State Representative Stephen Dargan (D-West Haven), House Chairman of the Public Safety and Security Committee was successful in getting compromise language that removes the need for a physical agility test to qualify for a transfer, while maintaining most other vetting procedures.

“I would like to thank all sides for working together to attain this compromise,” said Rep. Dargan. “The process of getting the best candidate is upheld while not lowering the standards of that process. If an officer retires from one department, municipalities now have the option of waiving the physical agility requirement.”

State Representative Joe Verrengia (D-West Hartford) is a police officer in West Hartford. He feels the bill is a fair compromise.

“This bill is not about poaching officers away from departments,” said Rep. Verrengia. “It’s about creating the ability to acquire a qualified police officer.”

State Representative Ed Jutila (D-East Lyme) shepherded the bill through the House floor debate.

“The bill maintains the professionalism of the current standards, but also allows for some flexibility for police officers,” said Rep. Jutila.

The bill moves on to the Senate for consideration.

The Commissioner of the state Department of Motor Vehicles faced some sharp questions Wednesday about the shrinking menu of services at southeastern Connecticut DMV branches.

During a legislative hearing, state Rep. Ed Jutila, D-East Lyme, asked Commissioner Melody Currey why Norwich and Old Saybrook DMV branches stopped offering road tests last August for people seeking a driver's license.

Both branches also stopped processing new license applications for new drivers, although they still do renewals and vehicle registrations.

Jutila said he's hearing complaints from local residents, especially parents of would-be teen drivers, who do not enjoy the long trips to DMVs in Willimantic or Wethersfield for those services.

For the first time in recent memory, there are no more full-service DMVs in the southeast part of the state. The former New London DMV office on Truman Street, where a young Jutila obtained his first license, closed years ago.

"Down in southeast Connecticut, we're sometimes forgotten," Jutila told Currey, who was testifying before the Transportation Committee on several unrelated matters.

"Think about the consumers in our area, too."

Currey said the department pared back certain services last summer at smaller DMV branches to realign resources and make the overall system more efficient. The department also experienced a large number of retirements from positions it has yet to fill, she said. "You have to prioritize what you can do," she said later.

She said the DMV may re-evaluate the services at its branch offices this fall.

The departure of road-test and new-licensing services from the region is prompting much hand-wringing among the parents of young drivers and adults who need a first-time Connecticut driver's license, according to Mark Robarge, owner of Connecticut Drive-Right Inc., a Groton-based driving school.

Robarge said his adult clients require two separate trips on different days to a DMV office for the written test and then the road test. Fulfilling these requirements can be a challenge, as they can't yet drive themselves to Willimantic or Wethersfield.

A few desperate clients ended up paying about $200 to rent a Drive-Right vehicle and driver to escort them to and from the DMV. Other clients have had to take a day from work because of the travel and line-waiting time.

DMV spokesman Bill Seymour said the reduction in services at Old Saybrook and Norwich was a result of the department's consolidation plans that moved some employees from smaller branch offices to larger and busier full-service "hubs."

The staff shift was to cut down on overall waiting time, as some branch services were underutilized and others had long lines of customers. The realignment saved about $50,000, he said.

Jutila said he appreciates the streamlining efforts, "but you can also take that to an extreme where consumers are negatively impacted, and that may be what's happening here." He asked Currey to think about this southeastern corner of Connecticut if the DMV re-evaluates its branch service offerings.

"The governor ... made it very clear that southeastern Connecticut was not going to be left out in his administration," Jutila said. "I hope you keep us on your radar screen."

Jutila is seeking an opportunity to hear some of his constituents’ issues and concerns, as the legislature prepares for the start of the 2012 Legislative Session on February 8th.

“It is always important for me to listen to constituents and get input on their priorities, concerns and ideas before session,” Jutila said. “It gives me a good sense of what matters most to them and helps me make decisions on related issues.”

“STEAP grants are a critical part of helping Connecticut’s small towns work to improve infrastructure, encourage economic development and create jobs,” said Governor Malloy. “These grants allow us to make investments that will improve the overall quality of life for our residents.”

East Haddam: $100,000 for East Haddam Water Pollution Control Authority renovations

The Town of East Haddam will receive $100,000 for the design and construction of renovations to the sewer treatment plan owned and operated by the East Haddam Water Pollution Control Authority. The redesign, rehabilitation and repair will extend the life and service capacity of the facility, which was built in 1996. Improvements will increase efficiency, enhance worker safety and improve environmental protections.

“This upgrade to the Water Pollution Control Authority is of critical importance to the town of East Haddam,” Rep. Linda Orange (D-Colchester, East Haddam) said. “The project is desperately needed and I am very pleased to see it get funding to move forward.”

East Lyme: $400,000 for Main Street Revitalization Project

The Town of East Lyme will receive $400,000 for Phase IIIC of their Main Street revitalization project. The project includes LED street lights and lighted bollards, parking lot trees and landscaping, connection to Main Street, and a new streetscape north along Pennsylvania Avenue. This project builds on Phases I and II that have stimulated reinvestment in privately-owned downtown properties and have lead to the establishment of ten new businesses along and within three blocks of Main Street.

