signs that will provide a better line of sight for aircraft and save money on utility bills. Extra pavement on the taxiways’ shoulders will be removed so there will be more grass and less impervious surface, according to the airport authority.

https://www.theday.com/local-news/20240221/upgrades-planned-for-groton-new-london-airport/

United Illuminating Company has gotten the OK to build multi-story steel poles north of the railroad tracks between Fairfield and Bridgeport. The council’s decision would relocate the monopoles that UI applied to build along the southern side of the tracks, where the structures, designed to support electric lines, would have sliced through 19.25 acres of private property that the company would be authorized to use. UI has touted the project as a necessary upgrade that will modernize its infrastructure and strengthen reliability since announcing the work in 2022. Gerber said town officials are weighing an appeal and consulting with its legal team. UI has not released the design for the revised project, leaving the height, location and overall impact of the monopoles unknown, according to the town release.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/fairfield/article/ui-monopoles-fairfield-siting-council-ct-18677155.php

A bill proposed this month by Gov. Ned Lamont would rename the Connecticut Port Authority and essentially absorb the group into the state’s airport authority. The bill calls for identifying the port authority as the “Connecticut Maritime Authority” and making it a subsidiary of the airport group, according to a copy of the act provided to The Day on Tuesday. Under the proposed new management system, the airport authority’s board would also serve as the new maritime authority’s board of directors. The airport authority’s executive director would also serve as chief administrative officer for the new maritime group. Board Chairman David Kooris said the port authority has always been challenged by its small size as the CAA’s approximately 160 direct employees far outnumber the port authority’s handful of paid staff members. He said the General Assembly’s Transportation Committee will likely hold a public hearing on the governor’s bill by March 15 with details on the proposal to be “fleshed out” in the coming weeks.

https://www.theday.com/local-news/20240220/port-authority-board-members-push-back-on-lamonts-merger-proposal/

Construction of a cutting-edge cancer center in Connecticut is scheduled to begin this spring at 932 Northrop Road in Wallingford, town officials say. Joe Mirra, the town’s Economic Development Commission chairman, said Tuesday that representatives of Hartford Healthcare and Yale New Haven Health System have told him construction of the 25,000 square foot Connecticut Proton Therapy Center should start in March or April. The two healthcare organizations, which are among Connecticut’s largest, are developing the facility as part of a joint venture. The state Office of Health Strategy approved the joint application for the center in 2022. Costs are estimated at $70 million for the facility, which will be the first of its kind in the state. Mirra said with the addition of the Proton Therapy Center in Wallingford, “I can foresee the town and surrounding communities becoming a significant medical hub.” And surrounding businesses will really benefit from the increased activity in town.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/ct-proton-cancer-center-spring-construction-18669054.php

The New Fairfield Town Park beach house reconstruction project — for which $700,000 in ARPA money was allocated — has come in over budget, town engineer Antonio Iadarola told the Board of Selectmen during its Feb. 2 meeting. After bringing the “major budget issue” to the attention of First Selectwoman Melissa Lindsey, he said officials decided to finish the design of the project, put it out to bid and find a funding solution later. The most costly of the town’s 10 ARPA projects is a $1.6 million sewer project aimed at addressing the lack of sewer and water infrastructure in the center of town through the design and permitting of a connection from New Fairfield’s downtown commercial zone to Danbury’s regional wastewater treatment plant. Town officials have said the sewer project would also support the future environmental health of the town, as the septic systems serving businesses in New Fairfield’s downtown pose environmental concerns, and the aging septic systems put Ball Pond Brook — which passes through the commercial zone — at risk of contamination.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/new-fairfield-arpa-projects-beach-house-sewer-18671540.php

A developer looking to build an extended-stay hotel in Stamford’s downtown argues that 25 off-site parking spaces would be more than enough to accommodate guests, but the city’s zoning regulations need to be changed before it’s allowed. Tullamore LLC, which is affiliated with Greenwich-based Wellbuilt Company, has requested the text change as part of a proposal to build a 10-story, 99-room hotel with ground-floor restaurant space at the site of what is now a parking lot alongside Curley’s Diner. The Planning Board recently voted 3-2 to recommend that the Zoning Board approve the text change as well as Wellbuilt’s proposed site plan. Many of the hotel’s guests would likely come from Stamford’s train station either by foot or ride-hailing, Mazzeo told the board.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/stamford-hotel-parking-curleys-diner-18669921.php?src=sthpdesecp

The sidewalks are under construction as part of the Lower Summer Street Promenade project, which includes widened sidewalks on both sides of Lower Summer Street (the section between Broad and Main streets), an improved streetscape with new lights and trees, a raised intersection to increase pedestrian safety and other improvements. Meyer said the project costs $2 million and $600,000 is funded by the Connecticut Department of Transportation Community Connectivity Grant Program and $1.4 million is funded by the City of Stamford. Meyer said the sidewalk roadway construction began last spring, and much of it should be completed soon. “We anticipate that the sidewalk work will be completed by mid-March, and we are aiming for the project to be substantially completed by mid-April,” she said. “Final work such as roadway paving and light pole installation will be completed in early May.”

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/stamford-summer-street-caroline-simmons-18659162.php?src=sthpdesecp