Minutes

Connecticut River Estuary Metropolitan Planning Organization

                                                       May 9, 2007

Attendance:

Chester:                        Tom Marsh                                                                                                        

Clinton:             Willie Fritz

Deep River:                  Dick Smith

Essex:                           Phil Miller

Killingworth:                

Lyme:                          Ralph Eno 

Old Lyme:                    Tim Griswold

Old Saybrook:              Mike Pace, Bill Peace

Westbrook:

CRERPA:                                                                                                                                      

ETD:                            Doris Sanstrom            

Guests:                         ETD Director Brad Beecher, ECSI Executive Director, Paula Ferraro, John Horn, Lyme representative to the ETD

                                    Jeff Nelson, representing Gov. Jodi Rell

CRERPA Staff:          Linda Krause, Jean Davies, Wini Olson

            The meeting of the Connecticut River Estuary Metropolitan Planning Organization was called to order by Chairman Mike Pace at 8:40 AM in the conference space of the Connecticut River Estuary Regional Planning Agency.

I. Public Involvement

            There were no comments from the public.

II. Dick Smith moved that the minutes of the April 11, 2007 meeting be approved as distributed. The motion was seconded by Ralph Eno and unanimously approved.

III. Federal and State Programs

A.        Bill Peace moved that the Final Draft of the 2007-2035 Regional Transportation Plan be approved as presented for Public Hearing. The motion was seconded by Dick Smith and unanimously approved.

B.  Agreements and Contracts

        The 2008 Unified Planning Work Program was reviewed in detail.

Jean Davies noted that as a relatively new agency, CREMPO has been catching up to the older regional planning organizations.  Brad Beecher noted that the Public Transit section is fine.

        Chairman Pace asked Bill Peace and Willie Fritz to serve as a sub-committee to interact with DOT on possible diversions of traffic from I-95 to Route 1. Chairman Pace asked for clarification of the term “Freeway System”.  Chairman Pace made sure that the Connecticut River study included the silting problem and the transportation of freight.

        Jean Davies noted that on page 15 the bike Routes now include inter-municipal routes. Phil Miller checked to be sure that links to Middletown are included.

        Dick Smith moved that the 2008 UPWP be approved as presented. The motion was seconded by Willie Fritz and unanimously approved.

C.  Public Transit Update

Brad Beecher reported that the Old Saybrook to Niantic bus service will be operable by July 2007.

Chairman Doris Sanstrom added that she is very excited. It is happening faster than she anticipated.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 AM.

              Respectfully submitted,

      Timothy C. Griswold, Secretary