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| OUT N' ABOUT IN THE 41ST DISTRICT |
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| It was a beautiful morning at the City of Groton’s Juneteenth Celebration in conjunction with the NAACP New London Branch on Saturday.
We heard very inspiring remarks from U.S. Coast Guard Academy Superintendent Rear Admiral Michael Johnston about his service and reflections on this holiday. We also observed the raising of the Juneteenth flag, heard from several local organizations, and listened to St. John's Christian Church choir.
Thank you to the individuals and community members who organized this wonderful ceremony. |
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| I would like to thank you for joining me and fellow State Representatives Christine Conley and Anthony Nolan at our End of Session Forum on Monday at the New London Public Library. |
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| EXTREME HEAT PROTOCOL CONTINUES |
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| With temperatures soaring, Connecticut's emergency hot weather protocol is now in effect through Sunday. Please stay hydrated, seek shade or air-conditioned spaces, and check on vulnerable neighbors and loved ones. To find a cooling center near you please call 2-1-1 or click HERE. Let's stay safe and cool together! |
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| SIGNED INTO LAW: PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR VETS |
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| You can read more about the legislation HERE. |
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| SPECIAL SESSION CONFIRMED FOR THURSDAY |
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This will likely be about the Motor Vehicle tax cut I mentioned last week. I am including the details again today. In 2022, HB5172 AAC THE ASSESSMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES FOR PROPERTY TAXATION, passed the House in a bipartisan fashion. It was then amended in the Senate so that, with less than six hours left in session, it rendered the bill dead. Why? Because when you tack on an amendment after a bill has already passed one of the houses and there are very few hours left, it’s difficult to send it back to the originating chamber, pass it with the amendment, and then send it back to the other house to pass both chambers with the same bill.
The underlying bill was to implement the law we passed in 2022. It included technical fixes paramount to making the bill work effectively. This bill matters to cities and towns, so it matters to taxpayers. |
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| ICYMI: LEGISLATION PASSED IN REGULAR 2024 SESSION |
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| Since we're days away from a special session, I wanted to include what we accomplished during the regular 2024 session, which ended in May. Please click on the image below. |
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BILLS SIGNED THIS WEEK: EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION,
CHILD CARE |
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| Early childhood education and child care became more accessible and affordable with Governor Lamont signing two key pieces of legislation into law on Tuesday. I am proud to have worked alongside my colleagues in the House to make these bills a priority during the 2024 regular session. Please click on the image below for more details. |
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Wrong Way Detection Installation at Exit 85 Northbound Off-Ramp from I-95 to Bridge Street in Groton
CTDOT is announcing that a wrong-detection installation will be performed at the Exit 85 northbound off-ramp from I-95 to Bridge Street in Groton on Friday, May 24, 2024.
The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is announcing that a wrong-way detection installation will be performed at the Exit 85 northbound off-ramp from I-95 to Bridge Street in Groton on Friday, May 24, 2024. The project involves excavating and relocating a wrong-way detection system at the Exit 85 northbound off-ramp from I-95 to Bridge Street in Groton.
RAMP CLOSURE INFO:
Motorists can expect a temporary sidewalk and right-lane closure to occur at the Exit 85 northbound off-ramp from I-95 to Bridge Street in Groton. Traffic will be directed to use the left lane at the Exit 85 northbound off-ramp to access Bridge Street in Groton. Variable message boards will be set up approximately one (1) week before the start of this project. Crash attenuator vehicles and signing patterns will guide motorists through the work zone. The work schedule for this project is from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday.
Motorists should be aware that modifications or extensions to this schedule may become necessary due to weather delays or other unforeseen conditions. Motorists are advised to maintain a safe speed when driving in this area.
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| The Connecticut Department of Transportation announced a milling a resurfacing project will be performed on Service Route 649 (Rainville Hill Road/Poquonnock Road/High Rock Road/Tower Avenue) in Groton starting next Thursday, May 23.
The milling segment will take place on Thursday, May 23 through Tuesday, May 28 and the resurfacing segment is anticipated to take place Monday, June 17 through Tuesday, June 25.
Motorists can expect lane closures to occur on Service Route 649 from Route 349 (Clarence B. Sharp Highway) to 0.13 mi. south of the Groton/New London Airport drive in Groton. Groton Town Police and City Police, traffic control personnel, crash attenuator vehicles and signing patterns will guide motorists through the work zone. |
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Guiderail Installation on I-95 North and Southbound in Groton and East Lyme
CTDOT is announcing that a guide rail installation will be performed on I-95 north and southbound in Groton and East Lyme starting May 6, 2024.
