City gets $2M for sidewalk work

East Main Street walkways to be repaired, replaced

TORRINGTON — The city will receive a state grant for just under $2 million for sidewalk repairs, the governor’s office announced in a release Friday.

East Main Street, also known as Route 202, will see repairs or replacement of existing sidewalks between Torrington Heights Road and the Big Lots Plaza.

“The city will use a portion of the funding to evaluate existing conditions at nine signalized intersections within the project boundary, and at more complex sections of roadway which lack sidewalks, to determine if additional pedestrian improvements are feasible,” according to the release.

The Torrington sidewalk project is one of five in the state sharing a total of $8.5 million in funding. This is the second phase of the 2017 Responsible Growth and Transit Oriented Development Grants, a competitive grant program that supports transit-oriented development and responsible growth in the state and is targeted at boosting economic activity and creating jobs, according to the release.

Other cities that will receive funding include Danbury, Hartford, Stamford and West Hartford.

“Transportation isn’t just about cars, trains, and buses — it’s about building vibrant communities and

continuing to make Connecticut a more attractive place to live, visit, and do business,” Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said in the release. “Today’s grant awards will build upon the smart, targeted investments we have made in recent years, which have already lead to significant growth in transitoriented development across the state.”

In April 2017, OPM released a request for applications for the grant program, and the state bond commission approved a total of $15 million to be used — comprised of $5 million from the Responsible Growth Incentive Fund and $10 million from the TransitOriented Development and Pre-development Fund. Following that, OPM — with input from other state agencies — reviewed, rated and ranked each of the proposals, the release said. The first round of grants was released in December 2017 and totaled $4.5 million.

“These projects are essential to moving Connecticut’s economy forward,” OPM Secretary Ben Barnes said in the release. “Our state’s recovery requires a first-class transportation system with strong business growth at the local level and these grants will help foster that ascension in the communities we call home. The jobs created by these projects and the infrastructure enhancements will not only benefit us in the short-term, but for generations to come.”