Klarides-Ditria shares road-widening plan for Rte. 34, Derby-Milford Road

Dear Neighbors,

Below is a message from the Department of Transportation announcing that work will begin at the intersection of Route 34 and Derby-Milford Road for a road widening project in  Derby on April 1, 2018.

Operational Improvements On Route 34 At Derby-Milford Road

The Connecticut Department of Transportation is announcing that work will begin at the intersection of Route 34 and Derby-Milford Road for a road widening project in the Town of Derby on April 1, 2018.

The project consists of the construction of a right turn lane on Route 34 onto Derby-Milford Road by extending the edge of road to the south. 
Widening proposed on Derby-Milford Road will accommodate a three-lane approach to Route 34. A two-lane approach into the intersection from Sentinel Hill Road is also included in the overall construction. 
These additional lanes will reduce congestion and improve overall operations.

A minor retaining wall will also be needed for roadway support on the southeastern side of the intersection. The improvements also include modifying the turn radius for right turning vehicles from Route 34 onto Derby-Milford Road. Signal improvements will be required at the intersection to accommodate the two new left turn lanes on Derby-Milford Road. 
The existing guide rail on Derby-Milford Road will be replaced to meet current standards. Some vegetation will be evaluated for removal to improve sight lines at the intersection.

DOT Project No. 0036-0195 was awarded to NJR Construction LLC, at a cost of $1,792,638.65 on March 5, 2018, and is scheduled to be completed Nov. 30, 2018.

LANE CLOSURE INFO

Route 34: During the allowable periods, the contractor shall maintain and protect a minimum of one lane of traffic in each direction not less than 11 feet. For turn lanes, 10 feet shall be maintained for a minimum of 150 feet.

Derby-Milford Road and Sentinel Hill Road: During the allowable periods, the contractor shall maintain and protect at least an alternating one-way traffic operation, not less than 12 feet in width. The length of alternating traffic operation shall not exceed 300 feet.

The contractor shall maintain access to and egress from all commercial and residential driveways throughout the project limits.

Crisco hails GPS installation for buses

HARTFORD - State Sen. Joseph J. Crisco, D-Woodbridge, this week joined Gov. Dannel P. Malloy to announce that CTtransit buses throughout the state will soon be equipped with GPS devices that will provide real-time bus location information to riders.  

With a total of 42 million passenger trips taken per year, riders will be able to better plan travel with up-to-the-minute arrival and departure information, as well as a better experience, with the new devices.

Joseph J. Crisco

“Commuters expect and deserve to have modern technologies be used to make their transit experience convenient and efficient,” Crisco said. 
“The implementation of GPS devices to provide real-time bus location is just one step in the major transportation overhaul that we have initiated in Connecticut. This is a smart investment that will make transportation in Connecticut more accessible to the millions of passengers who use CTtransit buses every year.”

“This is all part of transforming our systems. It’s good for residents, it’s good for businesses, and it’s good for CTtransit. With real-time bus location information, it’s another step in our effort to take Connecticut into the future,” Malloy said.  
“We want the CTtransit experience to be easy and user-friendly, and the addition of this technology will make travel more convenient and reliable. This is a smart, strategic step in continuing the modernization of our infrastructure to move us towards a new era in economic growth that will support Connecticut families and businesses and create a best-in-class transportation system.”

This project will provide ‘intelligent technology’ for passengers on 500 CTtransit buses throughout the state.  Similar GPS tracking information has already been successfully deployed on CTfastrak buses in central Connecticut.  The new system is made possible by a $7 million allocation that was approved last month by the State Bond Commission.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation is encouraging riders to download apps to their smart phones, such as “Transit App,” that will utilize the GPS tracking information provided on the bus system.

The installation of the new technology is the next step in a multi-phase statewide project that will include introducing new electronic fare boxes over the next six months. It will be compatible with the latest in new high-tech fare-paying options so that Connecticut can begin the design of a smart-card payment system as well as smartphone ticketing.

CTtransit is the CTDOT-owned bus service. In 2014, CTtransit provided 42 million passenger trips around the state.

This is a press release from Crisco's office. 

State pulls down Valley Goes Pink signs in Shelton

As a breast cancer survivor I was surprised and upset this morning to read this story in the Valley Independent Sentinel.

The Valley Goes Pink is a wonderful, grass roots initiative that raises community awareness about breast cancer and supports the Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness at Griffin Hospital in Derby.

I don't understand the problem, when yard signs for all sorts of things - from tag sales to political campaigns - dot the highways and byways of the Valley.

What do you think of the DOT taking down the signs?