- Connecticut Public Works Promotions & Announcements
- Safety Matters: New Tools from the T2 Center's Free Equipment Loan Program
- Innovation Station: Expanding Access to Active Transportation Through Micro Grants
- Town Crier: East Lyme Honors Dedicated Public Works Leader with Park Naming
- Planning for the Future in Public Works
- NEAPWA Chapter Connects: Growing the Future — The Role of Data and Community in Urban Tree Management (Video)
- Safety Matters Coffee & Conversation: Vision Zero Where Are We Now? (Video)
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The Town of Chester received a 2025 CIRMA Excellence in Risk Management Award for Establishing Risk Management as an Organizational Priority. Under the leadership of Director of Public Works Cameron Evangelisti, and with support from the Town’s First Selectman Cindy Lignar, Chester conducted a voluntary OSHA walk-through that led to a comprehensive safety plan with swiftly implemented corrective actions. The Town continues to partner with CIRMA on trainings and assessments, demonstrating a strong, year-round commitment to workplace safety and proactive risk reduction.
| | - The Town of Vernon has earned Gold certification from Sustainable CT, the highest level of recognition for municipal sustainability efforts. This achievement reflects Vernon’s outstanding leadership, innovation, and comprehensive strategies that promote environmental stewardship and community well-being. Vernon also received the Climate Leader designation for its commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and building climate resilience.
| | Let us celebrate your department's successes with our CT Public Works community. Please email Regina Hackett your agency's great news and we will publish it in an upcoming newsletter. | | | | |
New Tools from the T2 Center's Free Equipment Loan Program
June is here, and trail season in Connecticut is in full swing. An increasing number of
multi-use trails are being built in our state, and these trails are seeing more users
who can enjoy the safety they provide. The Connecticut Trail Finder website lists 380
different trails in Connecticut. Whether you are walking, biking, hiking, or even
horseback riding, there are trails that can accommodate your outdoor plans. With all
these new trails being connected, municipalities want to know how many people are
taking advantage of their trails. While sending someone out to hand count all the
people using a trail is possible, the T2 Center has new counters in our equipment
loan program that can easily track all the users on your trails.
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We here at the T2 Center recently acquired an Eco-Visio
Bicycle and Pedestrian Counter that can help record the
number of users on multi-use trails. The picture on the
left shows this counter set up on a local trail in West
Hartford. The tubes going across the trail count the
cyclists while the box attached to the post captures
pedestrian traffic. The counter is easy for our team to
install and provides all the data you’ll need. Along with a
basic count of pedestrians and cyclists, the software for
the counter provides a great system of reporting that can
show all kinds of charts that can support grant writing
opportunities and educational outreaches.
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Expanding Access to Active Transportation Through Micro Grants
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The Connecticut Department of Transportation’s (CTDOT) Active Transportation Unit has launched a powerful new initiative to support equitable and safe access to biking, walking, and rolling for all with a special focus on historically underrepresented groups. The CTDOT Active Transportation Micro Grants Program provides up to $5,000 in funding to eligible organizations, including schools, municipalities, and nonprofits, for non-infrastructure items such as bicycles, helmets, bike racks, repair stations, and safety education materials. Working in alignment with the Safe Routes to School Program, this initiative is already making a meaningful impact in communities across the state.
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East Lyme Honors Dedicated Public Works Leader with Park Naming
The Town of East Lyme has officially named the scenic park at the intersection of Route 161 and 156 “Scheer Park” in honor of longtime Deputy Public Works Director Bill Scheer. At the January 8, 2025, meeting, the East Lyme Board of Selectmen unanimously approved the naming ahead of Bill’s retirement in February, recognizing more than 23 years of service to the community. Since its creation in 2018 on the site of a former gas station, the park has become a cherished public space offering beautiful views of the bay and serving as the site of events like the annual Christmas tree buoys.
| Scheer Park is a tribute to Bill’s behind-the-scenes leadership on many of the town’s most significant projects over the past 25 years. His contributions include the High School sports complex, the Niantic Bay Boardwalk, the Hole in the Wall stormwater classroom parking area, Downtown Niantic Park, and the Downtown Streetscapes. Bill’s unwavering commitment to improving East Lyme has left a meaningful and lasting legacy, and the town is deeply grateful for his years of dedicated service. | |
Planning for the Future in Public Works
The future of public works, and the workforce in general, is being shaped and reshaped daily. We know public works departments are vital to building resilient, sustainable, and healthy communities. Without public works, essential infrastructure and important services like roads, refuse, and utilities would significantly decline, and so would the well-being of all residents. As we think about the future of public works and building communities that produce a better quality of life for all, a few important considerations come to mind. The future of public works will see an increased focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and technology, a need for increased workforce in smart infrastructure, and, of course, an eminent need for public works services as demands from climate change and population growth place pressures on current resources.
| | More Stories and Resources | |
NEAPWA Chapter Connects: Growing the Future — The Role of Data and Community in Urban Tree Management (Video)
| In this special (almost) Arbor Day edition of Chapter Connects, the New England American Public Works Association (APWA) Chapter highlighted innovative urban tree management strategies in New Hampshire communities. The session featured Manchester’s Urban Forest Equity Planning project, which was funded by the U.S. Forest Service’s Justice40 program and used GIS-based data to prioritize tree planting in disadvantaged neighborhoods, advancing climate resilience and environmental justice. It also showcased Portsmouth’s use of a digital tree inventory, public tree viewer, and community-driven efforts like the “400 for 400” tree planting campaign to balance development with tree preservation. Viewers gained valuable insights into right-of-way tree maintenance, public outreach, and data-driven decision-making aimed at strengthening urban forests and enhancing community well-being. | | Safety Matters Coffee & Conversation: Vision Zero Where Are We Now? (Video) | | In this latest Safety Matters Coffee & Conversation session, we explore Vision Zero and where we are now in Connecticut. This timely discussion highlights the ongoing efforts to eliminate roadway fatalities through data-driven strategies, local initiatives, and a shared commitment to safer streets. Hear from transportation safety professionals about the progress being made in Connecticut and what it will take to reach zero deaths on our roadways. | | | | |
Connecticut Training and Technical Assistance Center
University of Connecticut
270 Middle Turnpike, Unit 5202
Storrs, CT 06269-5202
Phone: 860-486-9373
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