“I want to thank Governor Malloy for understanding the important role this grant will play in beautifying East Lyme’s downtown and boosting economic activity that grows jobs and supports our local merchants,” said Sen. Andrea Stillman (D-East Lyme, Montville, New London, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, Salem & Waterford). “This is the type of smart investment the state can make to help build stronger communities.”

“I am very pleased these funds have been approved to continue this important business-friendly project in East Lyme and thank Governor Malloy for his commitment to making sure it continues to be funded,” said Rep. Ed Jutila (D-East Lyme, Salem). “The improvement work thus far has provided an economic boost to the area and has enhanced the quality of life for residents and visitors alike.”

Preston: $500,000 for Norwich State Hospital Property Development

The Town of Preston will receive $500,000 for the abatement and demolition of the theater and chapel located on the former Norwich State Hospital property, now known as the Preston Riverwalk. The designated buildings are beyond repair and will be removed in order to complete a redevelopment of the site. The town plans to create a business park to encourage development and sustainable growth. The project will immediately employ 50-100 workers towards that end.

"We deeply appreciate the Governor's support for this important regional asset,” said Sen. Andrew Maynard (D Griswold, Groton, North Stonington, Plainfield, Preston, Sterling, Stonington & Voluntown). “The funds will be put to good use addressing the environmental cleanup of one of the area’s most promising economic development opportunities."

“This STEAP grant is one more major step forward in a renewed state and local partnership on behalf of eastern Connecticut’s economic growth. It is clear that Gov. Malloy is committed to our region in a very real way,” said Rep. Tom Reynolds (D-Ledyard, Preston, Montville).

Voluntown: $180,000 for Church Street and Route 165 Intersection

The Town of Voluntown will receive $180,000 for the reconfiguration of the highway intersection and sidewalks at Route 165 and Church Street. The project will address a number of safety concerns, such as obstructed sight lines and a lack of sidewalk space, in addition to improving the overall aesthetics of the area.

"This funding will go a long way toward helping Voluntown address road and streetscape improvements that have been part of their municipal planning for years. We thank the Governor for his support,” said Sen. Maynard (D Griswold, Groton, North Stonington, Plainfield, Preston, Sterling, Stonington & Voluntown).

“This is an important safety project Voluntown has been planning for some time,” said State Representative Steven Mikutel (D-Griswold, Lisbon, Plainfield, Voluntown). “This infrastructure upgrade will improve the flow of traffic. Governor Malloy should be commended for this decision.”

The State Bond Commission, under Governor Malloy’s leadership, allocated $20 million for STEAP grants on September 23, 2011. The awards, which will be awarded to small towns from throughout the state, were granted in part due to project readiness and their impact on overall regional economic development.

Waterford - Resolution of the decades-old question of whether to build the rest of Route 11 may be no closer, but proponents, opponents and the undecided got a fresh hearing Monday of the financial, environmental, economic development and transportation policy issues at stake.

At a forum at the Waterford Public Library sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Southeastern Connecticut, about 40 local residents listened to presentations by Molly McKay of Mystic, transportation chairwoman for the Connecticut Sierra Club and project opponent, and state Rep. Ed Jutila, D-East Lyme, a supporter.

The highway extends 8.5 miles from Colchester to its abrupt ending in Salem, and debate over whether to complete the 7.5 miles to its originally intended terminus at interstates 95 and 395 at the Waterford-East Lyme town line has been a perennial topic since the last mile of asphalt was poured in 1972.

This spring, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy revived the issue when he announced two new studies would be undertaken on highway design and financing options, including the use of tolls. Costs of completing the highway, including an interchange at 95 and 395, are just under $1 billion. Proponents are hoping federal funds would cover about 80 percent of the costs, while opponents warn that costs will likely escalate much higher than the estimate.

The two studies, the latest of many over the years, would be paid for with about $5 million in federal funds from a 2005 grant.

In her presentation, McKay argued that Route 11 should be viewed in the larger context of a flawed national transportation policy that favors highways and car transportation at the expense of rail and other forms of mass transit. The time is long overdue, she said, to stop pouring money into highways and make investments in mass transportation that will curb sprawl, make cities more attractive places to live and provide an alternative to gridlock.

Instead of spending money on Route 11, the state should undertake a "community sensitivity upgrade" of Route 85, she said. Obtaining the federal permits needed for Route 11, she said, would be difficult because of the Environmental Protection Agency's long-standing concerns about environmental impacts.

"This is a huge, long-range project that affects what we do with the rest of our transportation budget," she said. "This road would take years to build, and there would be gridlock (on 95) with years of construction."

Jutila opened his talk by calling Route 11 "one of the most important issues to southeastern Connecticut."

