Inside ConnDOTAn e-Newsletter for Employees of the Connecticut Department of Transportation

It doesn’t take long for news to pile up around the Department of Transportation. In the few short months since the last edition, we weathered one-two punches from Mother Nature in the form of Hurricane Sandy and an early season snowstorm … a revitalized Employee Recognition Program has been executed … Anna Barry has joined the team as Deputy Commissioner … the New Haven-Hartford-Springfi eld rail corridor got a big boost from the feds … we were able to add 45 new trucks in time for the upcoming winter season … the Stamford TOD project began in earnest … and the annual CSEC Campaign for Charitable Giving got under way.

Connecticut Pummeled by Back-to-Back Storms

Employee Recognition Program Revived

Annual CSEC Campaign Kicks Off

ConnDOT Fall Golf Classic

Anna Barry Appointed Deputy

CTfastrak really is on the Fast Track

DOT Accommodates Hartford Marathon

Diversity Day!

Governor Malloy Accepts Connecticut River Ferry Strategic Plan

Governor Malloy Releases Deep Water Port Study

Rocky Hill-Glastonbury Ferry Returns to Full Schedule

News from the ConnDOT Library

Road Scholars / Road Masters

Stamford Transportation Center TOD Project

Arrigoni Bridge Rehab Project Finishes Early

Department Honored by SAR

NHHS Gets $121 Million

Back to School With Bikes and Sneakers

Equal Opportunity Showcase

News from Bradley International Airport

2012 Thank Yous

November 2012

Here are the headlines for this edition of Inside ConnDOT (scroll down or click on headline for the full stories)

Inside ConnDOT

135 ConnDOT employees were honored and recognized, not only as members of teams but as individuals for the way they perform their duties, at an awards ceremony on November 5 in the atrium at the headquarters building. Some 80 nominations were received. It was the fi rst time since 2005 that the program was carried out. For a variety of reasons, the program lay dormant until Commissioner Redeker reconstituted it and a team lead by Steve Szegedy and Kim Jamieson brought

it back to life. Months of plan-ning and review-ing and agonizing over the many deserving nominations culminated in the awards ceremony.See the complete list of awardees and the program here and a description of their achievements here.

Employee Recognition Program Revived

Photo by Joanna Juskow

iak

Hundreds turned out for the Employee Recognition Award ceremony where fellow employees were honored by by their peers

Photos courtesy of B

ureau of Highw

ay Operations

Connecticut Pummeled by Back-to-Back Storms In an eerie repeat of last year, Connecticut was socked by back-to-back storms – Hurricane Sandy, which started on

Monday, October 29, and then a major snowstorm just a week later that dumped more than a foot of snow in some parts of the state on No-vember 7th. Once again, Connecticut residents were cop-ing with extended power outages, downed trees, suspended rail opera-tions, and fl ooded and treacherous roads. As always, the DOT fi gured

prominently in the before, during and after stages and, again as always, rose to the occasion. Governor Malloy activated the Emergency Operations Center for both storms. Click here for the Governor’s response page on Hurricane Sandy.And for pictures taken by our “troops in the fi eld.,” please look here True to form, Bradley International Airport remained open throughout … By the way, because of the relatively mild winter of 2011-2012, the Department “saved” enough money to pur-chase 45 new snowplow trucks, which will be on the road this winter.

Crews fi nd sand is a little harder to plow than snow as clean up begins in Milford.As crews were outside their truck clearing debris during Sandy, a

huge tree fell on their 10 wheeler. Luckily there were no injuries.

