LCO No. 5151 1 of 21
General Assembly Raised Bill No. 1377
January Session, 2025
LCO No. 5151
Referred to Committee on TRANSPORTATION
Introduced by:
(TRA)
AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 13a-255 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2026): 2
(a) For the purposes of this section: 3
(1) "NSRS" means the National Spatial Reference System or a 4
successor program; 5
(2) "Metadata" means the information about a data element that 6
provides context for that data element, such as the geodetic reference 7
system utilized, applicable epoch, statement of relative accuracy and 8
date of observation; 9
(3) "National Geodetic Survey" or "NGS" means the agency of the 10
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration within the United 11
States Department of Commerce, or its successor; and 12
(4) "Connecticut Plan Coordinate System" or "CPCS" means the 13
Raised Bill No. 1377
LCO No. 5151 2 of 21
system established pursuant to this section that is identical to the state 14
plan coordinate system as defined for the state of Connecticut by the 15
National Geodetic Survey. 16
[(a)] (b) The [systems] most recent of plane coordinates [which] that 17
have been established by the National Geodetic Survey [created by the 18
National Ocean Service, formerly the United States Coast and Geodetic 19
Survey, or its successors, or the Connecticut Geodetic Survey] based on 20
the NSRS, for purposes of defining and stating the geographic positions 21
or locations of points [on] in relation to the surface of the earth within 22
the state of Connecticut shall [hereafter] be known [and designated as 23
the Connecticut Coordinate System of 1927 and the Connecticut 24
Coordinate System of 1983. In any land description in which such 25
system is used, it shall be designated the "Connecticut Coordinate 26
System of 1927" or the "Connecticut Coordinate System of 1983", 27
whichever is applicable. A detailed description of each system shall be 28
published by the Commissioner of Transportation.] as the Connecticut 29
Plan Coordinate System. The official geodetic datums to which geodetic 30
coordinates are referenced within the state of Connecticut, including, 31
but not limited to, latitude, longitude, ellipsoid height, orthometric 32
height or dynamic height, shall be as defined within the NSRS. 33
[(b) Said systems shall be designated as the Connecticut coordinate 34
systems, and said commissioner shall be responsible for their extension, 35
revision and maintenance.] (c) The detailed description of the CPCS by 36
the NGS shall be adopted and maintained by the Commissioner of 37
Transportation or the commissioner's designee. Additional systems 38
may be published by the commissioner or the commissioner's designee. 39
[(c) The following definition by the National Ocean Service is 40
adopted:] (d) The plane [coordinate values for a point on] coordinates 41
of a point in relation to the earth's surface, to be used [to express] for 42
expressing the geographic position or location of [such] the point in the 43
appropriate zone, if applicable, of the CPS, shall consist of two distances 44
expressed in [U.S. survey] meters and decimals of a meter, or 45
Raised Bill No. 1377
LCO No. 5151 3 of 21
international feet and decimals of [a] an international foot. One of these 46
distances, to be known as the ["N-coordinate"] "northing or y-47
coordinate", shall give the [position in a north and south direction] grid 48
distance north of the x-axis of the system origin; the other, to be known 49
as the ["E-coordinate"] "easting or x-coordinate", shall give the [position 50
in an east and west direction. These coordinates shall be made to depend 51
upon and conform to plane rectangular coordinate values for the 52
monumented points of the North American Horizontal Geodetic 53
Control Network as published by the National Geodetic Survey created 54
by the National Ocean Service, formerly the United States Coast and 55
Geodetic Survey, or its successors, and whose plane coordinates have 56
been computed on the systems defined in this section.] grid distance east 57
of the y-axis of the system origin. The x-axis of any zone shall be at right 58
angles to the central meridian of that zone. The y-axis of any zone shall 59
be parallel with the central meridian of that zone. The x-axis shall be 60
perpendicular to the y-axis. When applicable, height shall be the 61
coordinate value of the vertical elements of the NSRS expressed as 62
international feet or meters and identified as an ellipsoid height or an 63
orthometric height. The international foot, typically referred to as the 64
foot, shall be used to express all foot distances and coordinates. A 65
definition of one international foot equals three thousand forty-eight 66
ten-thousandths meters shall be used. Other units may be used in 67
previous or additional coordinate systems as published by the 68
Commissioner of Transportation or the commissioner's designee. 69
[(1) "The Connecticut Coordinate System of 1927" is defined as 70
follows: A Lambert conformal conic projection of the Clarke spheroid of 71
1866, having standard parallels at north latitudes 41 degrees 52 minutes 72
and 41 degrees 12 minutes along which parallels the scale shall be exact. 73
The origin of coordinates is at the intersection of the meridian 72 degrees 74
