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CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
NEWS RELEASE
2800 BERLIN TURNPIKE P.O. BOX 317546
NEWINGTON CONNECTICUT, 06131-7456 |
| FOR RELEASE: August 4, 2011 |
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS
TELEPHONE: (860) 594-3062
FAX: (860) 594-3065
WEB SITE: www.ct.gov/dot |
Route 11 Financial Study to Begin this Month Including the Distribution of Driver Surveys at Various Locations in Southeast Connecticut
Beginning the week of August 8, 2011, the Connecticut Department of Transportation (Connecticut DOT) will begin collecting data and performing traffic studies as part of a traffic, tolling and revenue study in support of the extension of the Route 11 Expressway through Salem, Montville, East Lyme and Waterford.
Consistent with Governor Malloy's instruction that all funding options be explored, the goal of the study is to determine whether tolling, in particular, electronic tolling, can generate sufficient revenue to finance, in whole or in part, the proposed extension of Route 11 to I-95, including a new interchange at I-95. This process represents the first financial study performed by the Connecticut DOT to investigate the feasibility of utilizing tolls as a project-specific funding source.
BL Companies of Meriden has been selected by the Connecticut DOT to undertake corridor-wide environmental studies, design engineering services and a preliminary traffic and tolling/revenue study for the Route 11 extension. Wilbur Smith Associates (WSA) of New Haven will perform the preliminary traffic and tolling/revenue study as a sub-consultant to BL.
In order to facilitate the study, real-world data collection will be required to better understand current travel patterns in the area. The data collection process, in part, consists of conducting origin and destination surveys in the study area. These surveys will be used to measure travel patterns and trip characteristics of current motorists.
Survey sites will be set up at 19 signalized or stop-sign controlled locations, and the public can expect to see staff distributing postage-paid survey cards directly to motorists during the stop-cycle at the sites. Warning signs and traffic cones will be utilized to inform drivers of the activity.
The distribution of surveys is expected to take place in mid-August and again in mid-September. All distribution activities should be completed by September 30, 2011.
The distribution of surveys is expected to take place in mid-August and again in mid-September. All distribution activities should be completed by September 30, 2011.
Other data collection tasks consist of supplemental traffic counts, travel-time runs, and route reconnaissance.