State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > Connecticut > Title13b > Chap242 > Sec13b-4

      Sec. 13b-4. Powers and duties of commissioner. The commissioner shall have the following general powers, duties and responsibilities:

      (1) To coordinate and develop comprehensive, integrated transportation policy and planning to include a long-range master plan of transportation for the state;

      (2) To coordinate and assist in the development and operation of a modern, safe, efficient and energy-conserving system of highway, mass transit, marine and aviation facilities and services;

      (3) To promote the coordinated and efficient use of all available and future modes of transportation;

      (4) To study commuter and urban travel and in cooperation with federal, regional and local agencies and persons to formulate and implement plans and programs to improve such travel;

      (5) To study means of providing facilities for parking motor vehicles so as to encourage travel by the combination of motor vehicle and other modes of transportation and in cooperation with federal, regional and local agencies and persons to formulate and implement plans and programs for this purpose;

      (6) To study means of improving transportation safety and to formulate and implement plans and programs and adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, for this purpose;

      (7) To study the operations of existing airports, to determine the need for changes in such airports and the need for future airports, and to formulate and implement plans and programs to improve aviation facilities and services;

      (8) To cooperate with federal, state, interstate and local agencies, organizations and persons performing activities relating to transportation;

      (9) To exercise and perform such other duties and responsibilities as may be conferred under this chapter and title 13a or as may otherwise be conferred by law;

      (10) To prepare a plan setting forth a recommendation for a restructured system of regional transit districts within the state. Said plan shall be based on: (A) Established patterns of commuter traffic within the state; (B) federal requirements for receiving aid under the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964, and (C) present planning regions. On or before February 1, 1978, the commissioner shall present such plan to the General Assembly;

      (11) To prepare pertinent reports, including but not limited to, detailed reports of energy use analysis by mode of transportation;

      (12) To provide for the planning and construction of any capital improvements and the remodeling, alteration, repair or enlargement of any real asset that may be required for the development and operation of a safe, efficient system of highway, mass transit, marine and aviation transportation, provided (A) the acquisition, other than by condemnation, or the sale or lease, of any property that is used for such purposes shall be subject to the review and approval of the State Properties Review Board in accordance with the provisions of subsection (f) of section 4b-3, and (B) any contract for the planning, construction, remodeling, alteration, repair or enlargement of any public building which is estimated to cost more than five hundred thousand dollars shall be advertised and awarded in accordance with section 13b-20n; and

      (13) To participate, subject to the availability of funds, in transit-oriented development projects at or near transit facilities.

      (1969, P.A. 768, S. 4; P.A. 77-33, S. 2; 77-614, S. 550, 610; P.A. 81-421, S. 3, 9; P.A. 82-446, S. 3, 4; P.A. 83-587, S. 27, 96; P.A. 91-124, S. 3; P.A. 03-115, S. 48; 03-215, S. 13; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-7, S. 94.)

      History: P.A. 77-33 added new Subsec. (j) providing for preparation of plan for restructured regional transit districts to be presented by February 1, 1978; P.A. 77-614 added new Subsec. (k) providing for preparation of reports, substituted "integrated" for "balanced" in Subsec. (a), and added "energy conserving" as a qualification in Subsec. (b), effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 81-421 expanded the powers of the commissioner to include the planning and construction of capital improvements related to highway, mass transit, marine and aviation transportation while maintaining the role of the state properties review board; P.A. 82-446 clarified the role of the state properties review board in approving contracts with architects or engineers; P.A. 83-587 made a technical amendment, restoring language inadvertently dropped in the printing of the statutes; P.A. 91-124 in Subdiv. (12) deleted the requirement that the properties review board approve selection of and contract with any architect or engineer; P.A. 03-115 amended Subdivs. (6), (10) and (11) to make technical changes; P.A. 03-215 amended Subdiv. (12) to designate existing proviso as Subpara. (A) and add Subpara. (B) re the advertisement and award of public building contracts valued over $500,000, effective October 1, 2004; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-7 added Subdiv. (13) re transit-oriented development projects, effective November 2, 2007.

      See chapter 244 (Sec. 13b-80 et seq.) re motor buses.

      See chapter 244a (Sec. 13b-95 et seq.) re taxicabs.

      See chapter 244b (Sec. 13b-101 et seq.) re motor vehicles in livery service.

      See chapter 245 (Sec. 13b-200 et seq.) re railroads and railways.

      See chapter 245a (Sec. 13b-244 et seq.) re railroad construction and location.

      See chapter 245b (Sec. 13b-324 et seq.) re railroad operations.

      See Sec. 13a-95a re award of contracts to small business concerns owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.

      See Secs. 13b-79kk, 13b-79ll re transit-oriented development projects.

      See Sec. 14-270e re duty of commissioner to establish and report on program for operation of weigh stations.

      See Sec. 23-42 et seq. re railroad fire hazards.

      State, not town, is liable for defect in a state or state aid highway. 94 C. 542, 595; 105 C. 360. See note to section 13a-144. Former statute cited. 124 C. 35; Id., 677; 125 C. 413, 418; Id., 506; 150 C. 374.

      Cited. 25 CA 468.

      State, not town, liable for damages resulting from nuisance on state aid and trunk line highway. 6 CS 116. Town, not state, liable for special damages resulting from change of grade on state aid highway. 8 CS 447; 12 CS 115.

      Subsec. (i):

      Cited. 186 C. 300.