A federal grand jury’s investigation into how contracts were awarded through the state’s school construction grant program has quietly continued in recent months, with four detailed subpoenas issued this year — two as recently as October. The subpoenas, as well as two previously undisclosed from 2022, seek phone records, emails and calendar entries of as many as 16 state employees, according to the attorney who reviews Freedom of Information Act requests concerning subpoenas. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Novick told attorney Morgan Rueckert, hired by the state to review all subpoenas, that some details should be redacted so as not to “frustrate the federal investigation by alerting the targets of the investigation to a more complete picture of the nature of the probe, the techniques employed, the identities of witnesses, and the evidence developed to date.” The materials sought in the subpoenas suggest that the grand jury has made progress in its investigation. For example, it asked for communications between two unidentified parties for one specific day: May 12, 2020.

Grand jury probe into CT’s school construction program continuing

The Biden administration announced on Monday a final rule implementing an executive order that will require project labor agreements on federal construction projects costing $35 million or more. It will likely result in PLAs being required on a majority of large federal jobs. As a result, the White House estimated as many as 200,000 workers on federal construction jobs could see boosted “wages, benefits and safety protections regardless of union membership.” Part of the goal of the executive order, according to the White House fact sheet, is to increase efficiency by having all stakeholders — contractors, subcontractors, unions or other labor groups — negotiate the terms of each project ahead of time. On Monday, Sean McGarvey, president of North America’s Building Trades Unions, praised the implementation. “With this latest action to strengthen economic security, labor-management relations and family-sustaining job opportunities, President Biden is yet again demonstrating his rock-solid commitment to American taxpayers and all workers — union and non-union — across the country,” McGarvey said.

https://www.constructiondive.com/news/pla-mandate-biden-federal-contracts/702914/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Issue:%202023-12-19%20Construction%20Dive%20Newsletter%20%5Bissue:57550%5D&utm_term=Construction%20Dive

Between Jan. 1 and Nov. 30, there were 146 sewage spills into Connecticut’s rivers and harbors, according to state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection data. That number is led by Norwich, which has had 41 spills into the Shetucket River and 16 into the Thames, which empties into Long Island Sound, data show. That’s one reason the city recently bonded $199 million to completely overhaul its sewage-treatment plant on Hollyhock Island in the Yantic River, a project that will take five years. In Norwich and three other Connecticut cities, outdated sewer systems that share the underground rainwater pipes, mean that several state rivers, and ultimately the Sound, become polluted after heavy rains. The Clean Water Fund, which is composed of federal and state money, totaled $583 million for 2023-24, half of which went to combined sewer overflow systems.

Sewage spilled into CT waterways nearly 150 times this year. See where, why and what’s being done.

Gov. Ned Lamont has approved the release of $7.2 million in state grants that will be used to support the remediation and assessment of blighted properties in nine municipalities across Connecticut. The grants are part of the Department of Economic and Community Development’s Brownfield Remediation and Development Program, which will help clean up properties for redevelopment and put them back into productive use to support economic growth. The grants will leverage nearly $229 million in private investments and are expected to create more than 850 jobs, the governor’s office said. State officials said the majority of the funds will go to distressed municipalities, where developable land is often scarce and economic revitalization efforts take on added importance.

New Haven, East Hartford, others will share $7.2M in state brownfield remediation funding

United Illuminating told CT Examiner that its efforts to move transmission lines off of railroad catenaries on Northeast Corridor in Bridgeport and Fairfield came at the request of the Connecticut Department of Transportation, which wants the rail overhead cleared as it looks at ways to speed up trains. The state’s second-largest electric company is asking for approval for the fifth and final part of a plan to replace the 25-mile transmission line from West Haven to Fairfield. UI manager of transmission projects Shawn Crosbie told CT Examiner that weather in the northeast can wear down metal equipment. And with the existing structures deemed to be at the end of their useful life, the company has received approval from the regional grid operator ISO-New England to replace it. But instead of simply replacing the infrastructure where it has run on top of the New Haven Line for about 60 years, the company is proposing to move the line onto monopoles on private property adjacent to the rail line. The final section proposed on a 7.3-mile stretch from Bridgeport to Southport would require taking 8.6 acres of easements and has drawn vocal opposition from neighbors and elected officials in the region.

