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Hebron council authorizes LOTCIP sidewalk application, adds Church Street crossing
Summary
The council voted Feb. 5 to authorize an application to the 2026 LOTCIP program to close two Main Street sidewalk gaps and to include a mid‑block Church Street crossing with rapid‑flashing beacons; planners estimated Main Street work at roughly $575,000 and Church Street design and construction at about $42,900 and $92,400 respectively.
The Hebron Town Council voted unanimously Feb. 5 to authorize the town manager to apply for the 2026 LOTCIP program to fill two sidewalk gaps on Main Street and to add a protected mid‑block crossing on Church Street near the new mini‑golf site.
Town Planner Matt Wardow told the council the primary application would close two stretches of sidewalk on Main Street and, if feasible, incorporate a Church Street crossing outfitted with rectangular rapid flashing beacons. He gave preliminary cost guidance: "The 2 gaps on Main Street ... are proposed or predicted to be about 575,000," and estimated Church Street design at roughly $42,900 and construction near $92,400, noting that utility work, right‑of‑way permitting and accessibility ramps could increase costs.
Wardow said the LOTCIP program follows state DOT estimating standards and requires a contingency (the program requires 25 percent in his presentation), which is higher than the council’s usual assumptions. He advised the council the state review and contracting process can lengthen project delivery, citing a previous local project that was awarded in 2016 and installed under contract in 2019 as an example of the timeline.
Council members debated whether to fund the Church Street work internally to accelerate delivery or to include it in the grant application and accept a probable 12‑month delay for state processing. Several members said saving town funds where possible is desirable; others emphasized the safety need at the mini‑golf/Pizza area and supported including Church Street in the application so construction funding would be covered if the grant is awarded.
Councilmember Sean Fitzgerald read the resolution authorizing the manager to apply; a friendly amendment to explicitly add Church Street was offered and accepted. The council recorded an affirmative vote and directed staff to proceed with an application that includes the Church Street improvements while continuing to explore CIP funding options and faster state or DECD grant programs for urgent segments.
The council asked staff to continue refining cost estimates, check permitting implications for work in state right‑of‑way, and pursue any faster, more flexible grant options while preparing the LOTCIP application.
The resolution authorizing the manager to apply for LOTCIP with the Church Street amendment passed by voice vote; council members recorded in the vote included Jan Lawrence, Claudia Riley, Keith Pettit, Sean Fitzgerald and Tiffany Thiele.
