Winter Weather Danger, Train Station Upgrades Coming, and Happy Holidays!

December 23, 2022

 

I hope this message finds you and yours well.

I want to wish a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa and happy holidays to all who are celebrating. 

In this week's update, you'll learn more about the preparations the state is making for nasty winter weather, good news for commuters on the rails, and more!

If there's something you need assistance with or want to speak with me about, please don't hesitate to reply to this email or reach out to me at Kara.Rochelle@cga.ct.gov.

 
WINTER WEATHER WOES
The state's Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is open and monitoring Friday's storm due to the strong winds and the potential for flooding. At one point more than 100,000 homes and businesses lost power around the state including some of our neighbors. 

You can expect to see trucks on the Merritt Parkway if utility crews need quick access to power outages until noon on Christmas. Crews from the Department of Transportation are on standby in case snow comes down.

The Derby Public Library is closed today due to the weather and will re-open on Tuesday at 9:00 a.m. You will be able to drop off books over the holiday weekend to return anything belonging to the library.
 
We will be feeling the effects of the storm for the next couple of days and then we can expect to see ice as temperatures drop this weekend. As a result, the state's severe cold weather protocol will soon be effect. It starts Friday at 6:00 p.m. and will continue until 12:00 p.m. on Monday. This is the first time the protocol is being used during this winter season. If you know anyone who needs a warm place to stay, call 2-1-1. The service will get those in need connected to a nearby location, and they can even provide transportation if necessary. 

Please follow link below for more information and to read the governor's full announcement.

Cold Weather Protocol Announcement
 
TRAIN STATION UPGRADES ON THE WAY

Another massive investment is coming to the Waterbury Rail Line that will make it easier for you to get around the Naugatuck Valley and the rest of the state. The Federal Transit Administration is awarding nearly $30 million to the Connecticut Department of Transportation which the state will use to improve accessibility on three stations along the Metro-North Railroad Waterbury Branch line, including Ansonia, Seymour, and Beacon Falls.

The upgrades are a culmination of years of hard work at the state level in conjunction with the NVCOG and advocates. We approved designating funds in the biennium budget last year for train station improvements with the help of Transportation Committee Chair Rep. Roland Lemar. I want to thank him for being a strong partner in delivering these much-needed upgrades to our community. Engineers from the DOT have been working all year on site design on this project. 

Those upgrades will allow passengers with disabilities to use those stations and its facilities. Crews will be building high-level rail platforms and ramps, installing handrails, providing more equitable service, and making it easier to access jobs.

About 10% of travelers at the three stations mentioned above have some kind of disability. The Waterbury Branch Line connects daily commuters to Bridgeport, lower Fairfield County, New York City, as well as residents traveling throughout lower New England.

The All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP) grant makes competitive funding available to finance capital projects to repair, improve, change, retrofit, or relocate train station infrastructure and facilities for rider accessibility and equity.

Back in July our commitment to the Waterbury Rail Line came to fruition when there was a big increase in train service coming through Ansonia and Derby. We have been fighting for these improvements for quite some time and this video details how far we have come. The rail investment has the potential to bring jobs, attract new business, and raise property values.

The Waterbury Branch Line provides service on the New Haven Line, connecting Waterbury and Naugatuck Valley communities to New Haven and New York City. It is the longest branch line of the New Haven Line system, consisting for 27.1 miles of track from Waterbury to Bridgeport.

 
DROP IN CRIME AROUND THE STATE
A recent report came out providing real data showing that most crime statistics have gone down in the past few years in our state. I want to share this information to provide context on the direction our state is going in. There is always more work to do, and I'm committed to working on making Connecticut the safest state in the country.
To learn more about the downward trend in crime, click here for the entire article.
 
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
I wish you and your loved ones a happy holiday! While this season's traditions are returning back to normal compared to recent years, please continue to take reasonable precautions to help keep everyone safe and well.

In the last year I have heard from many of you seeking help for a variety of difficulties. If you know anyone who needs help in any way, please don't hesitate to reach out to me. I will always to everything I can to support each of you in our community.

 
Last Sunday, our amazing volunteer firefighters spread holiday cheer across Ansonia and Derby with Popcorn Ball Sunday. I want to thank all of the firefighters for taking time away from their families to bring cheer our families all across the 104th district. We are so appreciative of all of you do for our community during the holidays and year-round.
 
COMMUNITY EVENTS
 Abundant Life Ministries will host a food giveaway event. Healthy, nutritious food will be given away every other Monday, no questions asked. 
 
GET INVOLVED!
Your voice matters. With the legislative session starting on January 4th, now is the time to share your bill ideas.