Measure would speed priority transportation projects

(Feb. 22, 2008) A bill currently under consideration by the legislature’s Transportation Committee would help make sure priority transportation projects in Connecticut are completed in a timely manner and on budget.

Currently, most state transportation projects are divided into a variety of segments that include such components as site acquisition, engineering, design and construction, each of which has a separate contracting process.

Under SB-43, however, the Commissioner of Transportation would be allowed to designate certain high priority transportation projects to be accomplished through a single and more streamlined contract process known as “total cost basis.”

These priority projects would be awarded through a competitive bid process and the award would be based on certain qualifications, the technical merit of the proposals and their overall cost. In addition, all of these contracts would have to gain the prior approval of the State Contracting Board to make sure they’re compliant with the state’s stringent contracting standards.

CBIA supports
CBIA testified in support of the bill at public hearing of the Transportation Committee this week. Connecticut faces enormous transportation challenges, including growing congestion, road and bridge maintenance demands, and the need to transform the state’s infrastructure so it can support a 21st century economy.

SB-43 would help meet those challenges by improving the Department of Transportation’s ability to execute high-priority transportation improvements. The state also needs to focus its limited transportation resources on those highest-priority challenges and opportunities.

For more information, contact CBIA’s Eric Brown at 860-244-1926 or eric.brown@cbia.com.