45 minutes west of Greenwich and the parallel 40 degrees 50 minutes 75
north latitude. This origin is given the coordinates: X=600,000 and Y=0 76
feet. 77
(2) "The Connecticut Coordinate System of 1983" is defined as 78
Raised Bill No. 1377
LCO No. 5151 4 of 21
follows: A Lambert conformal conic projection of the North American 79
datum of 1983, having standard parallels at north latitudes 41 degrees 80
52 minutes and 41 degrees 12 minutes along which parallels the scale 81
shall be exact. The origin of coordinates is at the intersection of the 82
meridian 72 degrees 45 minutes west of Greenwich and the parallel 40 83
degrees 50 minutes north latitude. This origin is given the coordinates: 84
N=500,000 feet and E=1,000,000 feet.] 85
[(d)] (e) The use of the term ["Connecticut Coordinate System of 1927" 86
or "the Connecticut Coordinate System of 1983"] "Connecticut Plane 87
Coordinate System" on any map, report of survey or other document 88
shall be limited to coordinates based on the [Connecticut coordinate 89
systems] CPCS, as [defined in] adopted and maintained pursuant to 90
subsection (c) of this section. 91
[(e)] (f) For the purposes of describing the location of any survey 92
station or land boundary corner in the state of Connecticut, it shall be 93
considered a complete, legal and satisfactory description of such 94
location to give the position of said survey station or land boundary 95
corner on the system of plane coordinates, with a height if applicable, as 96
defined in this section. The method and source for establishing 97
coordinates shall be described in the land or deed record. In all instances 98
where a reference has been made to coordinates in land surveys or 99
deeds, a statement of the metadata of observations shall be included in 100
the record. 101
[(f)] (g) Nothing contained in this section shall require descriptions of 102
real estate to be based only on [either of the Connecticut coordinate 103
systems] CPCS. 104
[(g)] (h) [Said] The commissioner or [his agent or agents] the 105
commissioner's designee may enter upon private property for the 106
purpose of surveying, establishing or maintaining the survey. [He] The 107
commissioner or the commissioner's designee shall use care so that no 108
unnecessary damage shall result to any private property and the state 109
Raised Bill No. 1377
LCO No. 5151 5 of 21
shall be liable to the owner of such property for any damage so caused. 110
[(h) The Connecticut Coordinating System of 1927 shall not be used 111
for new mapping after December 31, 1996; the Connecticut Coordinate 112
System of 1983 shall be the sole system for new mapping after said date.] 113
(i) After the official NGS release or the authorization of any subsequent 114
updates to the Connecticut Plan Coordinate System, and upon the 115
approval of its use or update by the Commissioner of Transportation or 116
the commissioner's designee, new state mapping projects shall be based 117
on said system's current realization unless a different system is 118
determined to be necessary. Mapping coordinates based on the CPCS 119
shall include a statement as to their basis in the metadata. Mapping 120
based on a different system shall contain projection information and a 121
clear statement of purpose regarding the decision to use said system in 122
the metadata. Where feasible, mapping projects based on different 123
systems should also be made available in CPCS unless such provision 124
would create an undue hardship or burden on the project creator. The 125
provisions of this section shall not be construed to prohibit the 126
appropriate use of other datums, geodetic reference frames or plan 127
coordinate systems, nor shall the provisions of this section require the 128
revision of any survey, mapping project, deed, record or other 129
document prepared or recorded that utilized any other coordinate 130
systems previously authorized by the state. 131
Sec. 2. Section 47-34a of the general statutes is repealed and the 132
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2026): 133
(a) Any person who knowingly injures, destroys, disturbs or removes 134
any marker properly placed on any tract of land or street or highway 135
line by a surveyor, or by any person at the direction of a surveyor, for 136
the purpose of designating any point, course or line in the boundary of 137
such tract of land, street or highway, shall be fined not less than five 138
hundred dollars or more than one thousand dollars. 139
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, a 140
Raised Bill No. 1377
LCO No. 5151 6 of 21
surveyor licensed under chapter 391, or a person acting at the direction 141
of any such licensed surveyor, may remove an existing marker in order 142
to place an upgraded marker in the same location. 143
(c) Any person who knowingly injures, destroys, disturbs or removes 144
any monument that has been established by the National Geodetic 145
Survey [or Connecticut Geodetic Survey] for use in the determination of 146
spatial location relative to the Connecticut [coordinate systems] Plan 147
Coordinate System specified in section 13a-255, as amended by this act, 148
or precise elevation datum shall be fined not less than two thousand 149
dollars or more than five thousand dollars. 150
Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) As used in this section, 151
