Inside ConnDOTAn e-Newsletter for Employees of the Connecticut Department of Transportation

Our Department experienced some incredible highs and lows over the last few months. For the fi rst time since 2005, an employee was struck and fatally injured on a Connecticut highway. He was Dan DiNardi, a maintenance supervisor in District 4 (more below). Shortly thereafter, another employee, Johnny Jackson of District 3, escaped serious injury when his DOT truck was struck from behind during a maintenance operation. Those incidents helped put a sharper focus on this year’s Work Zone Safety Awareness program, which was marked toward the end of April. In late June we cut the ribbon on the northbound segment of the new Q Bridge in New Haven. In May, we broke ground on the New Britain-Hartford Busway, now offi cially known as CTfastrak. Bradley’s aircraft diversion plan was approved and the CAA hired a new Executive Director … May was Bike Month … the new bike-ped bridge in Andover was hoisted into place … Jim Redeker took over the reins as President of NASTO … the Click It or Ticket campaign kicked off once again … a redesigned DOT website was launched … and the 100th M-8 rail car was accepted for service.

Tragic Death of Dan DiNardi on Rt 8 Grim Prelude to Work Zone Safety Week

Northbound Q Bridge Opens

Work on Busway – now CTfastrak – Under Way

Latest Safe Routes to School News

CAA Names Dillon as Executive Director

Video Conference Your Next Meeting

Jim Redeker Becomes President of NASTO

Fast Facts Updated and Published

Bridgeport Parking Deck

Photolog Van Captures Bear

100th M-8 Rail Car Accepted

Ferries

Ground Broken for I-95 Speed Change Lanes

Employee Recognition Program

Buckle Up Buckle Down Begins

Manchester Intersection Ribbon Cut

Diversity Council News

Health Related Lunch and Learn Events

Ellington Roundabout Flowing Smoothly

May is Bike Month

Bidding Now Online

Bike-Ped Bridge Opens in Andover

Bradley News

GBT Gets Hybrid Buses

Q Bridge Jobs Fair

New Look for DOT Website

2012 General Assembly Update

Ed Hedge Gets MADD Award

July 2012

Here are the headlines for this edition of Inside ConnDOT (scroll down or click on headline for the full stories)

Inside ConnDOT

More than 10 years into the I-95 New Haven Harbor Crossing Corridor (NHHCC) Improvement Program, Governor Dannel P. Malloy and other federal, state and local offi cials cut the rib-bon on June 22 to open the northbound side of the Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge, universally known as “the Q” because it carries the Connecticut Turnpike over the Quinnipiac River in New Haven. The highlight of the event was not so much the ribbon-cutting but a

moving ceremony and the placement of a wreath by six Connecticut survivors of the December 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The names of 17 other Connecticut men who died at Pearl Harbor that day were read and, as each name was announced, a gleaming brass bell was rung. Constructed in the late 1950s, this stretch of roadway is part of the heavily traveled northeast corridor between New York and Boston. It is situated in a densely developed urban area with a mixture of commer-cial, industrial, municipal and residential development. I-95 currently accommodates traffi c volumes in excess of 140,000 vehicles per day in this area, more than three times the 40,000 vehicles per day it was designed for. Commissioner Jim Redeker noted that the overall program is run-ning about $200 million under earlier estimates and that the northbound bridge segment of the program is $20 million under those estimates and opened three months ahead of schedule. The southbound side of the Q is scheduled to open in 2015, completing the largest piece of the largest project ever un-dertaken by ConnDOT. See the June 22 press release here. Facts, fi gures and all manner of detail on the Q Corridor program may be found at www.i95newhaven.com. See more photos here.

Northbound Side of Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge Opens

Pearl Harbor survivors salute the fallen.

Department Mourns Loss of Dan DiNardi - Work Zone Safety Paramount The entire Department went into mourning on March 22, 2012, when District 4 Maintenance Supervisor Dan DiNardi was struck and fatally injured on Route 8 after getting out of his truck, apparently to remove debris from the highway. It was the fi rst time since Robert Mugford was struck and killed on Route 7 in Norwalk in 2005 that a DOT worker was killed on the job. Less than four weeks later, Johnny Jackson’s DOT truck was rear-ended by a tractor trailer during a maintenance operation on I-91. Luckily, he survived. Two scholarship fund-raisers are scheduled for Dan’s children. Please see details here. The incidents served as a tragic prelude to the 2012 Work Zone Safety Awareness Cam-paign, which kicked off during the last full

week in April. This year’s theme for Work Zone Safety is “Obey the Orange. Slow Down for Work Zones.” Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman helped kick off the campaign at DOT head-quarters on April 24. See more on the campaign here. And there are more pictures here. Lt. Gov. Wyman reads Governor Malloy’s

Work Zone Safety proclamation found here.

