Conn., USDOT Finalize Deal to Speed Up Infrastructure Projects

A new agreement between the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CDOT) aims to streamline reviews and accelerate at least 90 transportation projects annually across the state.

Announced Thursday, the programmatic agreement establishes a unified federal review process and grants Connecticut authority to oversee environmental reviews for projects that may impact historic properties under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.

Transportation officials say the move could cut six weeks or more from project timelines each year, allowing work to begin sooner while potentially reducing costs.

Among the projects expected to benefit are the Gold Star Memorial Bridge between New London and Groton.

“This agreement is the result of productive collaborations between CDOT and our federal and state partners, and we deeply appreciate the support from the U.S. Department of Transportation in making it a reality,” said Garrett Eucalitto, CDOT commissioner, in a statement. “By streamlining environmental reviews and cutting government red tape, we can more efficiently advance projects.”

U.S. Deputy Transportation Secretary Steven Bradbury said the agreement reflects a broader effort to reduce regulatory delays and give states more control.

“We hope more states are interested in entering this more efficient agreement to streamline the regulatory process,” he said.

Source: WFSB.com, U.S. Department of Transportation