"testing entity" means a person, company, institution of higher 152
education, nonprofit organization or other organization involved with 153
the design or testing of autonomous vehicles, and "state highway" has 154
the same meaning as provided in section 13a-1 of the general statutes. 155
(b) The Department of Transportation may establish a pilot program 156
to allow testing entities to test autonomous vehicles on state highways. 157
A testing entity shall apply to the department in the manner and form 158
directed by the department for inclusion in the pilot program. Prior to 159
the implementation of the pilot program, the Commissioner of 160
Transportation shall consult with the Commissioners of Motor Vehicles 161
and Emergency Services and Public Protection to ensure the safe 162
implementation and operation of the pilot program. 163
(c) A testing entity shall not test an autonomous vehicle unless both 164
the testing entity and the operator (1) comply with standards 165
established by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 166
regarding autonomous vehicles, and (2) satisfy any other requirement 167
as determined by the Department of Transportation as necessary to 168
ensure the safe operation of the autonomous vehicle. 169
(d) (1) The Commissioner of Transportation shall notify the joint 170
standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 171
Raised Bill No. 1377
LCO No. 5151 7 of 21
matters relating to transportation when the pilot program is 172
implemented. 173
(2) Not later than one year after the implementation of the pilot 174
program, the Commissioner of Transportation shall submit a report, in 175
accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, 176
to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having 177
cognizance of matters relating to transportation concerning the 178
operation of the pilot program and any recommendations to expand the 179
pilot program. 180
Sec. 4. Subsection (a) of section 14-300 of the general statutes is 181
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 182
2025): 183
(a) The traffic authority may designate, by appropriate official traffic 184
control devices, as defined in section 14-297, or markers, or by lines 185
upon the surface of the highway, such crosswalks and intersections as, 186
in its opinion, constitute a danger to pedestrians crossing the highway, 187
[including, but not limited to, specially marked crosswalks in the 188
vicinity of schools, which crosswalks shall have distinctive markings,] 189
in accordance with the regulations of the Office of the State Traffic 190
Administration, [to denote use of such crosswalks by school children;] 191
and may maintain suitable signs located at intervals along highways, 192
particularly where there are no sidewalks, directing pedestrians to walk 193
facing vehicular traffic. 194
Sec. 5. Section 14-299 of the general statutes is repealed and the 195
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 196
(a) For the purpose of standardization and uniformity, no installation 197
of or revision to any traffic control signal light shall be made by any 198
town, city or borough until the same has been approved by the Office of 199
the State Traffic Administration. Such approval shall be based on 200
necessity for, location of and type of such signal light and shall be 201
applied for on a form supplied by the Office of the State Traffic 202
Raised Bill No. 1377
LCO No. 5151 8 of 21
Administration and shall be submitted to said office by the traffic 203
authority having jurisdiction. Approval of any such signal light may be 204
revoked by the Office of the State Traffic Administration at any time if 205
said office deems such revocation to be in the interest of public safety, 206
and thereupon such signal lights shall be removed by the traffic 207
authority having jurisdiction. 208
(b) When traffic at an intersection is alternately directed to proceed 209
and to stop by the use of signals exhibiting colored lights or lighted 210
arrows, successively one at a time or in combination, only the colors 211
green, red and yellow shall be used, except for special pedestrian-212
control signals carrying word legends or symbols. Such lights or arrows 213
shall apply to drivers of vehicles, pedestrians and operators of bicycles, 214
except when such pedestrians are directed by pedestrian-control signals 215
pursuant to subsection (c) of this section and such operators are directed 216
by bicycle-control signals pursuant to subsection (e) of this section. Such 217
lights or arrows shall indicate the following: 218
(1) Circular green alone: Vehicular traffic facing a green signal may 219
proceed straight through or turn right or left unless a sign or marking at 220
such place prohibits either such turn or straight through movement, 221
except that such traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and 222
vehicles within a crosswalk or the intersection at the time such signal 223
was exhibited; pedestrians facing the green signal, except when directed 224
by separate pedestrian-control signals, may proceed across the highway 225
within any marked or unmarked crosswalk. 226
(2) Yellow: Vehicular traffic facing a steady yellow signal is thereby 227
warned that the related green movement is being terminated or that a 228
red indication will be exhibited immediately thereafter, when vehicular 229
