Where the Sidewalk Ends

With much ado about something,  and area legislators including Rep. Lonnie Reed-D, Rep. Pat Widlitz-D and Sen. Edward Meyer-D announced the great news about Branford’s $180,000 STEAP grant on the steps of , Dec. 20.

Branford was told that they would have $150,000 from the Governor to complete a pedestrian walkway and to add lighting to the . Another $30,000 was awarded to the town for a housing feasibility study and for a consultant to work with the Branford Housing Authority and planning body to assess the town’s future housing needs.

Through the Office of Policy and Management, the  annually awards STEAP (Small Town Economic Assistance Program) grants to towns who apply and meet the qualifications. According to the OPM website, STEAP funds must be used for economic development, community conservation and quality of life projects for localities that are ineligible to receive Urban Action (CGS Section 4-66c) bonds.  

So the big question was, how will this $150,000 be used to improve downtown?

Janice Plaziak said the money will help her continue to realize the full visions of the downtown revitalization project, which was launched in the 1980s. That project included adding benches, parking bump-outs, lighting and the brick-paver-walkways downtown. The use of the $150,000, she said, “is in keeping with the long-term concept plan.”

In recent years, the has been leading the funding for downtown restoration and has spent more than $115,000 for projects around the green from the town’s capital fund (FY2008-2010).

Before this past summer (2011), sidewalks downtown were replaced from pavement to brick pavers using Town Center Maintenance funds from the PWD capital budget. The walkway along Montowese Street from Main Street to Town Hall Drive was replaced with brick pavers. The STEAP money, explained Plaziak, will allow the town to continue to replace the pavement sidewalk along Montowese Street to the corner of Route 146 with brick pavers. There is a hope that a small section of the sidewalk on Route 146 along the Green will also be replaced but Plaziak said they must ensure there are enough funds as well as get clearance from the scenic route committee and the state Department of Transportation who has jurisdiction over the roadway.  The other planned sidewalk replacement will be the u-shaped walkway in front of the Academy.

Finishing the proposed brick-paver-walkway will, in essence, be connecting the Green restoration efforts with another STEAP-funded project;  at the corner of Montowese an Route 146 which was recently completed. Seventy-five thousand dollars in 2011 STEAP funds were allocated for the parking lot last year.

Branford’s Chair Terrance Elton said of the proposed improvements, “It’s not going to transform the Green, it’s going to improve the Green.” Excited to have the funding from Malloy, he added, “It’s further enhancement of the Green and it underscores Branford’s appeal as a social and economic hub.”

In addition to walkways, the money will also go toward enhancing the lighting in front of Town Hall to make passage safer in the dark. Plaziak said she is not sure exactly what type of lighting will be installed.

Branford is one of more than 60 towns to receive STEAP funding for FY 2012 and this is the first time the new administration is doling out the funds. Branford has received STEAP funds in the past for a restoration project in Short Beach and the Stony Creek Museum. It’s important that the town use their grant money wisely, said Elton, so that Malloy will continue to offer Branford the investment funds.

While not an earth-shattering amount of grant money – the most money that can be offered for one STEAP grant is $500,000 – both Elton and Plaziak think the project is a good use of the funds. If given more STEAP funds in the future, Plaziak said she would like about $300,000 to complete the design for the Green Study project, which began in 2008.

“You’re always happy when you get funding for something you wouldn’t have been able to do,” said Elton.

There is no anticipated start date for the sidewalk project but Plaziak and Elton believe that the quicker funds are used, the more likely they are to get STEAP funding in the future.