Waterbury, Conn. (WTIC Radio)-Senator Richard Blumenthal joined Waterbury area transportation planners announcing a 360-thousand dollar federal grant to aid in transportation upgrades to the Vision Zero Action Plan, to reduce serious traffic injuries and fatalities.
The federal money is part of a larger $1.7 million grant Connecticut received under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The infrastructure upgrades--including curbing bump outs, narrowing passenger lanes and adding other traffic-calming features, are part of the plan to reach safer streets by 2060. Officials are hoping to reach their goal sooner than that. Senator Blumenthal said more money will be coming from the federal government for construction projects.
Officials --including the Executive Director and Transportation Planning Director from the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments-- said in the Naugatuck Valley in the last five years, 754 major incidents occurred, including 175 fatalities.
Officials held their press conference on the Waterbury Green. They said every road that touches the Green will eventually benefit from the traffic upgrades.