"To me, the debate ended 40 years ago," he said. "It was never a decision to build half a highway. It was never the decision to have the highway dead-end and drop all this traffic in the rural town of Salem."

Building Route 11 will improve safety, by taking traffic off the two-lane Route 85 and improving the interstate 95-395 interchange, Jutila said. It would also provide a better evacuation route for southeastern Connecticut residents in the case of hurricanes and other emergencies, he said. Land around the highway could be protected from development by a greenway, he said, and a finished highway would be good for the region's economy.

Members of the audience were split in their views on the project, with some questioning the cost and impact on homes in the corridor, while others said the most recent design would impact only 17 acres of wetlands, preserving a sensitive wildlife corridor and provide better access to the region for tourism and commerce.

The goal of the legislation is to jump-start job creation and foster long-term economic growth. Assistance for small business, cutting red tape, incentives for innovation, economic development tools and workforce development and training are all addressed in the bill.

One of the key components of the legislation is the Small Business Express Package which will make $50 million/year available to small businesses through incentives, grants and loans.

Another vital component is aligning programs at vo-tech schools, community colleges and universities with high demand job needs of employers, including the state’s manufacturing and technology companies.

“As a former small business owner, I understand the impact of this legislation. It will help small businesses grow and stay strong,” Jutila stated. “Ending the annual $250 business entity tax was one of my top priorities when I first came to the legislature. Effectively cutting it in half is an important step toward eliminating it completely.”

Other components of the jobs bill include:

• Consolidating and increasing the tax credit for new hires
• Incentivizing investments in emerging technology (Angel Investors)
• Building innovation centers in key areas and investing in innovative ventures
• A second “First Five” program
• Reducing the business entity tax
• Streamlining the business permitting process
• Remediating old industrial sites (brownfields)
• Computer upgrades to foster seamless communication between businesses and the state
• Workforce development, education and training
• Allowing the  Airport Authority to designate new Development Zones
• Investments in roads and bridges
• Main Street commercial centers improvement initiative

Hartford - After being talked, debated, studied and promised for close to four decades, the Route 11 completion project can now claim its own chicken-or-the-egg conundrum:

Which will come first, the tolls or the road?

That answer could arrive as early as today if the state Senate opts to take up a bill that would give the state authority to establish tolls on the proposed 8½-mile extension. The bill cleared the House early Thursday morning on a 76-60 vote.

Introduced by state Rep. Ed Jutila, D-East Lyme, the bill authorizes the state Department of Transportation to install toll mechanisms to help pay for the state's portion of the $900 million highway project. Jutila hopes the federal government will pay 80 percent.

While transportation officials have yet to decide whether to use tolls, the bill gives them the legal authority to do so if a forthcoming Route 11 study by Wilbur Smith Associates finds the option practical.

Jutila and other Route 11 supporters say it's crucial to give the state that authority, especially in order to leverage federal funding.

Deflecting Republican criticism during the House debate, Jutila stressed that the bill would add tolls only to the new part of Route 11 that is planned to connect with Interstate 95 in Waterford. The legislation would not place tolls along any other roads in Connecticut, he said.

The bill states that the tolls would be taken away once the Route 11 construction bonds are retired.

State Sen. Andrew Maynard, D-Stonington, co-chairman of the legislature's transportation committee, said Thursday that he thought the tolls bill had "a fair shot" of passing the Senate and becoming law. Connecticut hasn't had tolls since 1988.

"I understand people's discomfort about introducing tolls, but if the federal government's match is dependent on a funding source, (tolls) are one way to address this," Maynard said. "You can't even continue the discussion if you don't have at least a potential funding source."

Jutila identified the state's special transportation fund as another potential funding source in addition to tolls for Connecticut's expected 20-percent share of the costs.

Sen. Andrea Stillman, D-Waterford, said finishing Route 11 is critical for safety as well as economic development in southeastern Connecticut. She would vote for it, she said.

"This bill is a very important piece of the puzzle to moving this project forward," Stillman said.

A DOT spokesman said the department is many steps away from even proposing a toll price.

Two 2009 traffic counts found between 10,400 and 10,600 vehicles a day traveling on Route 11. One environmental-impact study estimated that the daily traffic count could reach 14,600 vehicles if the extension project is finished.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy announced last month that he is reviving the Route 11 project with $4.4 million in federal funds and $600,000 in matching state funds that will finance a new and final round of studies. Malloy said the studies could take up to 2½ years, but he wouldn't venture to predict when Route 11 will finally be finished.

"If you told me we could cut the ribbon on this highway six years from now, I'd be real happy," Jutila said.

HARTFORD - The House of Representatives early today voted to authorize the state Department of Transportation to allow temporary tolls on Route 11.

The bill, which the House passed 76-60, marks the first authorization of tolls in two decades.

East Lyme Rep. Ed Jutila, a Democrat, said the measure is tailored to the completion of Route 11, which ends abruptly in Salem. He said the legislation is needed to generate revenue to help complete the long-delayed highway. The bill was amended to ensure the tolls would be removed after bonds for the project are paid off.

