September 17, 2015

Fasano, Yaccarino, Freda Welcome Federal Grant to Support Transit-Oriented Development in North Haven

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Senator Len Fasano, Representative Dave Yaccarino and First Selectman Michael Freda today applauded a $700,000 grant from the Federal Transit Administration awarded to the State of Connecticut to conduct a study of transit-oriented development (TOD) opportunities in the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield rail corridor, also known as the Hartford Line.

“Connecticut needs to get serious about improving transportation across the state,” said Sen. Fasano. “Developing public transit opportunities and rail service right here in North Haven would help grow jobs, expand our economic development potential, and strengthen our community. I hope that this funding can be used to advance the most effective and efficient projects for our community and for our state.”

“This grant is a start toward providing much more opportunities for our commuters and even job creation,” said Rep. Yaccarino. “Public transit is a viable alternative to driving, and it is an important aspect to reducing traffic congestion in the New Haven corridor and the entire state.”

First Selectman Michael Freda joined both state lawmakers in applauding the potential for further development in North Haven.

According to a release from the governor’s office, Connecticut was selected on a competitive basis through the United States Department of Transportation’s Transit-Oriented Development Pilot Planning Program. The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) will receive funding to advance TOD at four new stations – in North Haven, Newington, West Hartford and Enfield – as well as the two stations that will be relocated in Windsor and Windsor Locks. This grant will guide CTDOT and its partners toward the implementation of a corridor strategy for TOD to increase ridership, enhance affordable housing opportunities, create mixed-use development to activate station areas, and link people to jobs through multimodal transportation connections along the entire corridor.

The new Hartford Line is intended to provide more frequent passenger rail service between New Haven, Hartford and Springfield by increasing the number of round trip trains from six daily Amtrak intercity and regional trains to a total of 17 round trip trains a day to Hartford, and 12 trains per day to Springfield.

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