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Naugatuck River Greenway updates: Waterbury design advances, Kennestown dam work ties to new trail segment; some federal grants remain under review
Summary
NVCOG and municipal representatives updated the Trails Committee on Waterbury phase 2 design, the Kennestown Dam removal’s incorporated trail segment, and other greenway projects, and warned that several federal discretionary grants remain under USDOT review.
NVCOG and municipal representatives provided updates on multiple Naugatuck River Greenway projects and regional funding opportunities.
Waterbury: NVCOG staff said the design for Waterbury’s phase 2 (funded under RAISE) is wrapping up, but construction procurement remains uncertain because federal discretionary awards are under review at USDOT. Staff noted ongoing right-of-way acquisition work for the stretch from Eagle Street to West Main and characterized the program as a waiting game while headquarters reviews discretionary grants.
RAISE/BUILD and discretionary grants: Participants said the MVCOG (RAISE successor) design work and consultant selection are ready to proceed but remain held at the federal level pending USDOT authorization. Build (the successor program to RAISE/BUILD) was described as a likely continuing federally authorized discretionary program and was reported closed for the current cycle, with past patterns suggesting a late-year NOFO window in future rounds.
Kennestown Dam removal and Ansonia trail: A presenter described the Kennestown Dam removal project as ‘‘very complicated’’ and said the project scope includes designing a section of the Naugatuck River Greenway between North Fourth Street in Ansonia and Derby Avenue in Seymour. Engineers are collecting topographic and bathymetry data; outreach meetings are ongoing and design of the trail portion is expected to take about a year. The speaker cautioned unknowns remain because of contaminated sediments that will influence what can be built.
Steel Brook Greenway and Derby: Watertown reported Steel Brook Greenway is at 90% design and review comments are due back to the designer. Derby submitted a CTDOT Community Connectivity Grant request aimed at installing solar lighting and security cameras on the greenway; staff estimated that Derby’s submission requested about $500,000 but said the town will await CTDOT decisions.
Micro grants and other programs: NVCOG reported about $280,000 in micro-grant awards brought to the region in the last quarter, largely driven by Waterbury school-district applications that will supply about 1,200 bikes and safety equipment; about $300,000 remained available for additional awards and NVCOG encouraged municipalities and nonprofits to apply. Staff also said the next micro-grant round deadline is June 27, 2025.
Other funding: Speakers noted the Recreational Trails Program funding status is pending and that the Safe Streets and Roads for All NOFO is open. NVCOG staff advised towns to prepare projects for future discretionary grant windows and noted the importance of having design and planning well advanced before applying.
No formal votes or grant approvals were taken during the meeting; several presenters noted next steps (continuing design, right-of-way, consultant selection and outreach) and flagged that federal authorizations remain the gating issue for some projects.