“This project is long overdue and absolutely essential for the safety and general quality of life in southeastern Connecticut,” Jutila said. “Route 11 was never intended to dead end in little, rural Salem.”

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is pushing ahead with design and engineering plans to complete the remaining 8.5-mile stretch and an intersection with Interstate 95 in Waterford. The governor, a Democrat, recently announced that his administration is resurrecting the plans that were put on hold by former Gov. M. Jodi Rell, a Republican, because of cost concerns. He’s also calling for a cost analysis of the project.

The work could take as long as 2½ years.

House Minority Leader Lawrence F. Cafero Jr., R-Norwalk, questioned why lawmakers were considering authorizing tolls after two decades when Route 11 hasn’t been fully approved and there’s no final pricetag.

“What the heck are we passing this bill for?” Cafero asked.

Rep. David Scribner, R-Brookfield, opposes tolls. He said he worries this measure will persuade other legislative delegations to pursue tolls to finish roads in their districts.

“Logic would tell you once you allow that to move forward, we’re going to see others that have very compelling stories and very necessary projects come forward,” he said.

Construction of Route 11 began in the 1970s but was halted because of environmental concerns and a lack of funding. The highway was supposed to create a direct route from southeastern Connecticut to Hartford, linking with Route 2. The road now stops in Salem, detouring drivers to Route 85, a two-lane state road.

The bill now moves to the Senate.

Hartford - A bill that would authorize the state Departmentof Transportation to set up toll booths on a future extension of Route 11 tohelp pay a portion of the proposed $900 million project passed the state Houseof Representatives early Thursday morning.

Legislators voted 76-60 in favor of the bill, which was introduced and defendedfor more than two hours on the House floor by Rep. Ed Jutila, D-East Lyme. Itnow goes to the Senate.

Decades-long efforts to complete the final 8 ½ miles of Route 11 were revivedlast month by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District,who announced $4.4 million in federal funds and $600,000 in matching statedollars for additional environmental and cost studies. The studies, however,could take 2 ½ years to complete.

One study will examine the possibility of tolls as a funding mechanism andsuggest how much Route 11 drivers should pay. Jutila said the purpose of thebill that passed the House is to give state officials authority to pursue thetoll booth option if it is deemed practical.

The tolls would apply to only the new part of Route 11 that would connect withInterstate 95 in Waterford.They would be temporary and discontinued once the construction bonds are paidoff.

"It's simply a mechanism to put another tool in the DOT's toolbox as it'sdeveloping a financing plan," Jutila said.

Republicans as a whole were opposed to the bill, which would establish thefirst toll road in Connecticutsince 1988.

"Another word for tolls is tax," said Rep. Lawrence Miller,R-Stratford.

House Minority Leader Lawrence Cafero, R-Norwalk, said he couldn't support thebill without knowing the type of toll booths, their exact location on Route 11and, most crucially, whether the extension project would ever get built.

"We don't even know what kind of tolls they're going to have," Caferosaid. "Are they going to have the EZ Pass tolls or thethrow-it-in-the-bucket tolls?"

The GOP leader also questioned whether the four-lane highway extension is worthits latest $900 million price tag, which includes refurbishing the interchangeat the intersection of Interstates 95 and 395. "That's a lot of dough for8 ½ miles," he said.

Jutila said the federal government is expected to pick up 80 percent of projectcosts. He called the extension necessary for safety, for reining in suburbansprawl, and for supporting economic development in southeastern Connecticut.

Route 11 now ends in Salemand detours traffic to Route 85 via Route 82, both narrower roads. Jutila saidhe's counted 16 fatalities on Route 85 since the Route 11 project first stalledin the 1970s.

Rep. Chris Coutu, R-Norwich, spoke in favor of an unsuccessful Republicanamendment that would have scrapped the tolls plan and launched an additionalround of Route 11 cost studies, including a study about tolls.

"We need to think these things through a little more with feasibilitystudies before we decide on something like a toll," Coutu said.

But Jutila disagreed. He said that the GOP's proposed studies would beredundant to studies that will soon be underway thanks to the governor andcongressman Courtney.

"We've had a lot of studies," Jutila said. "The people ofsoutheastern Connecticutalso want to see some action."

The temporary tolls will be used to pay for the completion of the highway, which currently stops about 8.5 miles short of its planned completion in Salem.

Rep. Ed Jutila, D-East Lyme, has championed the issue as a creative way to solve a problem that has plagued that area of the state for years. He said it will reduce traffic on Route 85 when its completed.

House Minority Leader Lawrence Cafero, R-Norwalk, had a difficult time wrapping his mind around the idea that the state was going to temporarily resurrect tolls, which were eliminated 28 years ago after a fatal accident, in order to pay $180 million in bonding. The $180 million will be the state’s share of the estimated $900 million project, which is expected to attract federal highway funds.

