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Help Us Celebrate Your Team!

Has your agency celebrated a promotion, award, retirement, or another milestone? We’d love to share the good news! Send your announcements and photos to Regina Hackett for our December newsletter and help us recognize the people making a difference in Connecticut’s public works community.

Small roadway improvements can make a significant difference in preventing

crashes and protecting road users. Across Connecticut, communities are

implementing proven, low-cost safety countermeasures that deliver measurable

safety benefits without requiring major roadway reconstruction. While the

roundabouts we discussed in last month’s Safety Matters article often receive

attention for their effectiveness, many other affordable solutions can dramatically

improve safety on local roads and can be implemented today.

Enhanced Delineation for Horizontal Curves



Roadway departure crashes remain one of the leading causes of fatal and serious

injuries on Connecticut roadways. Many of these crashes occur when drivers fail

to recognize or properly navigate a curve ahead. Fortunately, relatively

inexpensive treatments can significantly improve driver awareness and reduce

the risk of crashes.

Proven Improvements

• Chevron Alignment Signs
• Retroreflective Signpost Strips
• Curve Ahead Warning Pavement Markings
• Enhanced Nighttime Visibility

These treatments help drivers:

• Recognize curves sooner
• Understand the curve direction
• Adjust speeds appropriately
• Navigate safely during nighttime and adverse weather conditions

Congratulations to the Town of Chester, winner of the 2026 Connecticut Creative Solutions Award for its Snowplow Liftgate Platform!

Chester’s public works crew transformed old snowplow components into a platform that raises and lowers using the truck’s existing plow controls. The platform provides a safer, more efficient way to transport snowblowers, plate compactors, and other supplies while reducing heavy lifting and reliance on portable ramps.

This practical innovation showcases the crew’s teamwork and resourcefulness. We look forward to honoring Chester’s team later this month at the T2 Center’s graduation celebration! Watch Chester’s Snowplow Liftgate Platform in action to see how this award-winning innovation makes equipment transportation safer and easier.

West Hartford Public Works is introducing underground waste receptacles to modernize collection and improve the appearance and functionality of public spaces. These systems offer a clean, secure, and space-efficient alternative to traditional receptacles, helping contain odors, reduce litter, and protect waste from weather and wildlife.

The new receptacles will be placed in high-use public areas to increase waste capacity while maintaining an attractive streetscape. This initiative reflects the department’s commitment to practical innovation and efficient operations while keeping public spaces clean and welcoming for residents, businesses, and visitors.

Congratulations to the winners of the 2026 Connecticut Association of Street & Highway Officials, Inc. (CASHO) Snowplow Safety Roadeo in Wallingford! This event showcased the skill and safety knowledge of Connecticut’s public works professionals.

First-place honors went to:


• Class 2: Pat Roy, Ellington
• Class 3: Chris Stanley, Ellington
• Class 4: Charles “Charlie” Ciarcia, Watertown
• Class 5: John Paul Bras, Fairfield
• Winning Municipality: Town of Ellington

Pictured: Charlie Ciarcia, a five-year employee of Watertown’s Highway Department, celebrating his victory with town staff and Public Works Subcommittee members.

View the T2 Center’s Flickr album for event highlights, and watch Bloomfield DPW's video capturing the action. Congratulations to all participants!

Watch for Me CT’s Data webpage offers Connecticut pedestrian and bicyclist crash statistics, reports, and trends. Agencies can use this information alongside local data to explain safety needs, answer questions from residents, and build support for roadway improvements.

For help sharing those messages, the T2 Center’s Social Media Tips and Resources handout provides practical guidance on clear posts, engaging photos, and accessible content. Use this resource to help tell your community’s safety story!

Connecticut Training and Technical Assistance Center

University of Connecticut

270 Middle Turnpike, Unit 5202

Storrs, CT 06269-5202

Phone: 860-486-9373