Transportation Alternatives Program Funding Now Available
The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is soliciting candidate projects for Transportation Alternatives (TA) Program funding. These funds are made available to the State through the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and are administered by CTDOT. SECOG is responsible for collecting, reviewing, and prioritizing applications for candidate projects in southeastern CT.
Applications for funding must be received by SECOG by Monday, April 15, 2024. Applications for previous funding rounds must be re-submitted for consideration.
The Federal Transportation Alternatives Program provides funding for a variety of transportation projects such as pedestrian and bicycle facilities; construction of turnouts, overlooks, and viewing areas; community improvements such as historic preservation and vegetation management; environmental mitigation related to stormwater and habitat connectivity; recreational trails; safe routes to school projects; and vulnerable road user safety assessments. Regionally significant projects will be prioritized for funding above smaller-scale projects that are eligible for other state and federal funds.
To receive TA Program funding a project must:
• Be submitted by an eligible entity with a complete application
• Be deliverable in FFY 2026 – FFY 2031 (design complete/construction started)
• Have a minimum cost of $500,000.00 (projects are not to be combined to meet this minimum threshold). Approximately $3,000,000 will be available each year for projects in small urban and rural areas in the FFY 2026-2031 timeframe.
SECOG will review applications for completeness and project eligibility and rank them according to the Project Solicitation Screen and Scoring Criteria Sheet.
Timeline
March 26, 2024: SECOG Webinar reviewing funding opportunity (10 AM via zoom). March 26 Presentation Slides.
April 15, 2024: Deadline to submit initial application.
April 15- May 15: SECOG will review applications for completeness and accuracy and may request additional information.
May 29, 2024: Deadline to submit final application signed by municipal CEO.
June 19, 2024: SECOG Board approval of project prioritization.
Materials
(for word and excel files, right click link and choose “save as”)
FHWA Transportation Alternatives Guidance
Application for Funding (2024 New Project Solicitation)
Brownfield Assessment Projects RFQ/P
3/22/24 Update: SECOG’s updated Brownfield Assessment Project Request for Qualifications and Proposals, which includes answers to questions that have been asked since the RFQP release, can be found at the following link: https://tinyurl.com/y3wvws2a
As a reminder, submissions are due on Thursday, March 28th, 2024 by 5:00 P.M.
The Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments (SECOG) is accepting statements of qualifications and scopes of services with associated fee proposal from engineering/environmental consulting firms and teams to complete environmental assessments of four properties and structures located within the Southeastern CT region.
The Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) awarded SECOG multiple separate Brownfield Assessment Grants to complete assessment work for each location. This RFQ/P is a combined request for one qualified/licensed environmental firm experienced in brownfield site assessment to perform requested services at all four of the enumerated brownfield sites. The full Request for Qualifications and Proposals document can be found at the following link: https://tinyurl.com/yvnb7tt9. RFQ/P submissions are due March 28th by 5:00 PM.
2024 LOTCIP Solicitation
SECOG is pleased to announce a solicitation for eligible projects under the Local Transportation Capital Improvement Program (LOTCIP). Municipalities are eligible for State grants for transportation projects providing 100% of eligible construction costs. The 2024 solicitation seeks to allocate $15,000,000 in funding. Read the announcement for more information. At 9 a.m. on March 26th SECOG will provide a Pre-Application Presentation, meeting information will be posted and the session will be recorded.
SECOG_MEMO_2024LOTCIPSolicitation.pdf
SECOG_2024_LOTCIPSolicitationProcess.pdf
Plan-Study Reference Checklist.pdf
March 26, 2024 Information Session
Active Transportation Microgrant Program for Bike/Ped Activities
March 1, 2024
The Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments is pleased to announce that it is partnering with the Connecticut Department of Transportation to offer Active Transportation Microgrants of up to $5,000 to eligible recipients to fund small active transportation projects. CTDOT has allocated $500,000 in microgrants to be distributed across Connecticut through this new program. The goal of the grant program is to provide equitable, safe, accessible, and sustainable access to transportation by making it safer for people of all ages to walk, bike and roll, thereby encouraging more people to use these healthy and environmentally sustainable modes of travel.
Available Funds:
Up to $5,000 per grant. No match is required. Applicants may apply for funding twice per calendar year.
Eligible Recipients:
Schools, school districts, municipalities, and 501 (c)(3) non-profit organizations
Eligible Activities:
Bicycle helmets, Bicycle locks, Bicycle maintenance training and materials, Bicycle fleets including adaptive bicycles safety vests for pedestrians, Safety vests for pedestrians, League Cycling Instructor (LCI) training, Programs, events and materials for pedestrian and bicycle safety education
Application Deadline: Applications will be reviewed thereafter on a quarterly basis. Next deadline: June 20, 2024.
Applications should be emailed to [email protected]. Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed for eligibility by SECOG and CTDOT and applicants will receive a notification as to whether the application will be funded.