“We’re creating tolls we can’t describe or tell you what they are or where they’re going to go,” Cafero said.

Rep. David Scribner, R-Brookfield, urged his colleagues not to think about the bill as a completion to Route 11, but a change in policy that permits tolls to be placed on Connecticut highways.

“It’s worth us taking time to study before we make a policy change of prioritizing and funding highways,” Scribner said.

But as with many bills this one came with the support of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, who held a press conference May 23 in order to announce a $5 million grant from the Federal Highway Administration to fund the environmental impact study. The 80-20 percent matching grant requires the state to contribute $1 million.

In addition to the environmental assessment, Department of Transportation Acting Commissioner James P. Redeker said last week  that the success of the project is tied to two other steps. First the department must complete the remaining field survey work for the project and use it to come up with engineering cost estimates. The final step is figuring out how the project will be paid for, Redeker said.

“The final piece will be a revenue study that will take a look at options for funding the road, using not just traditional sources as was done before but investigating things like tolling and other mechanisms that can bring sufficient funding to the table to do this,” he said.

This legislation, which now goes to the Senate, gives the DOT more funding options as it looks for ways to complete the highway.

Three weeks after Gov. Dannel P. Malloy unveiled a new approach toward completing Route 11, the state House of Representatives approved a measure allowing the use of tolls on a temporary basis to pay down costs associated with the project.

The 76-60 vote Thursday in favor of House Bill 6200, sponsored by state Rep. Ed Jutila, D-East Lyme, still needs to win passage in the Senate by June 8, when this year’s legislative session ends.

Jutila said the vote reflects the lawmakers’ commitment to back Malloy’s efforts tp revive the decades-old plan to link the highway — which runs from Route 2 in Colchester to Route 82 in Salem — with the Interstate 95/395 interchange in Waterford.

“Once legislators from other parts of the state became educated on the project and its history and the frustrations we’ve had over the years, they tend to become supportive of it,” Jutila said. “They made the right decision.”

But House Republican Leader Lawrence Cafero said he’s outraged that Jutila’s bill made it off the floor.

“It was, in my opinion, an embarrassing moment for the Legislature,” Cafero said. “The genesis for this bill was nothing more than a press conference by Gov. Malloy.”

Fast track

Separate legislative committees approved House Bill 6200 in March and April, but it was thrust into the limelight on May 17, when Malloy said he was putting Route 11 on a fast track toward completion by launching new environmental studies and finance plans expected to take two years.

Earlier estimates have put costs at $900 million, with the state contributing $180 million to access federal money.

Language in the measure approved Thursday would let planners establish tolls until any bonds related to the project are paid off — a caveat Cafero blasted.

“When we make a rule, we don’t just make it out for one day, one thing or one circumstance,” Cafero said. “That speaks upon the legislative process, which is a far greater matter than any particular road or any particular policy. What we have done here in the Legislature is abdicated our responsibility to the executive branch.”

Educated decision

Jutila disagreed, saying the vote came after months of deliberation, public hearings and individual meetings with lawmakers to explain the need for completing the project.

“It’s not about acquiescing to the governor,” he said. “It’s about a Legislature that has become educated and listened to the debate and voted. I think it’s unfortunate the Republicans chose to turn it into a partisan vote.”

Kevin Nursick, a spokesman with the state Department of Transportation, said if the Senate approves Jutila’s measure and Malloy signs it into law, it remains too early to say whether tolls will become part of a Route 11 payment plan.

“Any details about tolling and how it would work are yet to be garnered at this point,” Nursick said. “Obviously, the process is in motion, and I think what the governor has made clear here is that outside-the-box thinking is perfectly acceptable.”

The House of Representatives voted early Thursday morning to authorize the state's transportation department to allow temporary tolls on Route 11 in southeastern Connecticut.

The bill, which the House passed 76-60, marks the first authorization of tolls in two decades.

East Lyme Rep. Ed Jutila, a Democrat, said the measure is tailored to the completion of Route 11, which ends abruptly in Salem. He said the legislation is needed to generate revenue to help complete the long-delayed highway. The bill was amended to ensure the tolls would be removed after bonds for the project are paid off.

"This project is long overdue and absolutely essential for the safety and general quality of life in southeastern Connecticut," Jutila said. "Route 11 was never intended to dead end in little, rural Salem."

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is pushing ahead with design and engineering plans to complete the remaining 8.5-mile stretch and an intersection with Interstate 95 in Waterford. The Democratic governor recently announced that his administration is resurrecting the plans that were put on hold by former Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell's administration because of cost concerns. He's also calling for a cost analysis of the project.

The work could take as long as two-and-a-half years.

House Minority Leader Lawrence Cafero Jr., R-Norwalk, questioned why lawmakers were considering authorizing tolls after two decades when Route 11 hasn't been fully approved and there's no final price-tag.

"What the heck are we passing this bill for," Cafero asked.

