‘A life-changing difference’
What billions in federal infrastructure spending means
NORWALK — Billions in federal funds are set to go toward improving coastal communities per the recently passed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, for which Norwalk plans to apply.
Gov. Ned Lamont joined U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, D-4, Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, D-Norwalk, and Mayor Harry Rilling, among others, Friday near the city’s Walk Bridge, to discuss what the $550 billion infrastructure bill could mean for the state’s coastal municipalities.
Included in the bipartisan bill is $3.5 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Flood Mitigation Assistance program, $500 million to establish resilience revolving loan funds and $492 million to bolster green infrastructure in coastal communities, according to a statement from Himes’ office.
Connecticut is set to receive $5 billion to be distributed by the state’s key infrastructure guardians, including the Department of Transportation, Amtrak and Metro-North.
However, much of the funds are competitive, Himes said.
“That means the city of Norwalk, towns and cities will need to understand what’s out there and available and apply for it. That’s a team effort,” Himes said. “From the government down, it’s important to come together to look at all these different elements of the infrastructure bill.”
Rilling assured Himes the city intends to apply for funding to increase green infrastructure, protect existing infrastructure and help with flood mitigation.
The city is in the process of an extensive flood study, analyzing
the key problem and low-lying areas.
“We need to make sure we do everything we can to protect our coastal areas, to make sure we provide jobs for people and fix our infrastructure,” Rilling said. “In many cases, like Norwalk, the infrastructure is well over 100 years old and it’s time we do something about it.”
Rilling said it is unlikely the city’s density contributes to the flood issues experienced by Norwalkers, rather, the aging infrastructure is the main cause for concern.
Norwalk’s chief of operations and public works, Anthony Carr, said the city intends to apply for infrastructure funding to use for flood mitigation studies and drainage projects.
“We are hopeful to leverage infrastructure funding to continue flood mitigation efforts within the city of Norwalk. This work is continually an ongoing effort,” Carr said. “We have numerous current and future drainage projects
identified throughout the city. From flood mitigation studies to drainage infrastructure improvement to the elevation of roadways, there are actions we can take to protect the community.”
Recently, the city approved a more than $7 million project to reconfigure the drainage, storm and sanitary sewers in the Dreamy Hollow and Betts Brook area in northern Norwalk. The problem area has been on Carr’s radar since he began working with the city in 2019 and has been of concern for decades beforehand, he has said.
“The infrastructure bill will assist us in accomplishing a number of critical projects across the city,” Carr said Friday.
Dr. Rebecca French, director of the office of climate planning for the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, said Norwalk is of particular concern for the state given its at-risk communities.
“I look forward to receiving applications from the city of Norwalk particularly because this city represents one of the communities we want to highly prioritize,” French said. “It’s considered a vulnerable community because of the higher percentage of low-income residents in this area. Those are the communities that feel the effects of climate change first.”
Lamont said the infrastructure bill is an opportunity for the state to make meaningful improvements and combat climate change.
“All of us got involved in public service because we want to make a difference. You feel like a lot of the time you’re just treading water and you’re not making a difference,” Lamont said. “This infrastructure bill gives us a chance to make a life-changing difference for the people of Norwalk, across the state and across the country.”