SCCOG

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 office@seccog.org. Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed for eligibility by SCCOG 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 Kristen.Levesque@ct.gov. SCCOG staff can be reached at 860-889-2324 or by emailing office@seccog.org.

The Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments (SCCOG) 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 SCCOG offices at 5 Connecticut Ave, Norwich, CT.

Attendance is limited, please RSVP by emailing office@seccog.org or calling (860) 889-2324.

SCCOG is requesting qualification statements from firms interested in updating SCCOG’s website and publication templates.

A request for qualifications is available here. Please send your statement of interest and link to project portfolio to office@seccog.org by January 15, 2024. 

SCCOG is actively reviewing applications for two full-time positions: Environmental Planner and Regional/Municipal Planner. Visit seccog.org/employment for more information. 

Updated SCCOG 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.

The Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments (SCCOG) has received a CTDOT grant to conduct a Corridor Study of downtown Norwich. SCCOG 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

The Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments (SCCOG) 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 SCCOG, 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, SCCOG Senior Advisor | 860-889-2324 | jbutler@seccog.org

The Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments, is in the process of completing a Corridor Study focused on Route 32 in New London, from the Williams Street bridge, north to Benham Road in Waterford, an area referred to as College Hill. The study includes recommendations intended to calm traffic through this area, making this route safer to travel for motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. The proposed concept plan includes a landscaped median in the middle of Route 32 and a shared-use path on both sides of the road. Two travel lanes in each direction are maintained, with left turn lanes provided at intersections and existing right turn lanes removed. Traffic calming measures are also proposed at the entrances into the study area to slow vehicle traffic, and pedestrian refuges will increase safety of Route 32 crossings. You can review the presentation materials and complete a survey at www.route32study.com to provide feedback on the proposed concept. The final report for this project, which will be informed by input received, will be available on the website later this spring. While this project has been the subject of several outreach events and public meetings, the SCCOG is interested in receiving as much input as possible on the study recommendations. Please submit any additional comments by May 12th.

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, SCCOG Senior Advisor | 860-889-2324 | jbutler@seccog.org

The Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments, supported by Fuss & O’Neill and Toole Design Group, will host a final public meeting regarding the ongoing safety and mobility study of Route 32 in New London between Williams Street and Benham Avenue. The meeting will take place on April 25, 2023 at the Winthrop STEM Elementary Magnet School, 74 Grove Street New London, beginning at 6:30 pm.

Join us to hear the findings of the study and to provide feedback on the recommended future design for the corridor. For more information regarding the project, please visit www.route32study.com.

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. Requests should be made at least 5 business days prior to the meeting. 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, SCCOG Senior Advisor | 860-889-2324 | jbutler@seccog.org

The Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments will conduct a public involvement meeting concerning the Route 161 Corridor Study on Thursday, April 27th at 6:00 PM at the East Lyme Middle School auditorium.

SCCOG, in partnership with the Town of East Lyme and the Connecticut Department of Transportation, is leading a study to analyze and develop alternatives to improve the Route 161 corridor. The purpose of the Route 161 Corridor Study is to:

• Alleviate traffic congestion levels during peak travel hours;
• Improve pedestrian and bicycle mobility;
• Promote use of healthy and environmentally friendly modes of transportation;
• Enhance transit ridership;
• Improve safety for all users.

The purpose of the public involvement meeting is to share the draft conceptual alternatives plan and provide stakeholders with an opportunity to provide feedback that will be used to finalize the plan.

Additional information, including a virtual meeting room, may be found on the study website at www.route161corridorstudy.com. Individuals are invited to submit comments via the contact form or interactive map tool.

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. Requests should be made at least 5 business days prior to the meeting. 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.

Flyer

Press Release

Contact:  James S. Butler, SCCOG Senior Advisor | 860-889-2324 | jbutler@seccog.org