The Town of Southbury has been awarded $800,000 through the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CT-DOT) Community Connectivity Grant Program for the development of multi-use walking and biking paths to provide safe, alternative modes of transportation and recreational opportunities for the community.
This grant will fund phase one of a much larger vision: building twenty-three segments of recreational paths connecting residential areas to open space trails, schools, parks, and commercial areas. With this funding, the Town will be able to advance its first-priority segments of the project on New Wheeler Road in Heritage Village, the largest retirement community in the State.
This is the sixth round of grants being awarded through this program. In 2024, more than $12 million was awarded to 17 Connecticut towns and cities for a variety of initiatives intended to “make conditions safer, more accommodating, and equitable for pedestrians and bicyclists in urban, suburban, and rural centers,” according to an announcement from Gov. Ned Lamont’s office. Grant amounts ranged from $229,200 to $800,000, making Southbury one of the highest award recipients.
“This multi-phase trail project is in line with our POCD”, said Southbury First Selectman, Jeff Manville who proposed the project, referring to the town’s 10-year Plan of Conservation and Development, adopted in 2023. “The plan emphasized the importance of walking and biking, and having options for those who do not have a car or are unable to drive. We have a large senior population in Southbury, so this is particularly important. Over the past year, my assistant and I have worked with town department heads, outside consultants and stakeholders on this vision. I am thankful to the State for seeing the value in this project and the Community for their overwhelming support.”