Dan DiNardi will be sorely missed.

Inside ConnDOT Scores of enthusiastic supporters – from the Governor to eager-to-work construction workers – gathered May 22 to break ground in Hartford for CTfastrak, formerly known as the New Britain-Hartford Busway. The ceremony was held in pouring rain at the site of the new Parkville Station, at the intersection of Park Street and Francis Avenue. Commissioner Redeker said CTfastrak is “a lot more than a 9.4-mile route exclusively for buses between New Britain and Hartford. It is the fi nal link of a bus rapid transit system designed to improve mobility, reduce con-gestion, reduce emissions,

promote economic development and create jobs. And not just in the four towns that will host CTfastrak – New Britain, Newington, West Hartford and Hartford, but for towns in the region and as far away as Bristol and Waterbury through the CTTransit system.” And, he added, “in terms of ‘green-ness,’ this project ranks among the best in Connecticut.” Click here for the day’s press release; look here for more photos.Much more information about the project can be found at www.ctfastrak.com

Ground Broken for CTfastrak

Governor Malloy praised the partners including ConnDOT.

Offi cials break ground for the big project.

The Connecticut Safe Routes to School (CT SRTS) Program is making progress in providing safe walking and biking improvements around schools and communities!The SRTS infrastructure program just recently completed its fourth funding cycle, awarding over $3 million in funding. Six awarded projects will benefi t nine schools in six communities around the state with improvements such as sidewalk installation, bike lanes, multiuse paths, school zone signs and pavement markings. A total of $8 million in SRTS funding has been awarded since the program’s inception for 20 construction projects which will serve a total of 29 schools in 16 communities around the state. Over half of the SRTS projects already programmed for construction have been completed, impacting over 7,000 students in towns and cities such as Manchester, Fairfi eld, New Britain and Stamford. The latest completed SRTS project, located in New Haven was fi nished in June. The City of New Ha-ven was awarded $500,000 in SRTS funds in 2010 for curb extensions, paved crosswalks, traffi c calm-ing improvements and new sidewalks to connect surrounding neighborhoods to Fair Haven School.

These improvements will provide safe pedestrian and bicycle access to the school. Click here to see photos of completed project. In addition, over $600,000 in noninfrastructure funding has been provided for SRTS planning services for 34 schools statewide. Plus, the SRTS program and the Connecticut Police Academy just successfully hosted the second statewide crossing guard train-the-trainer class on June 20th!For more information on the Connecticut Safe Routes to School program, please contact Sharon Okoye, SRTS coordina-tor at sharon.okoye@ct.gov or visit the program’s website and/or Facebook page.

Latest Safe Routes To School News in Connecticut

Inside ConnDOT

Kevin A. Dillon

At the annual meeting in Baltimore of NASTO – the Northeast Association of State Transportation Offi cials – Commissioner Redeker became president for the upcoming year. NASTO describes itself as a collaborative of transportation leaders from the Northeastern United States and eastern Canada that works to advance highway, transit and related issues and policies important to the region. The Commissioner said there are “three C’s” that will keep the region’s transpor-tation agenda moving forward – cooperation, customer service and communica-tion. Read more here, and to learn more about NASTO, check out www.nasto.org

Jim Redeker Becomes President of NASTO

Dillon Named Executive Director by CT Airport Authority The Connecticut Airport Authority has tapped T.F. Green’s (Providence) Kevin A. Dillon as its Executive Director, the position designed to bring dedicated focus to the CAA’s mission of mak-ing Connecticut’s airports a key economic catalyst for the state. Dillon is an experienced aviation executive with more than 36 years of experience in successful airport management, business and route development. Dillon, A.A.E., had been serving as President and Chief Executive Offi cer of the Rhode Island Airport Corporation and will join the CAA full-time in mid-July and report directly to the CAA Board of Directors. Dillon called it “a wonderful opportunity” and added, “Bradley International Airport and the general aviation airport system are critical to the state economy, and I am pleased to play a role in moving these important aviation facilities forward.” Read the offi cial announcement here.

Policy & Planning has just produced “CT Transportation Fast Facts,” in hard copy in the form of a little booklet, and online on our website. It’s packed with all kinds of facts and stats about the Department, commuting, airports, bridges and major projects. There’s a bit more in the online version, as opposed to the booklet itself. Check it out here.

