Gov. M. Jodi Rell has submitted testimony to the General Assembly‘s Transportation Committee supporting the replacement of the Department of Transportation with two new agencies, the Department of Public Transportation, Aviation and Ports and the Department of Highways.
“Over the last three years, we have provided unprecedented funding for transportation improvements throughout the state,” Rell said, adding, “all of the funding in the world will not achieve our desired goal if the agency cannot move these projects forward in an efficient, coordinated and timely manner.”
Under the governor’s proposal, the new Department of Public Transportation, Aviation and Ports will be responsible for bus and rail passenger transportation, rail freight, non-motorized transportation, ferries, ridesharing and vanpooling, the State Pier in New London, other maritime programs, Bradley International Airport and the state’s general aviation airports. The proposed Department of Highways would be responsible for interstate and state highways and bridges.
“DOT as an institution has simply become too bureaucratic and too single-minded in its problem-solving approach. The structure of our transportation agency has not evolved at the same pace as our transportation needs have evolved.
The reorganization is effective January 1, 2010.
