State Demands Hampering Southington ‘Safe Routes’ Project

Town officials are finding themselves in a battle with the state once again, this time fighting back against excessive demands from the Connecticut Department of Transportation regarding protection of a wetland area as part of a plan to install sidewalks to improve school access for local children.

The issue? State officials are seeking a 60-foot bridge over a small, unnamed brook on an open space parcel just north of Memorial Park before approving plans to allow the town to install the continuous sidewalk as part of a $498,000 project under Southington’s “Safe Routes to School” program.

“It’s definitely concerning at this point. We are going to see if we can’t find a reasonable compromise, but if left as requested it would be too expensive and could potentially kill the project,” Southington Town Manager Garry Brumback said.

The concerns first came to light during a Public Works Committee meeting this week when James Grappone, acting Southington Town engineer, told members of the committee that the state wanted more than is required before accepting initial plans for installation of the sidwealks.

Grappone said Thursday that the town presented a preliminary design to the state Department of Transportation for review as part of a grant funded project designed to enhance the ability for local students and residents to travel around Memorial Park and DePaolo Middle School.

As part of the grant, the town plans to install sidewalks on Woodruff Street from Spring Street to Pleasant Street, as well as cutting a sidewalk through Memorial Park and across a town-owned open space parcel to Crest Road.

“We proposed crossing the brook using a boxed culvert,” Grappone said. “It would disturb portion of wetlands, but would only do so within the regulations set forth by the state. The Conservation Commission provided an exception, but the DOT said because of flood plain area, they wanted to see more done.”

State officials have said they want a bridge that would not only cross the brook, but would not provide any disturbance to the flood plain area and would not be affected by any 100-year storm.

Grappone said while he understands the concern, the request is one that would cost likely between $50,000 and $100,000 in additional design costs, planning and construction and would push the project well over the $498,000 available through a secured grant.
 
“We were not anticipating this and had a solution that meets letter of the guidelines,” Brumback said. “The state DOT wants us to go far beyond that.”

“It’s still very early in this process and we are willing to work alongside them to find a more reasonable and financially feasible solution. I’m not prepared to be too upset at this point.”

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