CT Transportation Fast Facts Now on Web

Photos courtesy D

rew C

oleman

Kudos to the Bureau of Policy and Planning and the Offi ce of Infor-mation Systems. Their efforts are paying big dividends by making our meetings more productive and effi cient in Headquarters conference Rooms 2324, 2141, and 2310. These rooms have been outfi tted with the latest in communication enhancing technologies. Applications run the gamut like video conferencing, GoTo Meeting and Webinars by Citrix, to tools like HD projectors and Smart Boards. These rooms can connect to locations such as Union Station in New Haven, CTTransit in Hartford and over a dozen Regional Planning Agencies around the state. Utilizing these resources means we can reduce travel costs, improve communica-tion and share information while staying connected with colleagues and customers. These are your tools so please take advantage of them to work better and smarter. To learn more about our video conferencing capabilities, watch this streaming video!

High Tech Rooms Include Video Conferencing

Tina Franco talks with and sees Jim Spencer and his PowerPoint presentation from afar.

Inside ConnDOTParking Expanded at Bridgeport Intermodal Transportation Center

Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch and Commissioner Jim Redeker announced on April 20 that two new levels had opened for public parking at the Harbor Yard Garage (HYG) in Bridgeport. The new levels will add 500 parking spaces, to bring the total to 1,400. The Center serves three transportation modes – rail, bus and ferry – and is centrally located for city and regional residents and visitors. The Bridgeport Intermodal Transportation Center (ITC) connects the Bridgeport Train Station which offers rail service on the New Haven Main Line, Waterbury Branch, and Shore Line East operated by Metro-North Railroad, and regional Northeast Corridor train service operated by Amtrak. “Bridgeport station is the fourth-busiest station on the New Haven Line serving thousands of rail and transit customers daily. The Department and the City have worked together for a number of years to improve multimodal transportation in a central, convenient location,” said ConnDOT Commissioner Redeker. Full press release here.

Photos courtesy of P

hotolog team

Our rail program reached a signifi cant milestone in early May when the 100th M-8 rail car was accepted for service. We have ordered 405 of the new cars and delivery is now running at the rate of about 10 cars each month. “More and more M-8s are arriving, passing inspection and being placed into service each month,” said Commissioner Redeker. “By year’s end, more than half of all New Haven Line weekday trains will operate with the new M-8s. More M-8s in service mean better reliability and increased customer comfort. That is what our riders have been asking for and I encourage passengers to take advantage of this new experience.” The oldest cars in Connecticut’s electric rail car fl eet, the M-2s built in the mid-1970s, will begin to be retired now that the 100th M-8 rail has been placed in service.More here

100th M-8 Rail Car Accepted

For the fi rst time in its 40-year history, the Photolog Section of the Offi ce of Policy and Planning fi lmed a large Black Bear during routine data collection. Matthew Herboldt and Robert Kasica were photologging on Route 181 South when they saw three bears in a yard on the corner of Slade Road, which borders Peoples State Forest. The Photolog crew said it looked like the bear had found or taken something to eat in someone’s yard.

Excited at the unexpected wildlife-sighting, the team turned right onto Slade Road leading into the forest in the hopes of getting a better look. No doubt the bears were excited too at the sight of the photolog van, with its systems running and strobe lights fl ashing. The largest bear was distracted enough by the van to forget food for the moment, leave the yard, and cross Slade Road just as the van started down it. The bear was recorded in a number of the photolog digital images and, while it was not that close to the van, the high defi nition photolog images made it possible to zoom in for some great close-up pictures. View a short video on the “capture” here For more information about the Photolog Section and for access to the DigitalHIWAY Photolog Viewing System call 860-258-0319, or go to www.ct.gov/dot/photolog

Bear Captured by Photolog Van

Inside ConnDOT

Work Begins on I-95 Speed-Change Lanes in Norwalk The third of a series of speed-change lane projects on I-95 in lower Fairfi eld County got started June 20 as Governor Malloy led a contingent of legislators and other local offi cials in a groundbreaking ceremony just of Exit 14 along I-95 southbound in Norwalk. Senator Bob Duff, D-Norwalk, who has been pushing the project for years, said it was “like Christmas morning” for him to be at the ground-breaking. The Governor said the project would “go a long way toward alleviat-ing congestion and improving the road conditions here in Norwalk,” and added, “Our economy depends on how effi ciently and effectively we can move people and

goods in our state—the investments we are making in roads, bridges, and public transportation are critical steps to strengthening the state’s economy overall.” Two other speed-change lane projects have been com-pleted along I-95, in Darien and Norwalk. More here

Photo by Jake Valentine

Governor Malloy announces the improvments to a grateful crowd.