traffic shall stop before entering the intersection unless so close to the 230
intersection that a stop cannot be made in safety; pedestrians facing a 231
steady yellow signal, except when directed by separate pedestrian-232
control signals, are thereby advised that there is insufficient time to 233
cross the roadway before a red indication is shown and no pedestrian 234
Raised Bill No. 1377
LCO No. 5151 9 of 21
shall then start to cross the roadway. 235
(3) Red alone: Vehicular traffic facing a steady red signal alone shall 236
stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection 237
or, if none, then before entering the intersection and remain standing 238
until the next indication is shown; provided, on or after July 1, 1979, 239
vehicular traffic traveling in the travel lane nearest the right hand curb 240
or other defined edge of the roadway, unless a sign approved by the 241
Office of the State Traffic Administration has been erected in the 242
appropriate place prohibiting this movement, may cautiously enter the 243
intersection to make a right turn onto a two-way street or onto another 244
one-way street on which all the traffic is moving to such vehicle's right 245
after such vehicle has stopped as required in this subdivision and 246
yielded the right-of-way to pedestrians within an adjacent crosswalk 247
and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection. Pedestrians facing a 248
steady red signal alone, except when directed by separate pedestrian-249
control signals, shall not enter the roadway. 250
(4) Green arrow: Vehicular traffic facing a green arrow signal, shown 251
alone or in combination with another indication, may cautiously enter 252
the intersection only to make the movement indicated by such arrow, or 253
such other movement as is permitted by other indications shown at the 254
same time, but such vehicular traffic shall yield the right-of-way to 255
pedestrians within a crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully within the 256
intersection. 257
(c) Whenever special pedestrian-control signals exhibiting the words 258
"Walk" or "Don't Walk" or the image of a walking person symbolizing 259
"Walk" or an upraised hand symbolizing "Don't Walk" are in place, 260
pedestrians shall comply with such signals. Such signals shall indicate 261
as follows: (1) "Walk" or walking person symbol: Pedestrians facing 262
such signals may proceed across the roadway in the direction of the 263
signal and shall be given the right-of-way by the drivers of all vehicles; 264
and (2) "Don't Walk" or upraised hand symbol: No pedestrian shall start 265
to cross the roadway in the direction of such signal, but any pedestrian 266
Raised Bill No. 1377
LCO No. 5151 10 of 21
who has partially completed crossing on the walk signal shall proceed 267
to a sidewalk or safety island while the flashing "Don't Walk" or flashing 268
upraised hand symbol signal is showing. 269
(d) When an illuminated flashing red or yellow signal is used in a 270
traffic sign or signal, it shall require obedience by vehicular traffic as 271
follows: 272
(1) Flashing red: When a red lens is illuminated by rapid intermittent 273
flashes, vehicular traffic shall stop before entering the nearest crosswalk 274
at an intersection, or at a limit line when marked or, if none, then before 275
entering the intersection, and the right to proceed shall be subject to the 276
rules applicable after making a stop at a stop sign. 277
(2) Flashing yellow: When a yellow lens is illuminated with rapid 278
intermittent flashes, vehicular traffic facing such signal may proceed 279
through the intersection or past such signal only with caution. 280
(e) Whenever bicycle-control signals with three lens signal heads 281
exhibiting green, yellow or red bicycle stenciled lenses are in place, the 282
operators of bicycles shall comply with such signals. Such signals shall 283
indicate as follows: 284
(1) Green bicycle: Bicycle traffic facing a green bicycle signal may 285
proceed in the same manner as if facing a green signal alone as described 286
in subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section. 287
(2) Yellow bicycle: Bicycle traffic facing a yellow bicycle signal is 288
thereby warned in the same manner as if facing a steady yellow signal 289
as described in subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this section. 290
(3) Red bicycle: Bicycle traffic facing a red bicycle signal shall stop in 291
the same manner as if facing a steady red signal alone as described in 292
subdivision (3) of subsection (b) of this section, provided bicycle traffic 293
may cautiously enter the intersection as described in said subdivision. 294
(4) Flashing red bicycle: When a red bicycle signal is illuminated by 295
Raised Bill No. 1377
LCO No. 5151 11 of 21
rapid intermittent flashes, bicycle traffic shall stop in the same manner 296
as if facing a red lens illuminated by rapid intermittent flashes as 297
described in subdivision (1) of subsection (d) of this section. 298
(5) Flashing yellow bicycle: When a yellow bicycle signal is 299
illuminated by rapid intermittent flashes, bicycle traffic may proceed as 300
described in subdivision (2) of subsection (d) of this section. 301
(f) Lenses of the following colors only shall be used and shall be 302
arranged vertically in the signal face or, when necessary, horizontally, 303
