Lamont seeking ideas for fed funds
With billions in infrastructure money expected, local leaders urged to help outline priorities
UNCASVILLE — Gov. Ned Lamont asked mayors and first selectmen Tuesday for ideas on how to spend billions of dollars headed to Connecticut under President Joe Biden’s infrastructure plan that will pay for improvements to roads, bridges and commuter rail lines.
“There are a lot of other pieces of the infrastructure bill that you ought to be thinking about because we need your insights on this,’’ Lamont told the crowd gathered at Mohegan Sun. “Some of it is competitive. Some of it is formula. Let’s say broadband, for example. I think we realized in this last year or so that broadband is not a ‘nice to have.’ Broadband, high-speed internet access is vital with learning from home. … Broadband is really important. We’ll need your insights in terms of where we should focus on that, where we should prioritize on that.’’
In a keynote address to more than 700 people at the annual Connecticut Conference of Municipalities convention, Lamont thanked the local leaders who had gathered in a large ballroom for the first time since the pandemic started.
“This is an opportunity for you to be involved and help us make those decisions and those priorities’‘’ Lamont said. “If you believe in good government, this is an opportunity to get it right. This is an opportunity to make investments that have been put off for an awful long time. … Let’s not waste this opportunity. For the last 30 years, we were making do with less. This is an opportunity to make some investments.’’
Connecticut is scheduled to receive $5.38 billion over the next five years or approximately $1 billion per year. This includes $3.29 billion for major road projects, $1.3 billion for buses and railroads, $561 million to strengthen bridges, and $100 million for extending computer broadband coverage around the state and to low-income families.
The final total that Connecticut will receive is still not determined because the state can compete for even more money.
Lamont urged local leaders to contact the state environmental protection department with ideas on curbing flooding in their towns, which he noted is not just a coastal phenomenon. In addition, federal money is being set aside to replace old lead pipes.
The new federal law also includes $100 billion in competitive grants that would be awarded around the nation for a variety of projects. Those include items like purchasing low-emission and no-emission buses, replacing bridges, and improving bus service. In addition, the law calls for $30 billion in competitive grants for the Northeast railroad corridor.
The law also calls for money to repair crumbling platforms at train stations across Connecticut, along with creating charging stations for electric cars at 30 locations along the interstate highways, as well as city and rural roads.