Inside ConnDOT The annual Connecticut State Employee Campaign for Chari-table Giving is well underway at this writing with a number of successful events already held, including a bake sale, book sale, crazy hat contest, guess the number of candies in a jar, park-ing place raffl e, silent auction, gift basket sale and more – a lot of fun for a very good cause. This year’s coordinators are Ed Girolamo and Shirley Valonis. Pledge cards for payroll deductions to the campaign were pouring in as the Newsletter was being fi nalized. Much more on the program here.. Just before Thanksgiving, when it became apparent that Food Share was short by hundreds

of turkeys, an all-employee email was sent out and, in just a matter of hours, $2,600 had been collected! A remarkable and gratifying outpouring! Thanks to everyone who participated! Also, a team of DOT Human Resources staff and their families partici-pated in the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital “Give Thanks” Walk held at Goodwin Park on November 17. The walk was held in the evening, originally to walk the Hartford Holiday Light Fantasia, however, because some cabling was stolen, there were only a few lights on. But that did not dim the number or enthusiasm of the participants. The team wore DOT vests and represented the agency very well – and raised several hundred dollars for the cause!

Annual CSEC Campaign Helps Many

A big turnout raised funds to benefi t CT Children’s Hospital and the children of Dan DiNardi (inset), who was tragically

killed on the job last year.

Some of the Crazy Hats that helped raise funds.

On September 7, Department employees hosted the 1st annual CTDOT Fall Classic Golf Tournament at Blue Fox Run Golf course in Avon. We had 200 participants (industry & department employees) in this worthwhile charity event which raised a total of $3,550, netting $2,500 for the Connecticut Children’s Hospital and $1,050 for the Daniel DiNardi Children’s College Fund. Dan, Maintenance Supervisor in District Four, was killed March 22, 2012, when he was struck by a tractor trailer truck as he removed debris from Route 8 in Waterbury. Thanks to the Tournament Committee: Eric Feldblum, John Hanifi n, Phil Scarroz-zo, Matt Easdon, and John Giannini. And Tournament Volunteers: Erika Lindeberg, Shinel Phillip, Roberto Rodrigues, and Mamood Bozorgzad Click here for more pictures from this event.

ConnDOT Fall Golf Classic Benefi ts DiNardi Children’s Fund and the Connecticut Children’s Hospital

Hundreds of book donations from employees added to the campaign’s success.

Inside ConnDOTAnna Barry Named Deputy Commissioner

Randal Davis is Special Assistant to the CommissionerJim Ritter, Vicki Arpin Elected to Positions

Offi cials and the Press toured the activity fi lled construction site.

Photos by Joanna Juskow

iak

Construction is going on seemingly everywhere up and down the 9.4-mile corridor for the CTfastrak project in New Britain, Newington, West Hartford and Hartford. Two “walk-throughs” of stations in New Britain and Hartford have been held to educate the media – and the public – about what’s happening. See larger photos here.

In October, the International Right of Way Association named CTfastrak as one of the top two “Projects of the Year.” Check here and also here for more from IRWA & CTfastrak.

CTfastrak really is on the Fast Track

Commissioner Redeker introduces Lt Governor Wyman at the tour of the CTfastrak station construction in New Britain.

Anna Barry

In August, Commissioner Redeker announced the appointment of Anna M. Barry as Deputy Commissioner. The Com-missioner said that Anna has the “versatility and depth of experience that will help our team maxi-mize our service to the citizens of Connecticut and improve the quality of our growing intermodal system.” She fi lls the role of Chief Operating Offi cer, with day-to-day responsibility for the operations of the Bureaus of Public Transportation, Highway Operations & Maintenance, and Engineering & Construction. Anna comes to the DOT from the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Au-thority, where she spent 24 years. Click here for the full announcement. Commissioner Redeker also has a new special assistant, Randal P. Davis. A Connecticut native, Randal has a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts from New School University in New York City and a JD from Rutgers School of Law - Newark. He is also licensed to practice in Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey.

In other employee news, Jim Ritter, Director of Occupational Health and Safety, was elected President of the North American Association of Transportation Safety and Health Offi cials (NAATSHO), at their annual meeting held in Nashville. And Vicki Arpin was elected President of the Eastern Region of the professional HR organization, International Public Managers Association – HR. The Eastern Region includes Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Vicki had previously served as President of the Connecticut Chapter.

