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Public Works staff review 2025 metrics: paving, sidewalks, drainage, snow operations and solid-waste updates
Summary
Public Works staff presented 2025 performance metrics and program updates, highlighting paving and sidewalk work, two bridge projects funded with state/federal grants, drainage investments, snow operations logistics and improvements to the food-scrap program—committee asked for follow-ups and further stakeholder input on emerging projects.
At the meeting, public works staff delivered a multi-part operational briefing covering 2025 metrics and active projects.
Paving and sidewalks: Engineering staff showed a city paving map and explained the prioritization method (inspection plus a mathematical formula). Last year the city paved approximately 6.5 miles (fewer individual roads than the previous year because of complete-streets designs) and completed more than 5 miles of sidewalks combining asphalt and concrete work. Staff highlighted the West Cedar Bridge replacement as a major accomplishment completed in a single construction season using state and federal funds (staff said no local match was required).
Drainage and capital projects: Staff summarized extensive drainage investments (nearly $4.9 million in improvements cited for 2025) and ongoing studies, including a drainage study near Meadow Street/South Main tied to a new school/roundabout and a multi-year, phased watershed project covering Ponce Avenue/New Canaan Avenue. Jim Meehan described coordination with nearby utility work and phased construction to manage cost and permitting constraints.
Snow operations: Chief of Operations Vanessa Balderas and Chris Thor described winter operations and the city's response to the recent major storm. The city manages roughly 650 lane-miles of public roads, 26 plow routes and a 42-truck fleet; staff noted a reduced workforce (about 67 people) and recent hires. DPW described new GPS and diagnostics to monitor plow operations and salt application rates and emphasized primary-road prioritization to ensure emergency access.
Solid waste and food-scrap program: Tom Zabel reported improved curbside tonnages following collection changes and strong food-scrap participation, noting a November spike tied to pumpkins and Thanksgiving. Staff said three drop-off sites (including Rowayton and Cranberry) plus the transfer station together produced the reported tonnage, and that the city collected 2,501 Christmas trees as part of seasonal services. Tom also described plans to resume the popular recycling pop-up events in March (first pop-up scheduled March 16 at Veterans Park).
Council members asked for follow-up briefings on paving prioritization and asked staff to involve sustainability stakeholders in food-scrap program outreach. Staff said they would provide further detail in a separate session and confirmed that major construction timelines will depend on budgets and seasonality.