Rep. David Scribner, R-Brookfield, opposes tolls. He said he worries this measure will ultimately persuade other legislative delegations to pursue tolls to finish roads in their districts.

"Logic would tell you once you allow that to move forward, we're going to see others that have very compelling stories and very necessary projects come forward," he said.

Construction of Route 11 began in the 1970s but was halted because of environmental concerns and a lack of funding. The highway was supposed to create a direct route from southeastern Connecticut to Hartford, linking with Route 2. The road now stops in Salem, detouring drivers to Route 85, a two-lane state road.

The bill now moves to the Senate for further legislative action.

Hartford - With $4.4 million in federal funds as his smelling salts, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said Monday that he is reviving the long-stalled Route 11 extension project that some saw as all but dead.

"This is a system that I ultimately believe needs to be built out," Malloy said during a news conference in the state Capitol, joined by U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, state Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Daniel Esty and James Redeker, acting commissioner of the state Department of Transportation. Also present was Amy Jackson-Grove, division administrator for the Federal Highway Administration.

Malloy said the federal dollars and $600,000 of matching state funds - $5 million altogether - will finance several studies for the Route 11 extension that the governor insisted are necessary. A previous round of environmental studies that was cut short must be completed before new engineering and funding analysis studies are conducted.

The studies are to begin this summer and will require two and a half years to finish, Malloy said. Another consultant will examine options for funding the full project, such as the installation of temporary toll booths.

The governor said it is too early to gauge the full cost of completing Route 11, but he anticipates a big price tag: "This is not going to be an inexpensive project."

An earlier estimate reported by The Day in 2007 put the cost at between $843 million and $924 million in 2013 dollars.

"For too long we have failed to properly invest in our infrastructure in Connecticut, and it's time that we do invest in our infrastructure," Malloy said.

Route 11 has been only partially complete since 1972, when the state ran out of money to finish it. The highway abruptly ends in Salem and detours traffic to Route 85 via Route 82, both narrow two-lane roads. Local and state officials view the current situation as potentially hazardous.

A 2007 study on the Route 11 project identified seven fatalities and more than 1,400 motor vehicle accidents on Route 85 since 1999.

The project would extend the road by 8.5 miles so that Route 11 would connect with Interstate 95 in Waterford. It would also refurbish the interchange at the intersection of interstates 95 and 395.

Plans to extend Route 11 have been discussed since the 1970s. State Rep. Ed Jutila, D-East Lyme, a Route 11 supporter, recalls working on an early environmental study for the highway extension back in 1980, when he was a young legislative assistant for Richard F. Schneller, a former state Senate majority leader.

The project was revived in 1997 and received support from governors John Rowland and M. Jodi Rell, as well as former U.S. congressman Rob Simmons.

In 2004, the federal DOT named the extension one of six projects in the country on a "fast track," but the momentum later petered out.

The project was shelved in 2009 by then-state DOT Commissioner Joseph Marie because of lack of funding. At the time, the department estimated it had spent nearly $5 million since 1997 on Route 11 consultants - almost all of it on environmental studies.

Monday, Jutila applauded Malloy and Courtney for the renewed commitment to finishing Route 11.

"I think it's a major, positive step forward," Jutila said. "It's certainly a lot better place that we're in now than we were a year ago when the project looked dead."

Jutila is a sponsor of a bill pending in the General Assembly that would raise money to complete Route 11 by authorizing the DOT to place tolls on new highways. But some critics doubt whether the toll booths could collect enough money if motorists chose to then avoid the highway.

A separate but related initiative is the Route 11 "greenway," a proposed bike and pedestrian path that would run on either side of the extended highway.

Dan Steward, chairman of the Route 11 Greenway Authority Commission and Waterford's first selectman, said Monday that his group hasn't met for about a year and is awaiting further direction from the state.

Salem First Selectman Kevin Lyden was glad to hear Monday that the Route 11 project is alive once again. He said the extension would reduce traffic on Route 85, which is overused yet must function as the region's emergency evacuation route.

The Homeowner’s Mortgage Crisis Info Session will take place Wednesday, May 25 from 8:30 am-9:30 am at New London CT Works-East, Shaw’s Cove Six in New London.

NEW DATE AND VENUE:
Wednesday, June 1, 2011   9:30 – 10:30 am
Legislative Office Building, Hartford – Room 1B

Local residents will be sharing their personal experiences with the program and how beneficial it has been to them in their decision to keep their existing mortgage.

“I encourage area homeowners to put this date on their agenda to come and find out how this program can help them,” Ritter stated. “We are still dealing with some very difficult economic times and many people face heavy financial pressures. I strongly invite area residents to explore every possible option before they make final decisions that will have strong impact for their families and communities.”

“This program could provide a critical lifeline to homeowners who may be struggling to keep up,” added State Rep. Ed Jutila (D-East Lyme/Salem). “This is a great opportunity to learn important lessens from the experts, as well as from the experiences of other homeowners.”

