James Sánchez

I hope you are ready for more high heat and humidity. The state has activated the extreme hot weather protocol once again. Please read below to find a cooling center near you.

There is a new date and time for our Legislative Town Hall in West Hartford. Please keep scrolling to see where you can learn more about this year's legislative victories and ask questions.

The federal government is awarding Connecticut nearly $39 million dollars to convert CTfastrak into an all-electric bus fleet. I'll break down how that will support commuters in Hartford and West Hartford.

Drivers can expect delays on a busy road in both Hartford and West Hartford. Read below to learn where and when crews will be hard at work to improve a significant stretch of New Britain Avenue.

These are the sections in today's email:

• Extreme Heat Protocol
• You're Invited to a Legislative Town Hall
• More Battery-Powered Buses for CTfastrak Fleet
• Expect Delays on New Britain Avenue

Below you will find some tips to stay safe in extreme heat:

• Keep your body temperature cool to avoid heat-related illness.
• Drink more water than usual.
• Stay in air-conditioned buildings as much as possible. If you must be outdoors, try to limit your outdoor activity to the morning and evening.
• Find an air-conditioned shelter. Do not rely on a fan as your primary cooling device.
• Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing.
• Take cool showers or baths.
• Pets that cannot be brought indoors should be provided ready access to water and shade to keep them cool.
• Never leave pets inside of parked vehicles because temperatures can soar to life-threatening levels within minutes.

CLICK HERE to learn more.

The West Hartford Delegation has rescheduled its Legislative Wrap-Up for Thursday, July 16 at 6 P.M. at the Noah Webster Library Meeting Room on South Main Street.

Please join Sen. Derek Slap, Rep. Jillian Gilchrest, Rep. Tammy Exum, Rep. Kate Farrar, Rep. Bobby Gibson, and me for a discussion on the bills we passed into law and what other proposed legislation we still hope to get across the finish line in the near future.

The electric buses will provide service on CTfastrak routes out of the CTtransit Hartford Division. The funding will also be used to buy and install 25 depot chargers at the Hartford facility and four on-route chargers.

CTfastrak is Connecticut’s first bus rapid transit system and provides direct service to and from Waterbury, Cheshire, Southington, Bristol, Plainville, New Britain, Newington, West Hartford, Hartford, and Manchester. It was recently deemed the best bus rapid transit system in the United States by the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy.

Drivers can expect delays at night for road work in Hartford and West Hartford. Crews will be milling and resurfacing a 1.33 mile stretch of New Britain Avenue from Newington Road to Newington Avenue.

There will be lane closures from Sunday, July 21 to Tuesday, July 23 and from Wednesday, August 7 to Monday, August 12 from 7:00 P.M. – 5:00 A.M.

Please slow down and drive with caution in all work zones.