Randal Davis

Photo by B

etty Unikew

icz

Inside ConnDOTP

hotos by Joanna Juskowiak

The Department held an-other very successful Diversity Day in October, celebrating the agency’s widely diverse employee population. Com-missioner Redeker said of the event, “The great thing about our diversity is that it brings creativity, perspective and en-ergy to our team as we address the many challenges we face.

Our diversity is our strength, making the DOT a great place to work.”

Deputy Commissioner Anna Barry delivered the keynote address and said, “The commitment to diversity is about the commitment to each of our employees as critical to the performance of our mission. Diversity is about inclusion of all employees in our agency’s mission and the DOT community. Diversity also is about the dignity of all em-ployees. Everyone’s contribution is needed for DOT to succeed. Events like this help us to understand each other better and to appreciate and celebrate everyone’s culture and background,” she added. See more pictures here. In other Diversity news, the Diversity Council presented a Lunch and Learn event with Kevin Johnson, a State library employee, who portrayed William Webb who was an African American soldier in the Civil War. The informative and highly engaging performance was well received by the full room. The program was recorded will be posted in the future on the Video on Demand site where you can also fi nd past events.

Diversity Day!

Food, fashion, fl ags and fl avors of many cultures fi lled the atrium on Diversity Day.

Deputy Commissioner Anna Barry delivered the keynote address.

About 10 days before the Hartford Marathon, organizers realized there could be a major problem with the CTfastrak construction on the Broad Street bridge in Hartford, right where the marathon route begins. After some quick analysis by project managers Ken Fargnoli and Dave Ferraro, it was agreed that we would temporarily repave the bridge and fully reopen it (the four-lane bridge had already been taken down to two lanes) in time for the Marathon. Organizers were delighted with the quick solution and prompt action.Beth Shluger, executive director of the Hartford Marathon Foundation, believes the DOT is

a “hero” for saving the day, paving the road, and moving the jersey barriers. In fact, she had a banner made and erected at the Marathon starting line, headed “Thank You CT DOT!”

The banner was hung in the lobby at the headquarters building. Click here for our announcement regarding the Marathon.Several DOT employees ran in the Marathon, braving the 28 degree morning, some fi nishing the full 26.2 miles, some the half marathon, others the relay or the 5K. Congratulations to all runners on their fi nish. See larger photos here.

DOT Accommodates Hartford Marathon

Several DOT employees ran in the Marathon, some fi nishing the full 26.2 miles, some the half marathon, others the relay or the 5K. See larger photos here.

Part of the team that paved the surface for the runners.

Inside ConnDOT

In October, Governor Dannel P. Malloy announced the completion of the Connecticut Deep Water Port Strategy Study, which was commissioned by the DOT to guide the development of a long-term economic development strategy for the deep water ports in Bridge-port, New Haven and New London. The study makes recommendations to protect existing commercial operations at these ports, and identifi es new opportunities for business growth.The Governor called the report “an important tool to strengthen the economic potential of Connecticut’s deep water resources” and added, “Expanding business development and creating jobs are keys to economic recovery, and this study highlights ways we can support our maritime industries and effectively compete for limited federal resources. By ex-amining both short- and long-term options, we are in a better position to accelerate economic activity at all of our ports.”

Three state agencies collaborated with the DOT in the development the study: the Offi ce of Policy and Management (OPM), the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), and the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). Municipalities also played an active role throughout the process. Click here for the Governor’s announcement and fi nd the full report here.

Governor Malloy Releases Deep Water Port Study

A freighter heads out of the Port of New Haven.

Rocky Hill-Glastonbury Ferry Returns to Full Schedule Through the cooperative efforts of the executive and legislative branches of state government, local offi cials and members of the public, the Rocky Hill-Glastonbury Ferry across the Connecticut River returned to a full, seven-day-a-week schedule. America’s oldest, continuously operated ferry operates from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends during the operating season (May 1st to October 31st). This schedule is expected to be maintained in 2013 and beyond. Staff vacancies had forced a reduction in the schedule, but two new crew members were hired last summer, permitting a return to full service. It took the collective effort of the Malloy administration, the DOT, the Connecticut River Ferry Task Force, the towns of Rocky Hill and Glastonbury, and a number of legislators. Key to the effort were Transportation Committee Co-Chair, Rep. Tony Guerrera, Transportation Committee member Sen. Steve Cassano, Sen. Paul Doyle, and Reps. Jason Rojas and Prasad Srinivasan for their input and support during the process. Full press release here.

