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 Section 13a-255 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2026): 2 (a) For the purposes of this section: 3 (1) "NSRS" means the National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