Transportation

(April 11, 2008) It’s obvious that Connecticut has huge transportation challenges, with congested highways, aging roads and bridges and the need for strategic planning that can help the state’s economy grow into the 21st century. Policymakers invested more than $3 billion in transportation improvements over the past three years and are now turning their attention to reforming the operations of the state Department of Transportation (DOT). Several proposals will better equip the agency to identify and address Connecticut’s transportation priorities.

Strengthens leadership
SB-46 improves the state’s ability to identify, plan and complete transportation initiatives. It significantly boosts the agency’s leadership and management capabilities by creating the positions of chief operating officer and a director of strategic planning and evaluation within the DOT. The proposal implements one of the most important recommendations of the Governor’s Commission on Reforming the DOT.

Provides better planning
SB-285 boosts the prospects for improving the DOT’s ability to successfully execute its most critical functions and Connecticut’s highest-priority transportation projects. A recommendation of the DOT Reform Commission, the proposal directs the DOT commissioner to identify the state’s most important programs and determine what resources will be needed to make sure they succeed.