The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is announcing that a guide rail installation will be performed on I-95 north and southbound in Groton and East Lyme. This project is scheduled to begin on Monday evening, May 6, through Friday morning, August 30, 2024. Work will end at 6:00 a.m. on Friday, May 24 until 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, due to the Memorial Day holiday and from 6:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 3 until 8:00 p.m. on Monday, July 8, 2024, due to the Independence Day holiday. |
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| MONDAY: PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING GOLD STAR BRIDGE |
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The CTDOT will conduct a hybrid public information meeting (in-person and virtual) concerning pedestrian improvements on the Southbound Gold Star Memorial Bridge and both approaches in New London and Groton on Monday, June 24, 2024, at 7:00 p.m.
The hybrid public information meeting is being held to allow the public and local community an opportunity to offer comments or ask questions regarding the proposed project. The meeting will be held in person in the New London City Hall Building at 181 State Street in New London. The meeting will also take place on Zoom (registration required) and livestreamed on YouTube. A question and answer (Q&A) session will immediately follow the presentation. For instructions on how to access the meeting, and ways to provide comments and ask questions, please click on the image below.
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| (photo credit The Day)
The Gold Star Memorial Bridge is a key connection between New London and Groton for pedestrians and cyclists across the Thames River. The only way to travel between cities by non-vehicular modes is via a five-foot-wide sidewalk adjacent to the right I-95 Southbound travel lane on the Gold Star Southbound bridge. This Shared Use Path (SUP) connection across the Thames River has been in regional and state plans for a long time, intending to improve the safety and accessibility of the non-motorized traveling public between New London and Groton. The project consists of widening the existing sidewalk on the Southbound Gold Star Bridge and the east and west approaches to the bridge, as well as adding a spur path that connects to Williams Street in New London and reconfiguring the Bridge Street intersection in Groton.
There are right-of-way impacts associated with the proposed improvements. Temporary easements are anticipated for construction access. No permanent right-of-way impacts are anticipated.
Construction is anticipated to begin in the Summer of 2028 based on the availability of funding, acquisition of rights of way, and approval of permits. The estimated construction cost for this project is approximately $55.5 million. This project is anticipated to be undertaken using 90% federal funds and 10% state funds.
Individuals with limited internet access can listen to the meeting by calling (877) 853-5257 and entering Meeting ID 852 7950 4911. Individuals with hearing and/or speech disabilities may dial 711 for Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS). Individuals with limited internet access may also request that project information be mailed to them within one week by contacting Tracey Brais at DOT.GoldStarBridgeProjects@ct.gov or (860) 594-3171.
Language assistance may be requested by contacting the CTDOT Language Assistance Call Line at (860) 594-2109. Requests should be made at least five business days before the meeting. Language assistance is provided at no cost to the public and efforts will be made to respond to timely requests for assistance.
The meeting will be hosted in person in the New London City Hall Building at 181 State Street in New London and virtually on Zoom. The meeting will also be live-streamed on the CTDOT YouTube channel; no registration is required. Non-English language closed captioning will be available on Zoom and YouTube. The recording will also be posted immediately following the meeting in the list of CTDOT virtual public meetings at portal.ct.gov/ctdotVPIMarchive.
Members of the public can submit comments and questions during the two-week public comment period following the meeting. Please submit comments and questions by July 8, 2024, to DOT.GoldStarBridgeProjects@ct.gov and (860) 594-2020. Please reference State Project No. 0094-0267 in the email or voicemail.
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CT CLEANUP IN GROTON NEXT SATURDAY
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GROTON BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN MASTER PLAN SURVEY
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| Have you had the chance to complete the Bike and Pedestrian Master Plan survey yet? If not, do it now! Share your thoughts on how to make Groton safer, more accessible, and easier to navigate. Please click HERE. Hay tambien una versión en español de la encuesta, please click HERE. |
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| I am proud to call Connecticut a leader in LGBTQ+ rights!️ Our state stands strong in advocating for equality, acceptance, and love for all. Together, we're building a more inclusive and just society. |
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| Connecticut's Move Over law (Sec. 14-283b) requires all drivers on a highway of two lanes or more in one direction to slow down to a reasonable level below the speed limit and, if safe to do so, move over one lane not only for emergency responders and tow drivers but for any vehicle along the side of the road. If a driver is unable to move over a lane, they are required to slow down and proceed with caution. |
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| COMMUNITY EVENTS AND NOTICES |
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| Do not hesitate to contact me with any thoughts or concerns you may have at Aundre.Bumgardner@cga.ct.gov or 1-800-842-8267.
Sincerely,
Aundré Bumgardner
State Representative |
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