USDOT, CTDOT Team to Expedite Environmental Review Process

Any State will be able to consider such an agreement “to streamline the regulatory process.”

In Connecticut, up to six weeks or more could be trimmed from the schedules of at least 90 projects per year through the new agreement (download below), including MTA Metro-North Railroad customer service improvements along the New Haven Line; the Gold Star Memorial Bridge between New London and Groton; and a new Bus Rapid Transit system in New Haven, according to the USDOT. 

The agreement brings together the Federal Railroad Administration, Federal Transit Administration, and Federal Highway Administration, along with the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT), Connecticut State Historic Preservation Office, and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. It also “delegates certain responsibilities to CTDOT in evaluating historic properties and potential impacts in compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act,” the USDOT noted.

U.S. Deputy Transportation Secretary Steven Bradbury, who made the announcement with Connecticut officials, called the agreement “a great example of the commonsense approach we are taking at USDOT to remove unnecessary burdens, empower states, and deliver a safe and efficient world class transportation system that Americans deserve.” He added: “We hope more states are interested in entering this more efficient agreement to streamline the regulatory process.”

“This agreement is the result of productive collaborations between CTDOT and our federal and state partners, and we deeply appreciate the support from the U.S. Department of Transportation in making it a reality,” CTDOT Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto said. “By streamlining environmental reviews and cutting government red tape, we can more efficiently advance projects and ultimately reduce costs.”