Please visit ct.gov/SafeRoutes for the program guidelines and application. Questions about this program may be directed to Kristen Levesque, Transportation Engineer Safe Routes to School Coordinator at [email protected]. SECOG staff can be reached at 860-889-2324 or by emailing [email protected].
Affordable and Fair Housing Training for Municipal Land Use Commissioners
The Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments (SECOG) has partnered with the Southeastern Connecticut Housing Alliance (SECHA) to host an Affordable and Fair Housing Training for Municipal Land Use Commissioners on October 25, 2023 from 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM. This training will satisfy the mandatory 1 hour of affordable and fair housing policy training for municipal land use officials. Topics include: Municipal Land Use Planning and Zoning Responsibilities Under the Fair Housing Act; Zoning to Promote Diverse Housing Options; and, What is Affordable Housing, Who Needs It, and How Has It Evolved Over the Years? The training will be held in-person at SECOG offices at 5 Connecticut Ave, Norwich, CT.
Attendance is limited, please RSVP by emailing [email protected] or calling (860) 889-2324.
Request for Qualifications- Website/Graphic Design
SECOG is requesting qualification statements from firms interested in updating SECOG’s website and publication templates.
A request for qualifications is available here. Please send your statement of interest and link to project portfolio to [email protected] by January 15, 2024.
Employment Opportunities at SECOG:
SECOG is actively reviewing applications for two full-time positions: Environmental Planner and Regional/Municipal Planner. Visit seccog.org/employment for more information.
Short-Term Rental Regulation:
Updated SECOG White Paper Now Available
The Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments has updated its white paper reviewing options for regulating short-term rentals, originally published in 2019 and revised in 2021. As the short-term rental industry matures, more municipalities are evaluating the best way to ensure short-term rentals are safe and do not negatively impact their communities. Click here for the white paper.
SECOG Kicks Off Chelsea Harbor/Downtown Norwich Mobility Study
The Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments (SECOG) has received a CTDOT grant to conduct a Corridor Study of downtown Norwich. SECOG has selected the consulting firm VHB to conduct the study, who will work with their subconsultant VN Engineers, to prepare a plan that will provide streets that are safe and accessible for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and transit users of all ages and abilities. The study goals include improvements to livability, mobility, access to essential services, safe routes to the waterfront and Howard T. Brown Park, the Intermodal Transportation Center, the Norwich Marina and other downtown destinations. This will be accomplished through expanded bicycle facilities, sidewalk network improvements, and the reconfiguration of multi-lane, high-speed through streets that currently exist as a barrier between downtown proper and the City’s waterfront area, East, and West Side neighborhoods. The study will develop alternatives to the current configuration and traffic flows of the study area with the above goals in mind. The study process includes a number of opportunities for public engagement and input; to learn of these events and more about the study, please visit the study website at: https://www.downtownnorwichmobilitystudy.com/
The public survey for the Chelsea Harbor/Downtown Norwich Study is open! Give us your feedback about traveling in Downtown Norwich. What issues do you experience?
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MFBKFVB (English)
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/F3L5BPX (Spanish)
A Public Information Meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 25, 2023 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Otis Library in Norwich.
The meeting will provide an opportunity for residents and business owners to learn about the project’s purpose, provide invaluable input for the development of recommendations and allow the public to get in-person answers from the project team.
- The Otis Library is ADA accessible
- Parking is available at the Railroad Ave. lot, Cliff Street lot, and on Main Street
- Refreshments and pizza will be provided
- Children are welcome
Route 161 Corridor Study Public Comment Period:
The Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments (SECOG) invites stakeholders to review and provide comment on the Draft Comprehensive Transportation Plan for the Route 161 corridor. The draft Comprehensive Transportation Plan may be viewed on the project website at www.route161corridorstudy.com.
The draft Comprehensive Transportation Plan is the result of a study lead by SECOG, in partnership with the Town of East Lyme and the Connecticut Department of Transportation. The study involving analysis of the Route 161 corridor and development of alternatives aimed at:
- Alleviating traffic congestion levels during peak travel hours
- Improving pedestrian and bicycle mobility
- Promoting use of healthy and environmentally friendly modes of transportation
- Enhancing transit ridership
- Improving safety for all users
Comments may be submitted via the Contact form on the project website home page at www.route161corridorstudy.com. Stakeholder comments will be received until Monday, August 14, 2023. Following the public comment period, the Plan will be updated as appropriate and the final Plan will be posted on the project website.
Additional information, including recordings of two public information meetings may be found on the project website.
Persons with hearing and/or speech disabilities may dial 711 for Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS). Language assistance may be requested by contacting the Department of Transportation’s Language Assistance Call Line (860) 594-2109. Language assistance is provided at no cost to the public and efforts will be made to respond to timely requests for assistance.
Para información adicional, o asistencia lingüística gratuita, por favor llame al (860) 594-2109.
如需更多信息或免费语言协助，请致电 (860) 594-2109.
Contact: James S. Butler, SECOG Senior Advisor | 860-889-2324 | [email protected]