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RiverCOG approves TIP amendment for Killingworth culvert project; transit pilot, bus shelters and electric buses highlighted
Summary
The council approved MPO TIP amendments to advance a Killingworth culvert/dam project (preliminary design $895,000, final design $646,000, R-O-W ~$50,080) and heard transit updates including a tap-and-ride fare pilot, four new Middletown bus shelters and an electric-bus unveiling on Jan. 17; transit ridership was reported up from ~20,000 to ~27,000.
RiverCOG members voted to approve a package of MPO/TIP amendments that advance a multi-phase culvert and retaining-wall project on Route 148 in Killingworth and received updates on transit pilots and infrastructure across the region.
MPO staff described the Killingworth project (project #6981) as a multi-phase effort that will repair a retaining wall, replace culverts that serve as a spillway and modify roadway geometry; preliminary design was listed at $895,000 (2025; 80/20 federal/state), final design at $646,000 (2026), and right-of-way work at $50,080.20 (2026). Construction and AC conversion estimates were noted as future line items, with an illustrative AC conversion figure of about $12.4 million mentioned as beyond the current TIP.
Council members moved to approve the grouped MPO items and the motion carried by voice vote.
Relia Transit reported a series of service and technology initiatives. The agency launched a tap-and-ride fare-payment pilot in October that allows credit/debit cards and mobile wallets on board; staff said the vendor is working to add half-fare functionality for seniors and riders with disabilities. The transit agency plans to add four bus shelters in Middletown under a CTDOT bus-stop enhancement program and will unveil new electric buses at 11 a.m. on Jan. 17 at 91 North Main Street in Middletown.
Ridership data presented by transit staff showed a jump from roughly 20,000 riders last year to about 27,000 in October, reflecting recent route expansions and Sunday service increases.
Why it matters: Approving these design and right-of-way phases advances projects from planning toward construction eligibility. Transit technology and the electric-bus rollout could improve access and service reliability for riders across the region.
What’s next: MPO staff expects to finalize a safety report and seek public comment before an expected MPO endorsement in March for the safe-streets project; transit staff will continue vendor work to enable senior/disabled discounts and will report back on electric-bus deployment timelines.