Offi cials break ground for the new lanes. See larger photo

CT River FerriesThe Rocky Hill-Glastonbury ferry returned to a full 7-day-a-week schedule on July 1, 2012. The return to the full schedule is being made possible by the recent hiring of two new crew members. The two positions have been vacant for over a year necessitating a reduction in the operating schedule to one shift a day (10:30 AM – 5:00 PM), 7 days a week. With the arrival and qualifi cation of the two new crew, the Rocky Hill-Glastonbury Ferry will be able to operate two shifts a day on the weekdays (7:00 AM – 7:00PM) and one shift a day (10:30 AM – 5:00 PM) on the weekends.The public can also expect some new more descriptive signage to be installed in the very near future on the roads leading to not only the Rocky Hill-Glastonbury Ferry but also

the Chester-Hadlyme Ferry. The improved signage is a result of input received from the

Connecticut River Task Force and the crews of the two ferries. The Task Force, composed of citizen supporters of both fer-ries, was formed about two years ago when the ferries were slated to be closed as a budget reduction measure. Meetings were held with the Department and ideas generated to keep the ferries running now and in the future. Both ferries held start-of-season events, and pictures of the ferries in action may be viewed here.

The Selden III arrives at the Hadlyme landing after its scenic crossing.

Photo courtesy of C

T River Task Force

Comr. Redeker, in ConnDOT blue, made the fi rst crossing along with the Task Force and crew.

Hardhats await the fi rst workers.

Inside ConnDOT

The ribbon was cut on June 26 for a major intersection improvement project in Manchester – Routes 6/44 and New State Road at Middle Turnpike West. The $5 million project began in the spring of 2010. In addition to the roadway improvements, new drainage systems were installed, accessible sidewalks with stamped concrete were added, traffi c signals were installed with accessible pedestrian crosswalk controls, and numerous plantings were installed throughout the project. And with the project so close to the Hockanum River, a large sedi-ment pond with one of the State’s largest level spreaders ever constructed was installed to pretreat storm water prior to getting to the river. For a description of the project from District One Engineer Ravi Chandran, click here..

Ribbon Cut for Manchester Intersection Improvement Project

Comr. Redeker cuts the ribbon along with Manchester offi cials and project team members. See large photo.

Click It or Ticket Kick-Off Snags Violators April 16 marked the annual kick-off of the Click It or Ticket seat belt campaign. This year, the kick-off was at New Britain police headquar-ters, and included a checkpoint where, regrettably, driver after driver was ticketed for not wearing a seat belt. The kick-off also featured a child seat restraint educational program. A proclamation from the Gover-nor said that “seat belt laws, coupled with strong enforce-ment, have proven to increase seat belt use by as much as 88 percent.” See CIOT facts here.State and local police let everyone know,

“We’re out there looking for violators.”

Families receive instruction in proper fastening of car seats. Many are found incorrectly installed.

Since this past spring, a newly constituted committee has been looking at ways to re-start what was once a robust Employee Rec-ognition Program. Employees will be able to nominate any other employee through our website or through a hard-copy form. The committee was wrap-ping up its work as this newsletter was being fi nalized … so stay tuned. Information will be on the Intranet home page and on a bulletin board near you. Commissioner Redeker will soon be sending out a department-wide email explaining the program and how people can participate, so start thinking of who you’ll nominate!

Recognition Program Getting Set to Begin

Inside ConnDOTDiversity Council Welcomes Offi cers and New Members

Diversity News

Women Empowerment Lunch and Learn, May 7, 2012Diversity Council member Grisselle Gonzalez brought together fi ve incredible women in leadership roles from within the Department of Transportation to share their stories and experiences with current employees. They were:• Colleen Kissane – Transportation Assistant Planning Director• Suzanne Donlon – Fiscal Administrative Manager• Catherine Young – Airport Manager at Gorton-New London Airport• Valerie Joyner – Chief Administrative Offi ce• Terri Thompson – Transportation Supervising Engineer in the Offi ce of Construction. Collectively these women have over 120 years of experience with the Department. They all allude to the fact that education, mentors, keeping an open mind and the willingness to try new things were the big-gest infl uences in their careers within the Department. The talk show style interview exchange was well received by the audience and made the experience an enjoyable one. The event was taped and will be available on the Diversity Council website shortly.

