UPDATE The North Avenue bridge over the Merritt Parkway in Westport was closed today for a scheduled three hours (10 a.m. to 1 p.m. —it reopened at 1:20 p.m.) for pothole repairs, according to the Connecticut Department of Transportation. Traffic on the bridge has been one way alternating since the fall because of delayed repairs to the bridge. Completion of the repairs is now scheduled for the spring.  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

By Jim Cameron

I hate to say “I told you so,” but, just as I predicted, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s hand-picked Transportation Finance Panel has finally issued its recommendations for paying for the governor’s 30-year,  $100 billion transportation “plan.”

First off, the governor’s “plan” is not a plan but a wish list of projects for all 169 towns and cities in the state. It has been vetted by no one and has no priorities, though Connecticut Department of Transportation (CDOT) Commissioner James Redeker says about two-thirds [$66 billion] would be for repairs and replacement of what we already have, not any grandiose schemes for monorails down the middle of I-95.

Interestingly, as it began work last summer the Transportation Finance Panel wasn’t allowed to debate the merits of anything in the governor’s “plan,” so all they could do was suggest how to fund the whole thing. 

Atop their newly issued report is a telling quote:  “If something’s worth having, it’s worth paying for.”  Duh!  But that’s a pretty soft sell on this megaplan given the unpopularity of their funding suggestions:

By James Lomuscio

Seniors and permanently and totally disabled Westporters caught a break tonight, a property tax break.

The Board of Finance unanimously approved amendments to the town code that allow such individuals who own two properties to qualify for deferments and abatements.

Prior to the vote, the program was limited to those who owned only one property.

The board also voted to adjust the abatement rate from 18 to 20 percent.

A car runs through standing water on Westport’s Main Street at Canal Street late today as rain swept the area. By early evening, the weather station at Westport fire headquarters had measured about 1 inch of rain for the day. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Westport First Slectman Jim Marpe (l) tonight presented a commendation to reiring Planning and Zoning Director Larry Bradley, who announced last month he is leaving after more than 10 years on the job for South Florida where he has accepted a planning director’s job with the Seminole Tribe, The presentation was made at a farewell part at Positano Ristorante. Looking on is Jim Ezzes, chair of the Zoning Board of Appeals (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Town officials are seeking volunteers to serve as co-directors of the Westport Transit District (WTD) as its co-directors Jennifer Johnson and Eugene Cederbaum recently announced their resignations after three years at the helm.

Peter Gold, chairman of the Representative Town Meeting’s (RTM) Transit Committee and First Selectman Jim Marpe announced the vacancies on Tuesday.

The co-directors will be appointed by the RTM and be responsible for overseeing the WTD, which contracts for services from the Norwalk Transit District (NTD).

Duties include managing the bus system’s commuter routes to the town’s two train stations, the Imperial Avenue shuttle and its door-to-door services for seniors and those with disabilities.

UPDATE Metro-North said New Haven Line service is operating on or close to schedule after earlier delays due to overhead wire damage in the vicinity of South Norwalk and East Norwalk.