Friends,
Last week, I set out to bike across Connecticut. The journey was over 80 miles, from Compo Beach to the Massachusetts Border. Along the way, I gained about 4,200 feet in elevation and countless insights about what makes Connecticut special.
I was lucky to be joined by a few friends along the way, including cycling enthusiasts like State Representatives Anne Hughes and Cristin McCarthy Vahey. There’s no shortage of opportunities for state and federal collaboration, so I was thrilled to have Connecticut’s Commissioner of Economic and Community Development and the Deputy Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection along as well. As we weaved through country roads, we stopped at Shaggy Coo’s Farm in Easton to catch up with sustainability-focused dairy farmers, Flanders Nature Center in Woodbury to hear about environmental preservation, and the Sue River Memorial Park Greenway in Winstead to learn about how federal aid could help connect gorgeous hiking and cycling trails with local businesses.
What was the point of this journey? First, I want to encourage constituents to get out from behind their screens and enjoy the remaining days of summer. Check out Rocky Glen State Park, where we saw a beautiful 30-foot waterfall, or dine outside at Nick’s Country Kitchen in Bethlehem. Did you know that thousands of tourists visit the town each year to mail their Christmas cards with a Bethlehem postmark? Walk through Torrington’s bustling and growing downtown. Each of Connecticut’s 169 towns will surprise and delight you – even, I’ll admit, those outside of the Fourth Congressional District.
More substantively, I’m working to raise awareness about the cycling and pedestrian improvements contained in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Package. This historic investment is about more than just highways and commuter trains. Should it pass the House this month, Connecticut will be eligible for $5 billion in Safe Streets for All grants that can help local governments reduce crashes and fatalities among cyclists and pedestrians. Getting from point A to point B shouldn’t always require a car, and I’m pleased that this package also includes $6.42 billion for a new Carbon Reduction Program that will improve green transportation options. I’ve seen first-hand how these investments will make Connecticut safer, healthier and happier.
I hope you can find some time to enjoy the outdoors in the days ahead.
Sincerely,
Jim