Future Lunch And Learn Events In November, the Diversity Council is also planning to present Kevin Johnson as William Webb, an African-American Civil War Soldier from Connecticut. Private Webb was an actual soldier, a native of Hartford. He was recruited in 1863 and served in the Twenty-Ninth (Colored) Regiment, Connecticut Volunteer Infantry in several battles in Virginia. Kevin Johnson is an employee of the CT State Library’s History and Genealogy Unit. More on that program here. Lunch and Learn events are recorded and posted here. Thank you to all the council members who made these events such a success.

Diversity Day Event Coming This Fall A reminder that the Diversity Council will be hosting its popular Diversity Day event this Fall to celebrate the multicultural workforce of the Department. This event is held every two years and is always a wonderful experience shared by all. Please stay tuned to the Announcement page to see how you can participate and make this year’s event even better. In the past, there have been dancing, food, music, performances and exhibits. Employees share a bit of themselves as well as their culture. We would like to expand this event to include other areas outside the Main Building. Each District Offi ce can host its own event. Two years ago, Mr. Louis Crespo, Transportation General Supervisor at the East Hartford Maintenance Garage held the fi rst Diversity Day event in a Maintenance garage. The employees really enjoyed themselves and the success of the event can be a model for other garages and fi eld areas. The Council would like to see this event reach more DOT employees. All our events are on the DOT website and we encourage employees to view the information and the event activities. The Council also encourages all employees to visit the Council intranet site and make suggestions for future events or activities. The mission of the Council is to foster awareness of our employees’ diversity through open communication and active participation, which embraces a working environment of mutual respect and understanding. This can only be suc-cessful with participation from employees from all Bureaus and locations within the Department.

News of interest for the third quarter of 2012 has been posted in the showcase in the aisle outside of the Offi ce of Equal Opportunity and Diversity (OEOD). Stop by and learn about various celebrations and happenings in the country and world during July, August and September - some on diversity and some not. July August September Ada Alvarez puts it together each quarter for all of us to enjoy and does a great job of it. Click or stop by and take a look...

Offi ce of Equal Opportunity and Diversity Showcase Updated

We have had two well attended lunch and learn events with Dr. Oluremi Aliyu. The fi rst was an informational session about health prevention, to assist employees with understanding the importance of screening and prevention. The second was about nutrition, Dr. Aliyu and Linda York, RD did a presentation about the benefi ts of a healthy diet. Starting in Sep-tember our goal is to hold monthly lunch and learns on various topics. If you have any suggestions, specifi c questions or information requests please forward them to Maureen.Harrington@ct.gov so we can better serve you. Maureen has posted info on how to keep cool when the weather’s hot. Whether at work or play, it could save your life. Check it out here.

Health Offi ce Sponsors Informative Lunch and Learn Events

Inside ConnDOT Constructing a roundabout is a challenge anywhere … but a fi ve-way intersection? Now that’s a real challenge! Well, we pulled it off in Ellington at “Five Corners,” where stop signs on all fi ve “legs” had been the norm for years. “Traffi c back-ups were legendary and stretched for as far as the eye could see. People told us stories of going miles out of their way to avoid this intersection during peak periods,” said Will Britnell, Principle Engineer and member of the Depart-ment’s Roundabout Committee. “A signal was considered as far back as the 1980s but the fi ve-leg confi guration was not condu-cive to signalized operation and we would have had to take at least one, possibly two houses to make a signal work.” The town had

suggested a roundabout after hearing about their safety and operational benefi ts. The Department agreed it was a good idea and initiated project to design and install a modern roundabout. Toward the end of construction, it went into roundabout operation while still on dirt surface. Immedi-ately, despite still driving on dirt, traffi c fl ow was dramati-cally improved. It is one of the few times that traffi c actu-ally improved during construction of a project. Now that it has been paved and fi nished, operation is even smoother. Delays are practically non-existent and we have received many compliments from residents at this gateway to Elling-ton. For More on the project look here. Here are some “rules of the road,” information on how to drive

while in a roundabout: In short, vehicles in the circle have the right of way. Vehicles on the approach must yield to vehicles in the circle. The fl ow of traffi c is counter clockwise. Vehicles exiting the roundabout all exit to the right and use their turn signal. Pedestrians should use the sidewalks and cross-walks and never walk on the truck apron in the center island. Bicycles can either enter the roundabout with the fl ow of traffi c and should use the center of the lane, or leave the roadway and walk the bike on the sidewalk and cross-walk in the same manner as pedestrians.For those interested in roundabouts, a two day FHWA Northeastern Roundabouts Peer Exchange conference was held at the Headquarters Building in 2010 with roundabout designers, engineers and advocates from around the country. An indexed page of different topics that were recorded can be viewed here.

