Resident-led undergrounding plan advances to consultant selection for South Avenue pilot

A resident-led effort to bury selected overhead utility lines on South Avenue in New Canaan moved closer to a formal study after the commission reported the town issued a request for qualifications for engineering and consulting services.

Rick Corkin, the project volunteer who presented the update, said consultants’ proposals are due March 13 and that town staff have funds available in the current fiscal-year budget to pay for the study.

"The town has filed a request for qualification, which is basically a request for proposal, from consultants to do a study of what would be involved in doing the South Avenue undergrounding of utilities as a proof of concept," Corkin told the commission. "I understand from Tiger that he has the money to pay for the study in his current fiscal year budget."

The study is intended to produce engineering specifications for the work, documentation to support state or federal grant applications, materials for the town’s budget process, and the information necessary for public hearings. Corkin said he expects the study to show whether financing techniques and a public–private partnership could make a targeted pilot economically viable.

Commissioners discussed sequencing issues — whether tree work should occur before or after undergrounding — and how undergrounding a limited number of high-impact miles could speed post-storm restoration for the town by reducing the total number of downed overhead lines during major events.

Corkin and other commissioners cited prior local examples and neighboring towns that have completed undergrounding projects; Corkin said his own South Avenue effort showed an economically viable approach in a limited segment. He also said private funding interest exists but that the pilot is intended to test whether private funds plus modest public contributions would provide a replicable model.

The commission reported several practical details for next steps: proposals for the consulting study are due March 13; the study will produce specifications and grant-ready materials; and the town budget has available funds to pay for the work in the current fiscal year. Commissioners encouraged any residents who want to be involved in public outreach or local vetting to contact town staff and the project volunteers.

Ending: The commission did not take a formal vote on construction or funding beyond the study; it directed staff and volunteer project leaders to evaluate proposals and bring results back to the commission for public review.