The Cumberland, gets ready to dock on the Glastonbury bank of the Connecticut River.

Governor Malloy Accepts Connecticut River Ferry Strategic Plan Governor Malloy has approved the 2012-2016 Business Plan for the historic Connecticut River ferries presented to him by

Commissioner Redeker. The document contains plans and proposals ranging from new en-gines, to state-of-the-art docking technology, enhanced security, staffi ng and marketing for the operation of the Rocky Hill-Glastonbury and Chester-Hadlyme ferries over the next fi ve fi scal years. The Business Plan focuses on four main goals: Safety, Operational Reliability, Financial Integrity and Continu-ous Improvement.Pictures of the ferries in action may be viewed here.The Selden III arrives at the Hadlyme

landing after its scenic crossing. Crossing between Glastonbury and Rocky Hill, the ferry passes 60’ shells on the river before landing.

Inside ConnDOT

As of this writing, the Department is evaluating proposals from developers for transit-oriented development (TOD) at the Stamford Transportation Center, with a goal of selecting a developer by year’s end.The purpose of the proposed project is to:• Replace the aging 727-space original parking garage with low maintenance, long service life facilities that accom-modate a minimum of 1,000 new spaces• Expand the availability of parking and improve multimodal traffi c and pedestrian fl ow around the Stamford Transportation Center and Station Place• Minimize the public costs for construction and ongo-ing operations and maintenance of the parking facilities by promoting TOD, which leverages and enhances the multimod-al public transportation services provided by the Stamford Transportation Center. More on the project here

Stamford Transportation Center TOD Project

Road Scholars / Road Masters The Connecticut Road Master Program is a series of work-shops designed to provide Connecticut’s municipal high-way personnel with knowledge of the fundamentals of modern road maintenance management procedures and techniques. It is among UConn’s Technology Transfer (often referred to as “T2”) program offerings, as is the related and more advanced “Road Scholar” Program. This year, 13 DOT employees completed the Road Master program and two more became Road Scholar graduates. The Road Master graduates were: Jeffrey Anderson, David Astarita, Jason Baah, Lino Bruno, Steve Geddes, Christopher Hogan, Paul Holmes, Daniel McSweet, Andrew Proto, George Santos, Eric Satagaj, Gary Verbanic and Joseph Zambo. Our two Road Scholars are Michael Lamano and Stephen Matos. Congrats to all! More on T2 at www.T2Center.UConn.edu

Betty Ambler, the ConnDOT Librarian, has some interesting news about WorldCat, the search engine specially designed for ConnDOT employees. It uses cloud technology and may be accessed from any state-owned computer. The search is as easy as Google: sim-ply type the search term in the Google-like search box. The pull-down menu allows you to select search options: ConnDOT Library only or libraries worldwide. The holdings of ConnDOT Library are shown in green letters: Connecticut Department of Transporta-tion. WorldCat is a global network of library-management and user-facing services built upon cooperatively maintained databases of bibliographic and institutional metadata. More about WorldCat here.

News from the ConnDOT Library

Inside ConnDOT A major rehabilitation project on the historic Arrigoni Bridge between Middletown and Portland was completed two

months ahead of schedule, much to the relief of the drivers of the 35,000 vehicles using it every day. The bridge, which opened in 1938, carries Route 66 over the Connecticut River. The $19.7 million project took approximately one year to com-plete. Said Governor Malloy: “Thanks to the investment of the Federal Highway Administration and the hard work of the DOT, today is a good day for Connecticut travelers. Strengthening our economy requires addressing our aging infrastructure and transportation net-work. For 74 years, the Arrigoni Bridge has been an integral part of our highway system—with these repairs

it will last long into the future. I applaud our DOT crews for their good work and

especially thank the people of Middletown and Portland for their patience during the con-struction.” For the full announcement, click here

Arrigoni Bridge Rehab Project Finishes Early

Governor Malloy had high praise for the Department’s performance on the rehab project.