Ellington Roundabout Dramatically Eases Congestion

Ellington fi ve corners before construction had stop signs, leading to traffi c delays when busy.

During construction, even on dirt, traffi c fl owed better.

The fi nished roundabout moves traffi c smoothly, is aesthetically pleasing and statistically, will be safer for motorists. See larger photos

Inside ConnDOT

A rainy March day didn’t stop the lift or the crowd’s enthusiasm at seeing the covered span dropped into place.See larger photo.

A new wooden bike-pedestrian bridge was hoisted into place in Andover on March 31, providing a critical – and aesthetically pleasing – link in the East Coast Greenway along the Hop River State Park Trail. It’s near the intersection of Route 318 and 6. Dozens turned out in the rain to watch the tricky maneuver.More pictures here

New Bridge Provides Key Link in East Coast Greenway

Bike Month – May 2012 May was Bike Month in Connecticut – part of a national awareness and safety campaign to highlight bicycling, both as a form of transportation and for recreation. Several towns around the state and other organizations hosted events all month long. Bike to Work Week was May 14th through the 18th, culminating in Bike to Work Day on Friday, May 18. Bike Walk Connecticut (www.bikewalkct.org) carried a listing of events and a link to the National Bike Challenge. Kate Rattan, our Non-Motorized Transportation Coordinator, said, “Bicycling is a great means of transportation for children. Many of Connecticut’s schools participate in the Safe Routes to School program www.ctsaferoutes.ct.gov. Check out the program and see how your schools and neighborhoods can benefi t. May is a great month to teach your child to ride a bike and obey traffi c rules. Teaching them to ride will give them independence and mobility while they don’t have a license, and improve their driving skills for when they do. Fighting childhood obesity can be as fun as taking a ride to the nearest park.”More here In other bike-related news, Connecticut is now ranked 20th in the country (up from 40th two years ago) in terms of bike-friendliness, according to the League of American Bicyclists. The 2012 Bicycle Friendly States Ranking marks the launch of an updated and improved evaluation process. Throughout 2011, the League held Bicycle Friendly America listening sessions across the country to understand the successes and shortcomings of the program. Based on public input, the Bicycle Friendly State survey was revised to give a clearer picture of a state’s accomplishments and next steps toward becoming more bike-friendly. Connecticut’s ranking was based on a number of key indicators, including infrastructure and funding that provide on-the-ground bicycle facilities; education and encourage programs that promote cycling; and passage and enforcement of bicycle-friendly laws that make it safe and comfortable for people of all ages to ride.Click here for national rankings; and see Connecticut’s “report card” here.

Happy bikers and walkers, no longer needing to go up and down steep embankments and cross a

road, traverse the bridge for the fi rst time.

As of September 1, all DOT bids will be required to be submitted electronically (online) under a new program initiated in March, bringing Connecticut into conformance with a practice now in place in 37 other states. Paper bids are still being accepted, but that will end on the fi rst of September. Commissioner Redeker called it a “major step forward” and said it would mean a “smoother, cleaner, easier process, while maintaining the proper levels of security and confi dentiality.”Click here for the announcement.

Department Moves to Online Bidding

Inside ConnDOTDiversion Plan Approved by FAA

The Federal Airport Administration has approved Bradley’s updated aircraft diversion plan – a plan born of the frustra-tion from the freak October 2011 snowstorm when 29 planes, including a dozen international fl ights, were diverted from other airports to Bradley. A pair of “diversion drills” for the plan went smoothly and the plan is being touted as a model for other airports. Bradley is now using a digital notifi cation system that enables them to communicate more quickly with the airlines about signifi cant safety or airport operations issues. Also, to make additional space available when needed, Bradley has opened two gates in the old terminal, along with waiting areas and rest rooms, creating new sterile areas for unloading domestic and international passengers as needed. Back-up power for fueling at Bradley has been installed; protocols for remote fueling with fuel trucks have been updated More here.