New Utility Right of Way in Fairfield and Bridgeport Spurred by CTDOT Plans for Faster Rail Service

A new draft Norwich parks master plan recommends the city consider building two splashpads, an artificial turf field, more shady areas and trails, and improve accessibility. Officials from FHI Studio of Hartford on Monday presented an overview of the 170-page plan, which assessed 31 city parks and made recommendations for improvements to each one. The group also proposed two new parks, including what FHI Studio landscape architect Phil Barlow called a potential signature park at the blighted, decaying former Capehart Mill along the Shetucket River in Greeneville. The proposed improvements and new parks would cost $30 million. FHI recommended tackling the projects in seven phases over 10 years, with potential funding sources identified. The group recommended converting the much-used Fontaine Field on Mahan Drive across from Kelly Middle School, into an artificial turf field to improve scheduling and open the field to more uses. The group also proposed improvements to the field’s walking trail and added parking.

https://www.theday.com/local-news/20231218/norwich-parks-improvement-plan-would-cost-30m-over-10-years/

The state already has five general aviation airports within its borders, but officials at the Connecticut Airport Authority announced late Monday they have reached an agreement with a Westchester County, N.Y. company to develop a hangar campus to serve that sector on eight acres of unused land at Bradley International Airport. Terms of the deal between Sky Harbour Group and the CAA were not immediately available, although officials with the Airport Authority said Sky Harbour will spend $30 million to develop the multi-hangar campus at Bradley International. Construction of the hangar campus at Bradley is expected to start at some point in 2025, according to Dillon. When completed, the enhanced general aviation facilities at Windsor Locks-based Bradley and Hudson Valley Regional Airport will join other Sky Harbour hangar campuses at Nashville International Airport, as well as similar facilities outside of Houston and Miami.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/business/article/aviation-expansion-deal-reached-for-bradley-18562014.php

The developer for a proposed apartment project near Long Meadow Pond Brook has downsized the plan after residential backlash, but residents continue to show strong opposition. Apartments at Long Meadow of Shelton initially proposed a 467-unit complex in eight buildings with 695 parking spaces, including 233 in garage spaces under buildings on 34.6 acres close to Long Meadow Pond Brook between Webb Road and Rubber Avenue. The area previously was a farm. The plan also called for townhouse units, a clubhouse and a pool. SLR Consulting engineer Darin Overton, representing the applicant, revealed at a Dec. 6 Inland Wetlands Commission hearing two alternate and smaller proposals. The commission continued the hearing to Jan. 3 at 6:45 p.m. at the Board of Education building.

https://www.rep-am.com/localnews/2023/12/17/scaled-down-naugatuck-apartment-project-still-draws-opposition/

Everything old is new again as Yale University has received the city’s approval for its golf course to closely revert to its 1926 design, which will also level up to 1,500 mature trees. The project had already received state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection approval and now has a sign-off by the City Plan Commission for its site plan, sediment control and inland wetlands impact tied to the restoration on its 278-acre parcel in Westville. Yale is still awaiting approval by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The positive impact of the course renovation includes the removal of invasive plants and conservation measures that will lessen the need for city water when ponds on the course are dredged to increase storage capacity and a new computer controlled irrigation system is installed. The renovation will upgrade tees, greens, bunkers and fairways, lengthen the course, realign the golf cart path and plant 35 acres of native grasses.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/new-haven-yale-golf-course-restoration-trees-18552324.php

According to police crash report data from 2020 to 2022, there were approximately 280,000 crashes in Connecticut, and 34,000, or 12 percent, occurred on curves on state or town roads. In an effort to curb car accidents and deaths, the state Department of Transportation is updating and installing new horizontal curve warning signs and speed advisories on local roads throughout 15 towns in northwestern Connecticut. While fatal crashes make up less than 1 percent of crashes in the state, a third of them happen on curves, she said. So, the project takes a proactive approach by installing warning signs to improve driver awareness in response to curves. Numerous studies have concluded that by installing arrows, chevrons, and curve warning signs, crashes can be reduced anywhere from 30 to 50 percent, according to the DOT presentation. And signs are considered a relatively low-cost countermeasure with quick installation. The estimated construction cost for this project across the 15 towns is approximately $305,000, covered completely by federal funds. The construction cost includes the actual sign installations and removals, Police traffic control along the road, and trimming of tree branches near signs.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/farmingtonvalley/article/ct-dot-curve-road-car-crash-18555933.php