and shall conform to the following positions: When arranged vertically, 304
red shall be located at the top, yellow shall be located directly below red 305
and the remaining indications below the yellow in the following order: 306
Flashing yellow, circular green, vertical arrow, left-turn arrow and 307
right-turn arrow, as needed; when arranged horizontally, red shall be 308
located at the left, yellow shall be located directly to the right of red and 309
the remaining indications to the right of yellow in the following order: 310
Flashing yellow, left-turn arrow, circular green, vertical arrow and 311
right-turn arrow, as needed. 312
(g) When lane-direction-control signals are placed over the 313
individual lanes of a street or highway, vehicular traffic may travel in 314
any lane over which a green arrow signal is shown, but shall not enter 315
or travel in any lane over which a red X signal is shown. 316
(h) If a traffic control signal, approved by the Office of the State Traffic 317
Administration, is erected and maintained at a place other than an 318
intersection, the provisions of this section shall be applicable except as 319
to those provisions which by their nature can have no application. Any 320
stop required shall be made at a sign or marking on the pavement 321
indicating where the stop shall be made, but in the absence of any sign 322
or marking, the stop shall be made at the signal. 323
(i) As used in this subsection, "light rail transit signal" has the same 324
meaning as described in the Federal Highway Administration's Manual 325
on Uniform Traffic Control Device for Streets and Highways, as 326
Raised Bill No. 1377
LCO No. 5151 12 of 21
amended from time to time, and includes bus rapid transit signals. 327
Whenever a light rail transit signal with multiple lenses exhibiting 328
horizontal, vertical and diagonal lines is in place, the operators of light 329
rail transit and bus rapid transit shall comply with such signals. Such 330
signals shall indicate as follows: 331
(1) White vertical line or diagonal line: Light rail transit and bus rapid 332
transit facing a white vertical or diagonal signal may proceed straight, 333
left or right. 334
(2) White horizontal line: Light rail transit and bus rapid transit facing 335
a white horizontal signal shall stop. 336
(3) Flashing white vertical line or diagonal line: Light rail transit and 337
bus rapid transit facing a flashing white vertical or diagonal signal shall 338
prepare to stop. 339
Sec. 6. Section 14-251 of the general statutes is repealed and the 340
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 341
(a) No vehicle shall be permitted to remain stationary within ten feet 342
of any fire hydrant, or upon the traveled portion of any highway except 343
upon the right-hand side of such highway in the direction in which such 344
vehicle is headed; and, if such highway is curbed, such vehicle shall be 345
so placed that its right-hand wheels, when stationary, shall, when safety 346
will permit, be within a distance of twelve inches from the curb, except 347
if a bikeway, as defined in section 13a-153f, or such bikeway's buffer 348
area, as described in the federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control 349
Devices, is in place between the parking lane and the curb, such vehicle 350
shall be so placed that its right-hand wheels, when stationary, shall, 351
when safety will permit, be within a distance of twelve inches from the 352
edge of such bikeway or buffer area. 353
(b) No vehicle shall be permitted to remain parked within [twenty-354
five] thirty feet of an intersection or an approach to a marked crosswalk, 355
except (1) within [ten] twenty feet of such intersection or marked 356
Raised Bill No. 1377
LCO No. 5151 13 of 21
crosswalk if such intersection or marked crosswalk has a curb extension 357
treatment with a width equal to or greater than the width of the parking 358
lane, or (2) if there is an available parking space that was established on 359
or before October 1, 2022. No vehicle shall be permitted to remain 360
parked within [twenty-five] thirty feet of a stop sign or yield sign caused 361
to be erected by the traffic authority in accordance with the provisions 362
of section 14-301. [, except where permitted by the traffic authority of 363
the city of New Haven at the intersection of one-way streets located in 364
and comprised entirely of highways under the jurisdiction of the city of 365
New Haven.] 366
(c) No vehicle shall be permitted to remain stationary upon the 367
traveled portion of any highway at any curve or turn or at the top of any 368
grade where a clear view of such vehicle may not be had from a distance 369
of at least one hundred fifty feet in either direction. The Commissioner 370
of Transportation may post signs upon any highway at any place where 371
the keeping of a vehicle stationary is dangerous to traffic, and the 372
keeping of any vehicle stationary contrary to the directions of such signs 373
shall be a violation of this section. No vehicle shall be permitted to 374
remain stationary upon the traveled portion of any highway within fifty 375
feet of the point where another vehicle, which had previously stopped, 376
continues to remain stationary on the opposite side of the traveled 377
portion of the same highway. No vehicle shall be permitted to remain 378
