Farmington advisory panel to apply for state microgrants to buy bike racks, safety gear and back school-safety curriculum

The Town of Farmington Bicycle and Trails Advisory Committee agreed May 13 to prepare an application for Connecticut Department of Transportation microgrants to buy bike racks and safety equipment and to advance Safe Routes to School work, the committee chair said.

Committee members discussed details of the DOT microgrant program — described in the meeting as small awards up to about $5,000 — and identified likely purchases including bike racks, helmet assortments, reflective “blinkies” and bells. A committee member said vendor quotes and previous purchasing contacts (including a Farmington Valley Trails Council supplier) will be shared so staff can compile a cost estimate for a short application.

Why it matters: Members said the items would improve business access along the trail and make routes to schools and recreational areas safer for riders. The committee also framed the grants as an easy funding source to outfit several priority locations quickly if the application is submitted promptly when the DOT program reopens in June.

The committee assigned staff responsibility for gathering prices and preparing the draft submission. "I'll put something together, and we can put together a cost estimate on a bunch of things and maybe just go for a handful of things," said Staff member S2, who volunteered to compile costs. A committee member who follows state grant rounds said the program is "first come, first serve" and urged filing early.

In related work, members agreed to identify candidate locations for new racks, including the library, the new town hall, school entrances, ball fields, the boathouse and retail spots. They also discussed personalization and printing for blinkies and whether vendor quotes included logo imprinting.

Safe Routes to School: The committee emphasized advancing a fifth-grade bicycle-safety curriculum as a priority. Chair S1 said James Ratcliffe has been discussing the program with the school superintendent and expects an update by the next meeting. Members noted the curriculum roll-out could require either a principal's sign-off or formal board of education approval; if a board vote is required, the timeline could slip into the fall because the school board's last meeting is June 1 and then it breaks until September.

Events and outreach: Members reported plans for a bike-rodeo safety clinic sponsored by Central Wheel, likely in June or July, and multiple upcoming Bike-to-School rides (Union and West District schools). Committee members stressed these outreach activities should be led by schools when possible so grant applications can show school ownership of programming.

Wayfinding and signs: The group reviewed East Coast Greenway-style directional arrows and discussed ordering roughly 10 signs to mark key turns and trailheads. Staff will request multiple vendor quotes and circulate a draft map of sign locations.

Maintenance and materials: Staff reported fold-down bollards were sanded, cleaned, repainted and fitted with new reflective tape; the committee discussed replacing older double bollards with newer single or lower profiles to reduce collisions. Members also praised the town's practice of recycling timber for fence repairs via a new sawmill and asked the highway superintendent to follow up on brush piles left by an Eversource contractor.

Votes at a glance: The committee approved the April meeting minutes and then voted to adjourn at the meeting's close.

Next steps: Staff will compile vendor quotes and a draft microgrant application, James Ratcliffe will report back on Safe Routes work by the next meeting, and the committee will circulate a proposed sign-placement plan for review.