“Anything that we can do to help people stay in their homes will not only make our communities stronger, but in the long run will contribute to economic stability and growth,” said Rep. Diane Urban (D-North Stonington/Stonington).

“The health of any given community is directly proportional to the stake citizens feel in their neighborhoods,” Rep. Ernest Hewett (D-New London) said. “Programs that support property owners’ ability to keep their mortgage payments up to date and their peace of mind intact are of utmost importance to a properly functioning municipality.”

The program will offer job training opportunities to help homeowners get back on an earnings course that supports home ownership.

A bill that would allow tolls on some state highways and pave the way for the completion of Route 11 cleared a major hurdle Thursday.

By a 37-15 vote, the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee approved House Bill 6200, which would authorize the Department of Transportation to place tolls on new highways. The measure is intended to help the state raise money to complete Route 11, a project that has remained unfinished for decades.

Route 11 abruptly ends in Salem and detours traffic to Route 85 via Route 82, both of which are two-lane roads. If completed, Route 11 would connect with Interstate 95 in Waterford.

State Rep. Ed Jutila, D-East Lyme, a co-sponsor of the bill, said Thursday that while the bill does not mention Route 11 specifically, it would create a potential funding stream for the highway.

"We now have a governor that's openly speaking in favor of it and providing real leadership on it," Jutila said of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy. "There's a renewed energy and enthusiasm for it up in Hartford."

Last month, the bill passed through the General Assembly's Transportation Committee by a 23-12 vote. Jutila said that last year a similar tolls bill passed the committee, but with fewer votes. The full House of Representatives never voted on it.

A small change in HB 6200's language was made Thursday, which would "allow the DOT to authorize tolls only until an amount equal to the cost of any bonds has been recouped." The full House could vote on it before the end of this year's session in June.

Opponents have argued that the measure would lead to tolls on existing highways, and that tolls would create congestion and safety concerns.

In public hearing testimony in February, state Sen. John A. Kissel, R-Enfield, referred to a 1983 incident in which a truck crashed into vehicles waiting at a Stratford toll booth and killed seven people.

But some Salem residents and others in the region have argued that safety is already a concern on Route 85. At a recent meeting of the Southeastern Council of Governments, Salem resident David Wordell said he's counted nine fatalities resulting from car accidents in the 50 years he has lived on Route 85.

Salem First Selectman Kevin Lyden said he thinks many motorists would support tolls if it meant saving 30 minutes in their commute. He's also been encouraged by recent support for Route 11 and said he supports tolls.

"I think we've got support that we didn't have before," Lyden said. "We're happy that it's a priority and that it appears that it has more momentum than it has had in a while."

Hartford - A bipartisan group of lawmakers and southeastern Connecticut municipal, labor and business leaders Wednesday denounced a proposed state tax on electricity generators that targets the Millstone nuclear power station in Waterford.

The legislative proposal would tack various new charges onto oil, coal and nuclear power producers. Yet a full 97 percent of the tax would be shouldered by Millstone, the sole operational nuclear station in Connecticut.

"I'm not a big business guy - I'm a pretty big labor guy - but that just makes no sense at all," said state Rep. Ernest Hewett, D-New London, one of 18 state lawmakers at the news conference at the state Capitol.

Dominion Resources Inc., of Richmond, Va., owns Millstone and has said it would close one or more of the facility's operating reactors if the tax becomes law. Neither the House nor the Senate has yet to act on the bill.

"This is such a huge disparate tax, and no business should be forced to bear this tax," David Christian, chief executive officer of Dominion Generation, told reporters Wednesday. Christian also said it would be "unwise" to operate a nuclear plant with the thin margins that would result.

Bill opponents criticized the tax measure as sending an anti-business message about Connecticut and discouraging investment in the state. Even if Millstone remained open and paid the tax, the tax would likely get passed on to consumers as a rate increase, they said.

"Senate Bill 1176 would send our entire state in absolutely the wrong direction in regards to economic development," said state Sen. Andrea Stillman, D-Waterford.

But the bill's proponents argue that the tax would ultimately benefit ratepayers while merely trimming the high profits Dominion has made for years in Waterford.

Backers include House Speaker Christopher Donovan, D-Meriden, the state Office of Consumer Counsel, as well as Rep. Vickie Nardell, D-Prospect, and Sen. John Fonfara, D-Hartford, who are co-chairmen of the Energy and Technology Committee that voted 12-9 last month to forward the bill.

Consumer Counsel Mary Healey dismissed arguments that the tax is a state-directed attack on business. Proceeds from the tax are to go to paying off bonds, and then providing ratepayer relief and supporting alternative energy projects.

"I'm getting tired of this anti-business refrain," Healey said Wednesday afternoon. "Ratepayers are also businesses, so it's not business unfriendly."

During the news conference, Christian, the Dominion Generation CEO, was questioned about an earlier and separate proposal by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy that would tax all energy generators. Christian said he was open to discussion on "the concept of a temporary shared sacrifice to help the governor." The Malloy proposal would have cost Millstone about $33 million a year, the company said.