stationary within the limits of a public highway in such a manner as to 379
constitute a traffic hazard or obstruct the free movement of traffic 380
thereon, provided a vehicle which has become disabled to such an 381
extent that it is impossible or impracticable to remove it may be 382
permitted to so remain for a reasonable time for the purpose of making 383
repairs thereto or of obtaining sufficient assistance to remove it. 384
(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to apply to emergency 385
vehicles and to maintenance vehicles displaying flashing lights or to 386
prohibit a vehicle from stopping, or being held stationary by any officer, 387
in an emergency to avoid accident or to give a right-of-way to any 388
vehicle or pedestrian as provided in this chapter, or from stopping on 389
Raised Bill No. 1377
LCO No. 5151 14 of 21
any highway within the limits of an incorporated city, town or borough 390
where the parking of vehicles is regulated by local ordinances. 391
(e) Violation of any provision of this section shall be an infraction. 392
Sec. 7. Subsection (a) of section 13a-124a of the general statutes is 393
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 394
2025): 395
(a) As used in this section, "specific service sign" means a rectangular 396
sign with the word GAS, FOOD, LODGING, CAMPING , [or] 397
ATTRACTION or EV CHARGING or any other word permitted in the 398
Federal Highway Administration's Manual on Uniform Traffic Control 399
Devices for Streets and Highways, as amended from time to time, and 400
exit directional information pertaining to the designated motorist 401
service placed on the sign and upon which is mounted separately 402
attached business sign panels showing the brand, symbol, trademark or 403
name, or any combination of these, for the designated service available 404
on a crossroad at or near an interchange or intersection. 405
Sec. 8. Subsection (a) of section 13a-98i of the general statutes is 406
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 407
2025): 408
(a) The commissioner may enter into agreements for the acceptance 409
and expenditure of funds concerning federal surface transportation 410
urban program roadways or facilities and eligible federal surface 411
transportation rural collector roadways or facilities with the United 412
States Secretary of Transportation or local officials, or both, to develop 413
plans and establish programs for, and construct improvements on or to 414
such roadways or facilities using appropriations made to the 415
Department of Transportation by the General Assembly and 416
apportionments to the Department of Transportation or a municipality 417
by said Secretary of Transportation under the provisions of [the Safe, 418
Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for 419
Users (SAFETEA-LU), all amendments thereto] any act of Congress 420
Raised Bill No. 1377
LCO No. 5151 15 of 21
providing for federal surface transportation funding and all applicable 421
federal regulations. Any municipality becoming a party to an agreement 422
concerning such improvements on locally maintained roadways or 423
facilities shall pay fifty per cent of that portion of the cost thereof, which 424
is not paid by the federal government, including required studies, 425
establishing programs, development of plans, engineering expenses, 426
acquisition of rights-of-way, required municipally-owned utility work 427
and construction activities, provided the municipality may pay up to 428
the entire nonfederal government share on locally maintained roadways 429
or facilities when the commissioner and municipality agree that this 430
action is warranted, necessary and desirable in order to obtain federal 431
funds. The state may pay fifty per cent of that portion of the cost thereof 432
which is not paid by the federal government on locally maintained 433
roadways or facilities and shall pay the entire portion not paid by the 434
federal government on state maintained roadways or facilities. 435
Sec. 9. Section 13a-98e of the general statutes is repealed and the 436
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 437
The commissioner may acquire by purchase, gift or condemnation in 438
the name of the state such real property for any federal surface 439
transportation urban program roadway or facility or rights of access to 440
and egress from land abutting any federal surface transportation urban 441
program roadway or facility as is necessary to construct and maintain 442
the improvements to any such roadway or facility in the same manner 443
and with like powers as authorized and exercised by said commissioner 444
in acquiring real property or rights of access to and egress from land 445
abutting state highways for highway purposes. 446
Sec. 10. Section 13a-98m of the general statutes is repealed and the 447
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 448
As used in sections 13a-98e, 13a-98f and 13a-98i to 13a-98k, inclusive, 449
as amended by this act, "federal surface transportation urban program 450
roadway or facility" means any state or locally maintained roadway or 451
Raised Bill No. 1377
LCO No. 5151 16 of 21
facility that is deemed eligible for surface transportation urban program 452
funding in accordance with the [Transportation Equity Act for the 21st 453
Century, all amendments to said act] provisions of any act of Congress 454