Bradley Hosts ‘Test Bed’ Aircraft On May 2, BDL was the site of a special visit by a Boeing 747 “test bed” aircraft, as our corporate partners at Pratt & Whitney fl ew the plane in from Canada in order to analyze data from the experimental engines’ sensors. These engines, called ‘PurePowers’, were mounted from a pylon on the 747; they are currently being developed for a Mitsubishi regional style jet which will have 70 to 90 seats. As it departed from Bradley, the 747 aircraft performed “fl yovers” near Pratt’s East Hartford and Middletown campuses; this low-altitude maneuver,

at approximately 1000 feet, allowed employees at both locations to catch a glimpse of their handiwork, the ‘PurePower’ engines. More pictures here.

‘American Warrior’ Flight Memorial Day weekend witnessed the “American Warrior” fl ight from Bradley to Washington for 101 World War II veter-ans – whose average age was 90! “Ameri-can Warrior” is an all-volunteer organiza-tion and 100 percent of all money donated goes directly to “Your Day of Honor.” This was the 8th fl ight from Bradley International Airport and more than 800 World War II veterans have made this memorable journey since 2007. The day included visits to the World War II Memorial, Navy Memorial, Iwo Jima Me-morial, Korean Memorial and the Air Force Memorial. The BDL “Welcome Home” was

highlighted by more than 300 “meters & greeters” as well as patriotic music by a local fi fe & drum corps. The Airport staff partnered with U.S. Airways, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Connecticut State Police, and Murphy Security to facilitate this tremendous opportunity for “The Greatest Generation” to thank them for their service. More pictures here.

Wings for Autism On June 10th, Bradley was the site of a special visit by a special group of children and their families as the Airport hosted Autism Families CONNECT-icut (AFC)’s fi rst ever “Wings for Autism” event. This was an opportunity for approximately 60 Connecticut family members, and their children with autism, to practice the airport experience. Bradley worked with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Delta Airlines, JetBlue Airlines, and AFC to design a program specifi c for children with autism who were previously unfamiliar with the sights and

News from Bradley International Airport

Photo by R

ollin Tebbetts

Photo by R

ollin TebbettsP

hoto courtesy of Delta A

irlines

Photo by R

ollin Tebbetts

Inside ConnDOTsounds of an airport – obtaining a boarding pass, passing through a security checkpoint, waiting at the gate area, and boarding an airplane. Previously, most of these families have traveled by car to vacations, holiday gatherings, etc. as the fear of the unknown (a child on the autism spectrum) has prevented them from fl ying. Airport Administrator Eric N. Waldron, A.A.E., ACE commented, “Through the partnership we call Team Bradley, these ‘passengers’ were able to relax and enjoy themselves during a dry run here at the Airport; we are extremely proud to report that BDL is only the second airport nationwide to have participated in this type of program.”

Bradley Family Day As the unoffi cial charity of the Airport community, The Hole In The Wall Gang Camp, founded by Paul Newman, has been the benefi ciary of over $500,000.00 since the “Bradley Family Day, Inc.” organization was formed in 2001; on April 13th, another $28,000 was donated to this worthwhile charity at the 12th annual Breakfast Kickoff event. The Camp is located within the borders of the great state of Connecticut in Ashford; it is a non-profi t, year-round center serving children and their families coping with cancer, sickle cell anemia, and other serious illnesses. The Camp will serve more than 20,000 children in 2012 and, thanks to the generosity of many supporters like the “Brad-ley Family Day” group, all services are free of charge. “The cross-section of individuals and businesses that comprise the ‘Bradley Family Day’ is truly impressive – the Connecticut Airport Authority, The Paradies Shops, the New England Air Museum, various airlines which serve Bradley, and the Connecticut Air National Guard to name a few,” remarked Airport Administrator Eric N. Waldron, A.A.E, ACE. “Bradley Family Day” conducts two main fundraising activities during the year – the Breakfast Kickoff in April and a wine & cheese event in November.

Photo courtesy of A

irport New

s

$28,598.31 was given to the Camp, helping sick kids.

Q Corridor Jobs Fair On May 18th, NHHCC Improvement Program hosted the “Transportation In-vestments Create Opportunities” Career Fair at the Holiday Inn in North Haven. More than 400 attendees and job seekers were on hand. The career fair provided job seekers an opportunity to explore a new career and network with leaders in the industry. The Connecticut Department of Transportation was well represented

by fi ve booths, including the Disadvan-taged Business Enterprise/Affi rmative Action, Engineering and Construction, Human Resources, Summer Workers and Work Zone Safety. Thirty-eight vendors participated in the career fair, including consulting engineering fi rms, suppliers, and contractor companies from Connecticut and surrounding states. In addition, the I-95 NHHCC Improvement Program provided information regarding the status of the new Pearl Harbor Memorial (Q) Bridge and the I-95/I-91/Route 34 Inter-change projects. See larger photos here.

