Sec. 13a-175s. Procedure for making project grants and loans under local bridge program. - Connecticut Statutes

      Sec. 13a-175s. Procedure for making project grants and loans under local bridge program. (a) The commissioner shall maintain a list of eligible bridges and shall establish a priority list of eligible bridge projects for each fiscal year. In establishing such priority list, the commissioner shall consider the physical condition of each eligible bridge.

      (b) In each fiscal year the commissioner may make project loans to municipalities in the order of the priority list of eligible bridge projects to the extent of moneys available therefor in the Local Bridge Revolving Fund. Each municipality undertaking an eligible bridge project may apply for and receive a project loan or loans. The aggregate amount of project loans made to a municipality with respect to any project shall be equal to the amount requested by the municipality up to an amount not to exceed fifty per cent of the project costs allocable therefor to such municipality.

      (c) Each project loan shall be made pursuant to a project loan agreement between the state, acting by and through the commissioner, and the borrowing municipality and shall be evidenced by a project loan obligation of the borrowing municipality issued in accordance with section 13a-175t. Each project loan agreement shall be in the form prescribed by the commissioner, provided that each project loan agreement shall provide for a project loan obligation bearing interest at the rate of six per cent per annum payable quarterly and maturing no later than ten years from the date of such obligation.

      (d) In each fiscal year the commissioner may make project grants to municipalities in the order of the priority list of eligible bridge projects to the extent moneys are available therefor. Each municipality undertaking an eligible bridge project may apply for and receive a project grant equal to its grant percentage multiplied by the project costs allocable to such municipality.

      (e) All applications for project loans and project grants for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1985, shall be filed with the commissioner no later than October 1, 1984, and for each succeeding fiscal year all such applications shall be filed with the commissioner no later than March first of the fiscal year next preceding. The commissioner may for good cause extend the period of time in which any such application may be filed.

      (f) A project grant or project loan shall not be made to a municipality with respect to an eligible bridge project unless: (1) Each municipality undertaking such project has available to it, or has made arrangements satisfactory to the commissioner to obtain, funds to pay that portion of the project costs for which it is legally obligated and which are not met by project loans or project grants; (2) each municipality undertaking such project provides assurances satisfactory to the commissioner that it will undertake and complete such project with due diligence and that it will operate and maintain the eligible bridge properly after completion of such project; (3) each municipality undertaking such project and seeking a project loan or a project grant has filed with the commissioner all applications and other documents prescribed by the commissioner; (4) each municipality undertaking such project and seeking a project loan or a project grant has established separate accounts for the receipt and disbursement of the proceeds of project loans and project grants; and (5) in any case in which an eligible bridge is owned or maintained by more than one municipality, evidence satisfactory to the commissioner that all such municipalities are legally bound to complete their respective portions of such project. Notwithstanding any provisions of this subsection, the commissioner may make an advance grant to a municipality for the purpose of funding the engineering cost of an eligible bridge project. Such grant shall equal the municipality's grant percentage multiplied by the engineering cost, which cost shall not exceed fifteen per cent of the construction cost of the project, provided the amount of such advance shall be deducted from the total grant for the project.

      (g) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (b) and (d) of this section, the commissioner may make project grants and project loans with respect to an eligible bridge project without regard to the priority list of eligible bridge projects if a public emergency exists requiring the immediate removal, replacement, reconstruction, rehabilitation or improvement of the eligible bridge of such project to protect the public health and safety.

      (P.A. 84-254, S. 11, 62; P.A. 88-60, S. 2; P.A. 89-240, S. 2, 3.)

      History: P.A. 88-60 amended Subsec. (g) to allow the commissioner to make an advance grant to a municipality to fund engineering costs of an eligible bridge project; P.A. 89-240 deleted Subsec. (b) re allocation of funds between projects and fund, deleted Subsec. (f)(1) re approval by commissioner of preliminary plans and specifications and relettered Subsecs. (c), (d), (e), (f), (g) and (h) as Subsecs. (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g).