Unveiling the restored plaque ready to be re-installed on the bridge.

Department Honored by SAR On October 3, Commissioner Redeker and Deputy Commis-sioner Barry accepted a Certifi cate of Commendation and Flag Award from the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) for our “exemplary patriotism” in the display of the American Flag. There was a brief ceremony outside the

lobby at the fl ag poles with a half dozen SAR members in full Revolutionary War uniforms. Leading the presentation was our own Gary Pitcock in Consultant Design, who is also the Connecticut SAR Historian. The SAR is a national organization whose members can trace their ancestry to an active soldier or other participant in the American Revolution, which began in 1775 and ended in 1783. The SAR has about 600 members in Connecticut and about 29,000 nationwide. The SAR mission is “maintain-ing and extending the institutions of American freedom (and) an appreciation for true patriotism.” The Commissioner called it “a great privilege is for me to receive this tribute on behalf of all employees at the DOT.” See larger photo here.

Commissioner Redeker accepts the award for Exemplary Patriotism from the Sons of the American Revolution.

Some of the team that worked on the Arrigoni project. See larger photo here.

Photo by S

haron Okoye

Inside ConnDOTNHHS Gets $121 Million

On October 1, Governor Dannel P. Malloy and the U.S. Department of Transportation announced the release of $120.9 million in FRA funding to Connecticut to advance the New Haven-Hartford-Springfi eld (NHHS) Rail Program. The federal funding will be matched by $141.9 million in state funding. Enhanced intercity rail service is

expected to start in 2016. This is the third of three FRA grants for the NHHS program, bringing the total federal funding to $190.9 million, which, combined with state funding of $174.7 million, makes a total investment of $365.6 million in this corridor. Commissioner Redeker said that the NHHS Rail Program “will increase the safety, frequency and speed of intercity service along the 62-mile corridor and enhance regional rail connections,” noting that the number of trains will increase from the current 12 per day to 34 by 2016. Trains will reach speeds of up to 110 mph and travel times will be reduced signifi cantly, making rail travel far more attractive and competitive in the corridor. See the announcement here, and click here for more pictures from the event.

A record number of school events were held in Connecticut during October to celebrate National Walk to School month. Walk to School Month gives children, parents, school teachers and community leaders an opportunity to bring awareness to and celebrate the health and quality of life benefi ts of walking and bicycling. The following are highlights of a few of the many events that took place: Vernon’s Walk to School Day on October 3rd and Simsbury’s Walk-Bike to School Day on October 10th. Although New England weather is unpredictable, rainy conditions did not keep 200 students from celebrating International Walk to School Day on October 3rd at Skinner School in Town of Vernon. On October 10th rain did not deter more than 300 students participation in Walk-Bike to School Day in Sims-bury, including Latimer Lane School with a reported 220 student participation rate. The school’s SRTS coordinator, Deb-bie Thibodeau, said, “The day started with a good forecast but rainy morning. We couldn’t cancel at the last minute… the numbers were as follows: walk/bike participants included 222 (50%) students, ….and countless other parents who walked/biked with their children. First Selectman Mary Glassman and CT Safe Routes to School Coordinator, Sharon Okoye of the DOT, walked with the kids.” The event received great Hartford Courant press coverage. Click here for full story. The Safe Routes to School program provided showcases of lively displays in the lobby of the headquarters to support Walk to School Month. In addition, on October 19th, the Department announced the awarding of $3.1 million in federal transportation funds to provide safety improvements for bicycling and walking to school in six local communities. Look here for the announcement. See more photos here.

Get to School With Bikes and Sneakers

Commissioner Redeker and Governor Malloy sign the agreement for Federal funding toward CT high speed rail.

