Date: Fri 08-Mar-1996

By KAAREN VALENTA

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

railroad-bridge-Church-Hill

Full Text:

State Plans Railroad Bridge Project For '97

B Y K AAREN V ALENTA

Representatives of the State Department of Transportation's engineering office

intend to meet with town officials on Wednesday, March 20, to discuss the

state's plans for the replacement of the railroad bridge over Church Hill

Road.

Tim Gaffey, DOT project manager, said that if town officials are satisfied

with the plans, a public information meeting could be held as early as next

month.

The project is named Project No. 96-174, replacement of Railroad Bridge No.

00460 over US Route 6, Newtown. The bridge, which sits just 12-feet 7-inches

above the street, is hit regularly by tractor-trailer trucks whose drivers

apparently do not notice the warning signs and lights.

"If we complete the design work in July, then it might be able to go out to

bid in December, with construction in the spring of 1997," Mr Gaffey said. "We

may need to acquire temporary rights-of-way because the track will have to be

relocated while the bridge is being rebuilt."

The new bridge will be higher and wider, increasing the vertical and

horizontal clearance underneath, according to information provided by Earl R.

Munroe, transportation engineering administrator for the DOT's Bureau of

Engineering and Highway Operations.

Mr Gaffey said the roadbed under the bridge won't be changed. The supporting

structure of the new "through girder" steel bridge will be higher, increasing

the clearance from 12 feet, 7 inches to 14 feet, 6 inches.

The bridge supports will be moved to create an opening that could eventually

accommodate four lanes of traffic, Mr Gaffey said, there are no plans to widen

the road at this time.

During the construction period the existing bridge will be moved five feet to

the west. The new bridge then will be built 20 feet to the east.

"The bridge will be 100-feet long because it will be on an angle between the

abutments," Mr Gaffey said. He said that after the replacement bridge is

built, at a cost of $2 million to $2.5 million, it will be turned over to the

Housatonic Valley Railroad for ongoing maintenance.

The HVR bought the bridge from Conrail several years ago and had no intention

of replacing it. The DOT decided to do the project at its own expense because

of the problems with the underpass that affected truck traffic on the state

road. The project will be constructed with 80 percent federal funds and 20

percent state aid.

Mr Cascella said Public Works Director Fred Hurley will head a contingent of

local officials who will meet with the state's engineers to review the plans.

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Choral Society Planning ‘Voices Of America’ Performance

The editorial took no position on the budget going up or down so you're reading things into the editorial that simply aren't there. The turnout is tied to the lack of passage, in that people who came out to vote last time did not this time, indicating a lack of support on their part. Perhaps it wasn't spelled out clearly enough, but that's what the editorial was driving at, people showing lack of support by not casting a vote. The editorial did address likely concerns among voters that may have led to lack of support and lack of turnout. This lower turnout also follows increasing turnout over the past four referendums in three years (meaning it is an aberration from that), and increased turnout is something that I do push for regularly in editorials. Any disappointment you might be seeing is at the break in that trend, not at whether the budget passed or not. I'd rather see more people come out and vote "no" then not vote at all.

Lower Turnout Results In Two Budget Defeats

Clearly, property owners no longer want to bear the burden of expenses while the state does not meet it’s responsibilities. Rising costs must be addressed by actions that do not include yearly increases of property owners’ taxes. The state of CT must meet its share of the educational costs, and other costs.

Town And School Budgets Fail At Referendum

This feels like an oddly misleading headline and narrative, particularly coming from the Editorial Board. The headline "Lower Turnout Results in Two Budget Defeats" pushes a misleading narrative regarding voter turnout, and then seeks to tie the outcome of the referendum to that misleading narrative. Sure, voter turn out for this year's referendum, 18%, was lower than last year's. However, last year's turnout, 25.4%, represented the highest turnout in the most recent 10 budget referendums. If you take the time to examine turnout percentages between 2017 and 2026 (2017: 19.9, 2018: 15.7, 2019: 17, 2020: 0, 2021: 8.98, 2022: 7.7, 2023: 8.8, 2024: 15.1/17.49, 2025: 25.4, 2026: 18), this year's turnout was actually the third highest in the past 10 cycles. Perhaps the headline of this article should say "Lower Voter Turnout Than Last Year", which is more accurate, rather than creating an impression that this year's turnout is some type of aberration - a narrative that the turnout numbers, in all their binary glory, simply do not support. Further, the headline of this article appears to tie the "lower turnout" to the defeated budgets. Sure, that could be true. But, perhaps, its more likely that Newtown residents are feeling the squeeze of multiple economic influences. In Newtown, we've experienced property revaluations and increased municipal spending. Eversource continues to raise rates. The state legislature gives PURA the authority to impose Public Benefit charges that benefit a tiny percentage of the public (and subsequently burdening the rest of us). At the national level, inflation has run rampant for years and many of those costs remain high to this day. In short, the data tells a far less dramatic—and far more honest—story than the headline suggests. This wasn’t an electorate vanishing in apathy; it was a fairly typical turnout delivering an verdict that, perhaps, some at the Editorial Board didn't like. At some point, it’s worth considering that residents aren’t confused, disengaged, or misled by turnout; they’re simply doing math at their kitchen tables and concluding that “no” is the only responsible answer left.

Enjoyed the forum which only confirmed my support for Brandon Moore as the Democratic candidate to run for the state representative position. Brandon Moore did not waiver about his duty to all the people, if elected, when an issue presents itself that requires that he voice a difference of opinion for the wellbeing of Newtown residents. If Michelle Ku’s 16 years have led to her loyalty being to other elected officials, as she implied, then Newtown is going to continue to witness actions that do not protect its residents. She could not unseat republican, Mitch Bolinsky, during a Blue Wave, and once again, will not do it now. Winning that seat is critical for all. That explains why her previous campaign committee now campaigns for Brandon Moore. It explains all the endorsements he has received from local elected democratic officials. It’s why we need Brandon Moore to be the democratic candidate to run for state representative.

Second Newtown DTC, League Of Women Voters Candidates Event Planned

Appreciated the opportunity to hear from both candidates as we were present for the College Dems forum but only heard from Brandon Moore. It was an opportunity to see who can unseat the Republican incumbent and there is no doubt that Brandon Moore should be the Democratic candidate. One concerned parent posed a question about discrimination unaddressed by the school district and interestingly enough, Michelle Ku, who proudly speaks of her Board membership years, said little, while Brandon Moore passionately addressed the issue along with his experience as an Apache Helicopter Commander. This family is supporting Brandon Moore. We need change and someone who is not afraid to disagree, especially about the rising costs of living in Newtown.

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Date: Fri 08-Mar-1996

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