How will we achieve a more sustainable future for Connecticut?
People used to go where the jobs were, now jobs are going where the people are and they’re leaving auto-oriented, suburban office parks for more vibrant, walkable, and transit-accessible communities. While this imbalance is particularly acute here in Connecticut, our state is not alone. We are part of an interconnected region with tremendous physical and natural resources that we can leverage to strengthen our economy. Building on the assets that have underpinned our success for decades — our roads and railways, our nature and coastlines, our cities and towns, and our residents and businesses — we can and must boldly address our challenges.
The Fourth Regional Plan provides a clear roadmap for how we can get there:
Invest in a reliable transportation system that gets people to work on time
Build more multifamily and affordable housing near transit to expand supply to meet demand
Encourage and incentivize partnerships between anchor institutions, municipalities, and local communities in cities to leverage financial and human resources
Curb overreliance on local property taxes to fund local services and reduce inequities between rich and poor communities
Help communities prepare for rising seas and more intense storms
Acknowledgements
Authored by
Melissa Kaplan-Macey
Former Vice President, State Programs & Connecticut Director