News of interest for the fourth quarter of 2012 has been posted in the showcase in the aisle outside of the Offi ce of Equal Opportunity and Diversity (OEOD). Stop by and learn about various celebrations and happenings in the country and world during October, November and December - some on diversity and some not. October November DecemberDaphne Lewis put it together this quarter for all of us to enjoy and did a great job of it. Click or stop by and take a look...

Offi ce of Equal Opportunity and Diversity Showcase Updated

Inside ConnDOTLightning Strike Blows Hole in Runway

On July 18, as severe weather moved across Connecticut, lightning struck in the middle of the intersection of the main runway at Bradley, leaving a 12-inch hole and chunks of debris every-where. BDL Maintenance had the hole patched in in less than an hour. Bradley coped well with the weather that day, with minimal delays and no fl ight cancellations. See more photos.

Bradley Donates to Support Our Troops On the “Support Our Troops” front, the Connecticut Airport Authority (CAA)/Bradley Airport (BDL) would like to

thank its staff for working with the Paradies Shops at BDL and the Pioneer Valley USO; to date, approximately $8,000 in merchandise (toiletries, food, snacks, etc.) has been donated by BDL Paradies Shops’ customers in support of the fi ghting men and women in the United States military. Within a 10-day time frame (August 28-

September 7), approximately 20 boxes had been fi lled and were picked up by the local USO offi ce for distribution to our troops, stationed

both overseas and stateside. All in all, almost $40,000 in merchandise contributions, representing almost 14,000 items were donated by BDL customers and employees over a two-month period Thanks again to Bradley Paradies Shops’ General Manager Deborah Donahue and her

staff for spearheading this outstanding show of patriotism and support! More pictures here.

Mock Disaster Drill Conducted Bradley served as the staging area for a multi-faceted drill designed to simulate an aircraft accident on Saturday, September 22nd. The

simulated drill occured at an area adjacent to Route 75 commonly referred to as the “Field of Champions,” the Connecticut sports teams’ “Welcome Home” site. Bradley Airport Administration, Operations, Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF), Security, and Maintenance personnel coordinated the practice drill along with the assistance of local, state, and federal emergency services agencies.This mock drill, which involved the active participation of some 25 emergency response agencies, must be performed every three years as a requirement of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) airport certifi cation. More on the drill and its goals here.

Bradley Family Day Fundraiser The Bradley Family Day 8th Annual “Not-So-Snooty Beer, Wine and Cheese Tasting” event was held on November 16 at the New England Air Museum. Bradley Family Day is the Airport community’s major fundraising enterprise, benefi t-ting Paul Newman’s Hole In The Wall Gang Camp in Ashford, Connecticut. Over the past 10 years, this group has do-nated almost $700,000 for this charity. This year’s event was sponsored by JetBlue Airways. We are proud to report that Bradley is only the second airport nationwide to have participated in this type of program.

News from Bradley International Airport

Photo by Tina Franco

Photo by R

ollin Tebbetts

Pictured L>R: John Chrisant, Pioneer Valley USO; Allan Tracy, Executive Director, Pioneer Valley USO; David White, Bradley Landside Operations Manager; Marsha Conniff, BDL Paradies Shops’ Assistant Manager; Debo-rah Donahue, BDL Paradies Shops’ General Manager.

Photo by R

ollin Tebbetts

As 2012 heads into its fi nal month, we can refl ect on a year of tremendous effort and achievement from the entire agency. Sometimes the effective, effi cient and diffi cult work that we do is not always acknowledged. However, there are times when people recognize what the DOT team has achieved and take the extra step of telling that us about their experience. Commissioner Jim Redeker received several thank-you letters this year which praise the DOT and highlight some of our team members as assets to the state. It is a fi tting time to acknowledge these successes, and publicly thank those members whose activities underscore the fact that the little details are as important as the large ones. See Jim’s commentary.

Thank Yous from 2012

The Department of Transportation is an affi rmative action/equal employment opportunity employer.

This is YOUR newsletter. You are encouraged to suggest ideas for stories or to send us a draft article for consideration. Send them to the ConnDOT Offi ce of Communications, judd.everhart@ct.gov