How do you turn a state transportation directive into something communities can actually build?
When the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) issued a new directive in 2024 opening the door to locally-led Quick-Build pilot projects on state roads, communities across Connecticut were eager to act, but had little guidance on how. Street Plans teamed up with our longtime colleagues at the Capitol Region Council of Governments (CRCOG) to fill that gap.
Together, we developed the Connecticut Tactical Materials Guide, a practical reference covering 84 material choices across five categories (barriers, surface treatments, modular components, signage, and street furniture) for 12 common project types. Each entry includes specifications, manufacturer information, unit costs, and installation and removal procedures, organized from most temporary to most durable. The guide also notes whether each material is appropriate for Demonstration, Pilot, or Interim Design projects, helping teams match materials to their stage of implementation. The result: planners, elected officials, and advocates can now pilot safer street designs, improve accessibility, and deliver public space improvements on state right-of-way, without waiting years for capital investment.
This work builds on our longstanding Complete Streets partnership with CRCOG, including a prior Quick-Builds guide developed in 2022 and statewide work under the ActiveCT initiative. It turns a new state policy into something communities can actually use.