Terri Thompson gave out Work Zone Safety advice and reminders. The DBE/Affi rmative Action booth was in full swing.

Greater Bridgeport Transit used the occasion of Earth Day 2012 in April to announce that two new hybrid buses had been added to its fl eet. The diesel/electric buses were funded through the Federal Transit Administration. GBT operates fi xed route and demand response services in Bridgeport, Fairfi eld, Stratford and Trumbull with services extending to the Nau-gatuck Valley and Monroe. We are also a partner with Norwalk Transit District and Milford Transit District on the Coastal Link with service from Milford to Norwalk. The new hybrid buses bring to 57 the number of buses in the GBT system. GBT is also adding 15 new Gillig “clean diesel” buses to the fl eet and is in the process of installing 80 new bus shelters system-wide. Doug Holcomb of GBT says ridership has been steadily increasing.

GBT and Earth Day

Inside ConnDOTNew Look for DOT Website

In May, a new look was unveiled for the Department’s external website (www.ct.gov/dot). The goal was to make the site more intuitive and user friendly.Some of the new features include fl ydown menus at the top, prominent buttons to transportation modes and features, ‘Quick Links’ and ‘How do I...’ dropdowns, and statewide traffi c incidents in its own window front and center. Positioning and content of features was driven by metrics of usage. What’s the most looked at feature? Traffi c Cameras. While a committee worked on the initiative, OIS’s George Wallace did much of the tech work ensuring a smooth transition. As the Commissioner noted when the site was launched, it is very much a work-in-progress, so if you see something that could be improved, please send along your ideas and comments to judd.everhart@ct.gov

This is your Newsletter This is YOUR newsletter. You are encouraged to suggest ideas for stories or to send us a draft article for consideration. Send them to the ConnDOT Offi ce of Communications, judd.everhart@ct.gov

The Department of Transportation is an affi rmative action/equal employment opportunity employer.

Policy & Planning’s Ed Hedge, who serves as our Law Enforcement Liaison in the Offi ce of Highway Safety, received the “Top Cop” award in June from Mothers Against Drunk Driving at MADD’s annual “Law Enforcement Recognition Ceremony.” The inscription on the plaque reads “Mothers Against drunk Driving Presents the “TOP COP” Award to Edmund M. Hedge JR. Law enforcement Liaison/DRE Program manager Highway Safety Offi ce, CT. Department of Transportation. Knowledge is Power. By sharing that knowledge with your colleagues, you have created a powerful force in Connecticut against Drunk Driving”The award was presented by MADD and the Police and Firemen’s Insurance Association. Previously, Ed received MADD’s “Hilda Davis” award for his design and implementation of Connecticut fi rst “BAT-mobile” – a blood-alcohol testing vehicle used by police offi cers. As a matter of fact, Ed’s trophy case is getting pretty crowded. He’s been recognized by the National Highway Traffi c Safety Administration, the International Police Chiefs Association, and the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association for his traffi c safety efforts statewide. NHTSA recognized him for his “promotion and dedication to highway safety priorities” in Connecticut and across New England. Nice going, Ed!

Ed Hedge Receives MADD Award

CT MADD Executive Director, Janice Heggie Margolis presents

MADD award to Ed Hedge.See larger photo

The Fix-It-First Bridge program got a $90 million shot in the arm when the Governor, General Assembly and ultimately the State Bond Commission approved additional funding. The Governor’s mid-term budget adjustment also provided for a new $1.9M program for transit related improvements. While the Administration’s proposal to raise rail fares was ap-proved, bus fares will not change. Legislation also passed to allow ConnDOT to designate certain transportation projects for alternate project delivery methods -- either “Design-Build” or “Construction Manager at Risk - Guaranteed Maximum Price”. S.B. 33, An Act Con-cerning Department of Transportation Project Delivery, provides the Department with similar authority currently granted to the Department of Construction Services and UConn to deliver projects faster and more effi ciently and allow ConnDOT to compete more effectively in federal discretionary grant programs such as ARRA and TIGER. ConnDOT now joins 46 other states with enabling “Design-Build” legislation for transportation projects. Look here for a complete wrap-up of action on DOT-related items from the 2012 legislative session.

2012 General Assembly Update

Photo courtesy of M

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