providing for federal surface transportation funding and all applicable 455
federal regulations. 456
Sec. 11. Section 13a-60 of the general statutes is repealed and the 457
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 458
The commissioner or [his] the commissioner's agent may enter upon 459
private property for the purpose of conducting surveys, inspections or 460
geological investigations for the location, relocation, construction or 461
reconstruction of any proposed or existing highway or railroad facilities. 462
After giving reasonable notice to the property owner or owners affected, 463
[he or his] the commissioner or the commissioner's agent may also enter 464
private property for the purpose of performing borings, soundings or 465
other tests required to accomplish any of the foregoing objectives with 466
respect to such highways [. He] or railroad facilities. The commissioner 467
or the commissioner's agent shall use care so that no unnecessary 468
damage shall result, and the state shall pay damages to the owner of any 469
property from appropriations made to the Department of 470
Transportation for any damage or injury [he] the commissioner or the 471
commissioner's agent causes such owner by such entrance and use. If 472
entry to any property for the purpose of performing borings, soundings 473
or other tests is refused to the commissioner or [his] the commissioner's 474
agent after [he] the commissioner or the commissioner's agent has given 475
reasonable notice to the owner or owners thereof, the commissioner 476
shall assess damages in the manner provided by statute for the taking 477
of land for highway purposes, and, at any time after such assessment 478
has been made by said commissioner, may enter [said] such property 479
for the purpose of performing borings, soundings or other tests. If the 480
owner accepts such assessment of damages, [he] the owner shall notify 481
the commissioner in writing, and said commissioner shall pay such sum 482
to [said] such owner within thirty days or, after the expiration of [said] 483
such thirty days, shall pay such sum with interest at six per cent. If the 484
Raised Bill No. 1377
LCO No. 5151 17 of 21
owner is aggrieved by such assessment, [he] the owner shall notify the 485
commissioner in writing and may appeal to any court within its 486
jurisdiction for a reassessment of such damages within six months from 487
the date said commissioner forwarded such assessment to such owner. 488
This section shall not limit or modify rights of entry upon property 489
otherwise provided for by law. 490
Sec. 12. Section 13b-244 of the general statutes is repealed and the 491
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 492
Each railroad company may hold such real estate as may be 493
convenient for accomplishing the objects of its organization. [;] Each 494
railroad company and the Commissioner of Transportation may by [its] 495
the agents of such company or of the commissioner enter such places as 496
may be designated by its directors or the commissioner for the purpose 497
of making surveys and determining the line whereon to construct [its] a 498
railroad and may construct, equip and maintain a railroad, with one or 499
more tracks, over the route specified in its charter, in the case of the 500
railroad company, and transport persons or property thereon by any 501
power. 502
Sec. 13. Subsection (b) of section 13b-36 of the general statutes is 503
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 504
2025): 505
(b) The commissioner may sell, lease, convey or enter into any other 506
arrangement for the use of such property for the operation of 507
transportation services, or for such other purposes as the commissioner 508
determines to be consistent with the best interests of the state. With 509
respect to such state-owned property that supports rail operations, 510
including any rail right-of-way, the commissioner may issue an entry 511
permit on a form required by the commissioner to any person seeking 512
nonexclusive, temporary access to such property. Such permit shall 513
specify the insurance coverage that the permittee shall be required to 514
obtain, as determined by the commissioner in consultation with the 515
Raised Bill No. 1377
LCO No. 5151 18 of 21
state's Director of Insurance and Risk Management, with the state 516
named as an additional insured. No liability shall accrue to the state or 517
any agency or employee of the state for any injuries or damages to any 518
person or property that may result, either directly or indirectly, from the 519
activities of the permittee on such property. 520
Sec. 14. Section 7-273l of the general statutes is repealed and the 521
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 522
(a) As used in this section, "urbanized area" has the same meaning as 523
provided in 49 USC 5302(24), as amended from time to time, and "rural 524
area" has the same meaning as provided in 49 USC 5302(17), as amended 525
from time to time. 526
(b) Each transit district established under this chapter or any special 527
act may (1) impose service charges and user fees on persons using transit 528
systems operated by such district, and (2) apply for funding from the 529
Department of Transportation in accordance with the provisions of this 530