An economic impact study of the Millstone station, commissioned by Dominion, determined that the plant pays a $33.6 million in taxes a year to state and local governments, including $17.7 million in annual property taxes to Waterford.

Millstone employs 1,080 people and 350 contractors. Dominion shed 200 jobs at the nuclear facility in 2010, including laying off about 50 workers who didn't accept the company's voluntary separation offers.

Waterford First Selectman Dan Steward said Dominion represents about 30 percent of the town's tax base. He said the uncertainty surrounding the tax and the potential plant shutdown may already be costing the town money as it issues bonds for school projects.

One firm, which holds about $35 million of the town's municipal bonds, has been calling the town almost daily with concerns.

"Our bond rating is already being affected by just the presence of this bill," Steward said.

State Rep. Ed Jutila, D-East Lyme, stood with opponents of the tax.

"This is simply patently unfair to put a burden of this size on one single enterprise in this state," Jutila said. "The result would be increased costs for ratepayers, either because it gets passed on to consumers or because the plant shuts down."

Joseph Rosenthal, principal attorney for the consumer counsel, criticized Dominion on Wednesday for scaring workers and residents with threats of layoffs.

"They've already shown that they will lay off people," he said. "People were laid off last year despite very excellent profits."

Those layoffs were done to reduce costs at Millstone, according to Dominion spokesman Ken Holt, who said plant safety was unaffected.

"We had high [worker] numbers compared to the industry," he said.

Waterford - The owner of Millstone Power Station sought to reassure concerned residents Monday night that it is working to put potentially vulnerable spent fuel from one closed reactor into safe, dry storage on site.

Tim Martin/The Day
Fern Fullmer of Niantic, second from left, listens to Dominion officials Monday, April 11, 2011, during a meeting with the public at Waterford Town Hall on safety issues at the Millstone Power Complex in Waterford.

A crowd of more than 150 people at Waterford Town Hall included an unidentified woman who said she wasn't convinced by Millstone owner Dominion executives' premise that the two operating Unit 2 and 3 reactors and the closed Unit 1 reactor could withstand a natural catastrophe like the earthquake and tsunami that wrecked still-troubled Fukushima Dai-ichi reactors in Japan.

And later, a former contractor with Dominion criticized company management for not protecting him when he reported an employee was abusing prescription drugs. The contractor said he was the unjustly fired, he said.

Skip Jordan, site vice president, and Dan Weekley, Dominion vice president of governmental affairs, spent an hour discussing safety and a proposed tax on electric production at Millstone before fielding questions in the Town Hall auditorium. The meeting was still going on late Monday night.

Jordan and Weekley started by discussing the used fuel that sits in Unit 1, a boiling water reactor not unlike those at the Fukushima station. Millstone's two operating reactors, which are pressurized water reactors, are safer, Jordan said, because they have primary and secondary cooling systems to keep the plants cool.

But Nancy Burton, a Mystic resident speaking on her own behalf and not in her role as director of the Connecticut Coalition Against Millstone, wanted to know why Dominion isn't moving the spent fuel from Unit 1 immediately into an alternate type of storage known as dry cask storage. She lives outside the 10-mile radius that would be evacuated in event of a major calamity at Millstone, she said.

The crowd at times attacked her for trying to ask five questions instead of one, but John Markowicz, executive director of the Southeastern Connecticut Enterprise Region and a Waterford resident, echoed her concern.

"What's the chance of the spent fuel being moved" if the bill to tax Millstone goes through, he asked.

A proposed state tax on nuclear electricity production would charge 2 cents a kilowatt hour to Dominion, or about $335 million a year, Weekley said.

Jordan said the company is evaluating moving that fuel so that it is no longer housed above the reactor, where it is more vulnerable, but he and Weekley noted that if the tax is approved it will make it more difficult to invest in safety improvements like that.

State legislators including Sen. Andrea Stillman, Rep. Betsey Ritter and Rep. Ed Jutila said they and the entire delegation were opposed to the tax and fighting it.

The woman concerned for her family's safety in the event of a disaster by "Mother Nature," which is "damn good at creating catastrophes," wanted to know, "How do I protect my boys?"

Jordan said he has the same concern for his family and friends, many of whom live in nearby Groton, and his employees share those concerns also.

Steven Lavoie, the contractor and apparent whistleblower, said he was fired after reporting a co-worker's abuse of prescription medication.

"What is Dominion going to do about the liars in your company?" he asked. "There's corruption going on in upper management and all I was obligated to do was report it … I've had a target on my back. I want to know what you people are going to do to restructure management because people are crooked."

Jordan said the company's practice is to go through "multiple channels … (and) fully and thoroughly investigate that.

He told Lavoie his "commitment tonight is to go back and take another look at that."

One woman, Monica Rourke of Bristol, who said she was familiar with Millstone from when she worked in concrete repair in 2000, defended the nuclear complex as a well-run facility.