U.S. Deputy Transportation Secretary Steven G. Bradbury announced a new programmatic agreement with Connecticut's Department of Transportation (CTDOT) aimed at expediting the review process for transportation projects affecting historic properties. This initiative, under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, seeks to streamline federal reviews and delegate authority to the state.
The U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that this agreement could reduce project timelines by up to six weeks or more for at least 90 projects annually in Connecticut. Notable projects include improvements on the Gold Star Memorial Bridge, a new Bus Rapid Transit system in New Haven, and Metro-North Railroad Customer Service Improvements along the New Haven Line.
“Thanks to President Trump, America is building again. We’ve slashed costly red tape and prevented unending environmental reviews to build the big, beautiful infrastructure projects that will propel America forward for generations,” stated U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy.
U.S. Deputy Transportation Secretary Steven Bradbury emphasized the agreement's significance: “This first-of-its kind agreement is a great example of the commonsense approach we are taking at USDOT to remove unnecessary burdens, empower states, and deliver a safe and efficient world class transportation system that Americans deserve.”
Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto expressed gratitude for federal support: “This agreement is the result of productive collaborations between CTDOT and our federal and state partners... By streamlining environmental reviews and cutting government red tape, we can more efficiently advance projects and ultimately reduce costs.”
The multimodal agreement involves multiple federal agencies including the Federal Highway Administration, Federal Transit Administration, Federal Railroad Administration alongside CTDOT, Connecticut State Historic Preservation Office, and Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.
This action aligns with Secretary Duffy’s accomplishments within his first 100 days under President Trump's leadership aiming to reinstate focus on safety, efficiency, economic prosperity through regulatory reform.
