🔒Bond Commission set to approve projects totaling $3.4B, including $125M to offset controversial public benefits charge on electric bills

The state Bond Commission is set to consider $3.4 billion in capital projects at its meeting Friday morning, with transportation infrastructure receiving the largest allocation as the state continues major investments in roads, bridges and public transit. Transportation projects represent nearly half the total funding, with three major state Department of Transportation bond authorizations totaling more than $1.5 billion. Also, the commission will consider $125 million to offset a portion of the public benefits charge on electric bills. The public benefits charge has seen a sharp increase over the last year, with it now representing about 20% of the average monthly bill. The increase was driven by under-recoveries and unpaid bills from recent years, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic when shutoffs were prohibited, among other factors. “Using state bond funding as a means of reducing public benefits charges is one action we can take to provide some savings on consumers’ electric bills, but I must stress that this is only one step in the effort to make energy rates more affordable and we need to do more to address the actual costs of generating and delivering electricity,” said Gov. Ned Lamont, who chairs the state Bond Commission, in a statement last week. Meantime, the largest single transportation request on the commission’s 58-item agenda seeks $706.5 million for the Transportation Infrastructure Program, including $234.9 million for Northeast Corridor modernization, $157.6 million for bridge repairs and $90.5 million for bus and rail facilities. Another $513 million request would fund transportation improvements, including $110 million for road repairs and $108.6 million for bus and rail projects. A separate $326 million authorization would advance strategic transportation initiatives under the Let's Go! CT program, with $157.5 million allocated for the WALK Moveable Bridge replacement project in Norwalk. The WALK Moveable Bridge, which carries the New Haven Line over the Norwalk River, is a swing bridge built in 1896 that has failed multiple times, causing delays for rail and maritime traffic. In addition, the commission will consider $98 million for continued improvements to the Interstate 91, Interstate 691 and Route 15 interchange. Beyond transportation, the Capital Region Development Authority would receive $21 million for Hartford development projects, including loans for residential construction at 17 Wells St. and 150 Trumbull St. New York-based Spectra Construction and Development plans to construct a new 84-unit apartment building at 17 and 21 Wells St., near Hartford City Hall. New York-based Shelbourne Global Solutions is pursuing a project to convert the upper-level office space at 150 Trumbull St. — which houses Max's Trumbull Kitchen on the first floor — into 46 apartments. Environmental projects represent another significant investment, with the state Department of Environmental Protection seeking $100 million for the Clean Water Fund to provide loans and grants to municipalities for water quality improvements. Economic development initiatives total $74.5 million, including $50 million to provide grants-in-aid under the Innovation Clusters program to support projects in the biotech, financial-tech, insurance-tech and advanced manufacturing industries. The state Department of Economic and Community Development is also reallocating $24.5 million from stalled projects to provide grants-in-aid to strategic supply chain companies under the Strategic Supply Chain Program. The largest education allocation seeks $200 million for local school building projects under the state's grant program, while Connecticut State Colleges and Universities would receive funding for renovations at Naugatuck Valley and Norwalk community colleges. Housing programs account for $70 million across three separate flexible housing initiatives, providing financing for new construction and rehabilitation of more than 800 housing units. Additional housing support includes $25 million for the Time-To-Own first-time homebuyer program and $25 million for the Crumbling Foundations Assistance Fund. Other allocations include $30 million for brownfield remediation, $30 million for electric vehicle charging programs, $25 million for homelessness services facilities and $20 million for manufacturing innovation grants. The bond commission meeting is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. in the Legislative Office Building.