section to finance the construction, acquisition, purchase, lease or 531
operation of a mass transit system and related programs authorized 532
under section 7-273b. Commencing with the fiscal year ending June 30, 533
1984, until June 30, 2024, inclusive, the commissioner shall distribute 534
such funds to each transit district located in an urbanized area or a rural 535
area in the same manner as the formula specified under 49 USC 5307, as 536
amended from time to time, or 49 USC 5311, as amended from time to 537
time. Commencing with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and each 538
fiscal year thereafter, the commissioner shall distribute such funds to 539
each transit district located in a rural area in the same manner as the 540
formula specified under 49 USC 5311, as amended from time to time. 541
Any municipality providing transit service that is not part of a transit 542
district may either establish a transit district under the provisions of this 543
chapter to assume operating control of such service or negotiate an 544
agreement with the Department of Transportation to administer the 545
operation of such service. In the latter case, the department shall provide 546
financial assistance to such municipality according to the formula 547
Raised Bill No. 1377
LCO No. 5151 19 of 21
specified in this section. As a condition of receiving any funds under this 548
subsection, a transit district or municipality shall meet eligibility criteria 549
established by the commissioner, including, but not limited to, deriving 550
a portion of operating costs from service charges, user fees, federal or 551
local subsidies and sources other than from state subsidies. 552
[(c) Commencing with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and each 553
fiscal year thereafter, the Commissioner of Transportation shall 554
distribute to each transit district located in an urbanized area an amount 555
equivalent to the total amount of funds distributed to the transit district 556
pursuant to subsection (b) of this section by the commissioner during 557
the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. 558
(d) In addition to the funding distributed pursuant to the provisions 559
of subsection (c) of this section, commencing with the fiscal year ending 560
June 30, 2025, and each fiscal year thereafter, the Commissioner of 561
Transportation shall establish a grant program to assist transit districts 562
located in urbanized areas to maintain and expand transit services, 563
provide regional transit services and upgrade the equipment, facilities 564
and infrastructure incident to the provision of transit services. The 565
commissioner shall establish eligibility criteria, an application process, 566
evaluation criteria and reporting requirements for the grant program. 567
The commissioner shall prioritize grant awards to transit districts where 568
the municipality that formed the transit district has a population of one 569
hundred thousand or more, as determined by the most recent 570
population estimate by the Department of Public Health, and transit 571
districts where the member municipalities included in the transit district 572
have a combined population of one hundred thousand or more.] 573
[(e)] (c) The Commissioner of Transportation shall adopt regulations, 574
in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to implement the 575
purposes of this section. 576
Sec. 15. Section 13b-79t of the general statutes is repealed and the 577
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 578
Raised Bill No. 1377
LCO No. 5151 20 of 21
The Department of Transportation may solicit bids or qualifications 579
for equipment, materials or services for a project funded pursuant to 580
subsection (a) of section 3-20a, subsection (c) of section 4-66c, 581
subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of section 13b-57d, section 13b-61a, 582
subdivision (3) of section 13b-78k, section 13b-78n, subsection (a) of 583
section 13b-78p, sections 13b-79o to [13b-79y] 13b-79x, inclusive, or 584
sections 19, 24, 25 or 33 to 35, inclusive, of public act 06-136 at any time 585
in the fiscal year, notwithstanding the fact that all required funds may 586
not be available for the expenditure until later in the same or succeeding 587
fiscal year. 588
Sec. 16. Sections 13a-260, 13b-79y and 14-300a of the general statutes 589
are repealed. (Effective July 1, 2025) 590
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 January 1, 2026 13a-255
Sec. 2 January 1, 2026 47-34a
Sec. 3 from passage New section
Sec. 4 July 1, 2025 14-300(a)
Sec. 5 July 1, 2025 14-299
Sec. 6 July 1, 2025 14-251
Sec. 7 July 1, 2025 13a-124a(a)
Sec. 8 July 1, 2025 13a-98i(a)
Sec. 9 July 1, 2025 13a-98e
Sec. 10 July 1, 2025 13a-98m
Sec. 11 July 1, 2025 13a-60
Sec. 12 July 1, 2025 13b-244
Sec. 13 July 1, 2025 13b-36(b)
Sec. 14 July 1, 2025 7-273l
Sec. 15 July 1, 2025 13b-79t
Sec. 16 July 1, 2025 Repealer section
Statement of Purpose:
To implement the recommendations of the Department of
Transportation concerning the Connecticut Plan Coordinate System, an
autonomous vehicle pilot program, crosswalks, light rail transit signals,
Raised Bill No. 1377
LCO No. 5151 21 of 21
highway service signs, federal surface transportation urban program
funding, rail facilities and transit districts.
[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
underlined.]