Source: Kevin Maloney, CCM

For Immediate Release
Kevin Maloney (203) 710-3486

CCM publishes fifth issues bulletin in 2022 election campaign series — infrastructure and transportation

The Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM) today (Wednesday, October 19) released its fifth Issue Bulletin in CCM’s 2022 election campaign series — key infrastructure and transportation issues. 

This election season CCM is focused on bringing municipal issues to the forefront, with a particular focus on educating candidates and the public on specific issues impacting local government.

Throughout October, CCM will continue to release "Issue Bulletins" highlighting key state-local issues. Our goal is to inform the public and candidates about these issues so we can effectively work with policymakers and our partners to address and provide sustainable solutions. 

The bulletin series is examining key Connecticut state-local issues. The bulletin being released today provides an overview on key infrastructure and transportation issues. The first four bulletins in the series focused on CCM as the voice of municipalities, the property tax burden in Connecticut, important housing and economic development issues, and key labor relations issues. The final report next Wednesday will focus on local public education services and finances. 

Click on the following link — https://youtu.be/lOhyXeaITYg — for the complete video message on infrastructure and transportation issues from Matthew Hoey, First Selectman of Guilford and a member of CCM’s Board of Directors.

Click on this link to review the complete issues report — https://www.ccm-ct.org/Portals/CCM/PDF/IssueBulletins/IssueBulletin_2022_Infrastructure.pdf?ver=oJXDEQQuAuY784qnd6zQvg%3d%3d

Some key points from this newest CCM report include: 

• The pandemic has called attention to Connecticut’s lack of equitable broadband access across all communities. This was, and remains, especially problematic for many children who, across city and town borders, have not had and still do not have equitable access to education and remote learning. 
• Open Access is critical for sustainability of technology deployment and access into the future. This is of particular importance to ensure Connecticut closes the digital divide – which exists in urban and rural communities throughout the state. CCM recently partnered with the state and others in conducting a statewide survey to identify the particular broadband needs of residents throughout the state. 
• Beyond roads, bridge and internal combustion engines, building a hardened infrastructure relies upon new ideas and concepts. There is a continued effort to build a network of EV chargers to facilitate long-distance travel and provide convenient charging options. This is a need that local leaders can’t ignore. Recent legislation requires all school buses within designated environmental justice communities to be zero emission buses by 2030 and all other communities to have zero or low emission buses by 2040.
• Municipalities are also largely responsible for maintaining the infrastructure needed to manage drinking water, waste water and stormwater runoff. Recent patterns have seen increased rainfall in short periods of time and strained local infrastructure that is often decades old, which are unable to meet the demands of increased development and population growth and has caused an increased occurrence of local flooding.
• Towns and cities are also required through state and federal regulations regarding the management of stormwater runoff to reduce pollutants and sedimentation from impacting local water bodies. While these requirements are mandated by the state and federal government, the responsibility to pay for them has fallen almost exclusively to local property taxpayers. 

“CCM has been a partner and conduit between state and local officials on the issue of resiliency and disaster preparedness,” said Joe DeLong, CCM Executive Director and CEO. “A coordinated approach between all will ensure that Connecticut’s infrastructure is protected against natural and man-made disasters. This coordination is essential in securing millions of dollars in funding through FEMA.”

• According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, they gave Connecticut a C-grade on its infrastructure report card. The recently passed federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) is intended to bolster investments necessary to improve infrastructure and transportation in the state. Traditionally, while a portion of local property taxes provide some funding for infrastructure and transportation projects, it does not meet the need. The state has provided supplemental funding to support local roads and bridges through the following programs:
• The IIJA will appropriate $1.2 trillion in funding approximately 380 new and existing infrastructure existing programs and grants. Based on formula funding alone, Connecticut is expected to receive $3.5 billion for federal-aid highway apportioned programs and $561 million for bridge replacement and repairs under the IIJA. 
• Connecticut can also compete for the $12.5 billion Bridge Investment Program for economically significant bridges and nearly $16 billion of national funding for major projects that will deliver substantial economic benefits to communities. In addition, Connecticut expects to receive $53 million over five years to support the expansion of an EV charging network in the state. Connecticut will also have the opportunity to apply for the $2.5 billion in grant funding dedicated to EV charging. 

“Fiscal problems should not be an excuse for overlooking rapidly aging infrastructure, and the longer maintenance or replacement is deferred, the risk to public safety increases and the costs to bring these bridges up to an acceptable standard increase,” noted DeLong. “A comprehensive and collaborative investment plan is necessary to ensure Connecticut is able to provide economical and lifestyle advances for the state.”

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The purpose of this series of bulletins is to provide candidates for state office — and the public — with perspectives on the challenges facing Connecticut towns and cities, and provide viable solutions on matters of importance to local residents of our great state.