This Wednesday, Feb. 11, the General Assembly’s Transportation Committee will be holding a public hearing on a long list of bills including several proposals to improve infrastructure and service on the New Haven Line and its branches.

Next week, the governor is expected to release his proposal for a long-term plan and strategy for repairing and upgrading Connecticut’s transportation infrastructure. The legislature will then discuss that proposal extensively, suggest modifications and likely vote on an action plan during the course of this legislative session.

By submitting your comments on the bills currently before the Transportation Committee, you can make your voice heard about priorities that you would like to see figure in the state’s overall transportation planning. While most of these bills will probably not survive the entire legislative process intact (bills proposed by individual legislators almost never do), those with substantial support from the public and the Committee will have a chance of becoming provisions in one or more broader transportation, budget or bonding bills that ultimately pass.

The Transportation Committee will hold the Wednesday, Feb. 11 public hearing at 12:30 p.m. in Room 2E of the Legislative Office Building at 210 Capitol Ave. in Hartford.

Among the bills on the agenda for Wednesday’s public hearing, I have introduced the following:

• HB 5926: An Act Concerning Performance Standards for the Operation of the Danbury Rail Line
• HB 6333: An Act Authorizing Special Tax Obligation Bonds of the State to Upgrade the Danbury Branch of Metro-North
• HB 6350: An Act Concerning an Expansion of Commuter Rail Lines to the Town of New Milford

For the complete public hearing agenda, click here.

Our weather has been unpredictable lately, and it can be difficult to attend a public hearing in the middle of the day. If you cannot attend, you can still make your voice heard effectively by submitting written testimony.

Submitting testimony in writing:  Send your testimony by email to tratestimony@cga.ct.gov, and copy me at gail.lavielle@cga.ct.gov if you’d like. Be sure to include your name and address, and indicate the numbers of the bills you’re discussing and whether you are supporting or opposing them, or just offering commentary.

Testifying in person at the hearing:  You can sign up to testify any time between 9:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday in Room 2300 of the Legislative Office Building. Please bring 65 copies of your testimony with you; your written testimony will become part of the permanent legislative record. You’ll have three minutes to speak before the Committee, but if members ask you questions, you will have the time you need to respond.

For driving directions to the Legislative Office Building, click here.

As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me if you’d like to discuss transportation or any other issue. I am always happy to hear from you.