Press Releases
06/07/2016
Gov. Malloy Announces State Grants to Encourage Transit-Oriented Development and Responsible Growth Across Connecticut
Twenty Projects to Receive Nearly $11 Million for Projects that Will Generate Economic Activity, Create Jobs
(HARTFORD, CT) - Governor Dannel P. Malloy today announced that twenty projects in towns and cities across Connecticut will receive nearly $11 million in funding under a competitive grant program that will support transit-oriented development and responsible growth, targeted at boosting economic activity and creating jobs.
The grants come under the state's Responsible Growth and Transit-Oriented Development Grant Program, which is administered by the Office of Policy and Management (OPM) and relies on a combination of funding from the Responsible Growth Incentive Fund and the Transit-Oriented Development and Pre-development Fund.
"Investing in transportation is critical. Transportation and the future of our economy are fundamentally linked. Our focus is on not only improving overall quality of life for residents in these areas, but also encouraging economic development by making our towns and cities more accessible," Governor Malloy said. "These grants will help us take another step towards making our state more competitive."
"The grants announced today will make Connecticut a better place to live, work, and compete in the 21st Century. These projects will improve pedestrian connections, increase multimodal transportation options, encourage infill development and discourage sprawl. And they complement the historic investments being made in public transit under the Let's Go CT! initiative," OPM Secretary Ben Barnes said. "By promoting transportation alternatives, the projects will decrease emissions and road congestion in high traffic areas. This is the type of critical funding that we must continue to invest in our towns and cities."
The grants announced today include:
- Berlin - Façade and Landscape Program: $500,000 to fund additional projects under the Town's successful Facade and Landscape Program, which was previously funded through STEAP. This program provides assistance to commercial property owners in the rail TOD zone, and core shopping districts to upgrade their facades and landscaping. The program will help retain and attract new businesses and encourage pedestrian activity in the vicinity of the rail station.
- Branford - Branford Station TOD Master Plan: $125,000 to develop a comprehensive master plan for the area surrounding the Branford Train Station. The plan will recommend the regulatory, infrastructure, and economic incentives needed to facilitate TOD and encourage increased use of transit services. The plan focuses on promoting growth and redevelopment that is more transit oriented which will increase the Town's tax base, and create stronger linkages between the Town center and the Branford Station
- Canton - Collinsville Village Center Infrastructure Improvements: $1,297,100 to complete the Collinsville Village Center Streetscape Master Plan infrastructure improvements and stimulate additional foot traffic and economic activity. The infrastructure improvements would provide safe pedestrian and bike access, organized parking, and critical linkages between areas of business and areas of activity. The improvements are to protect the true village character of Collinsville and supports its economy.
- Clinton - Route 1 Border-to-Border Sidewalk Design: $114,000 to develop engineering plans and construction drawings for a border-to-border sidewalk network along Route 1. This project will ultimately improve the pedestrian and multi-modal network along the entire corridor, and connect the currently under-served East End and West End of Towns with Clinton Center. The sidewalk will offer enhancement to the economy, community, and the environment.
- Capitol Region Council of Governments - Regional Complete Streets Policy and Action Plan: $450,000 to conduct a comprehensive inventory of completed and planned infrastructure related to complete streets, identify key gaps and needs, and develop a regional complete streets policy and action plan.
- Danbury - Downtown Transit-Oriented Development Planning Study: $225,000 to conduct research on land use and transportation conditions in the downtown, and issue recommendations to further transit-oriented development, responsible growth, and infill development in the City's downtown area. The planning study will also focus on analyzing existing transportation modes of ridership and provide recommendations that promote intermodal coordination and co-location of transit services
- Hartford - Parkville Storm-Water Infrastructure and Streetscape Improvements: $2,000,000 for storm-water infrastructure and streetscape improvements along portions of Bartholomew Avenue, Hamilton Street, and Park Street in the Parkville neighborhood. This project corrects an immediate water overflow that is damaging to existing businesses and historic buildings. Additionally, it establishes infrastructural capacity to accommodate future infill density proximate to the Parkville CTfastrak Station, and improves pedestrian and bicyclist connectivity to multi-modal transit options
- Madison - Tuxis Walkway and Bradley Road Improvements: $400,000 for repair and improvements to the Tuxis Walkway and pedestrian improvements to Bradley Road, in order to enhance pedestrian connectivity between the Madison Station area and the Boston Post Road. The project will enhance the safety of pedestrians and encourage rail ridership, while providing pedestrian and bike access to businesses along the Boston Post Road.
- Meriden - Sidewalk Reconstruction and Complete Streets Implementation: $869,389 for sidewalk reconstruction and complete streets implementation in the areas of West Main Street, Colony Street, State Street, and the Hub site, to improve pedestrian and bicycle circulation within the City's central business and Transit Oriented Development (TOD) districts. A portion of this reconstruction was recommended by the city's 2015 TOD Planning Grant awarded by OPM
- New Canaan - Downtown Pedestrian Loop- Weed Street Sidewalk Connection: $150,000 to construct sidewalks and crosswalks along a portion of Weed Street between Elm Street and Irwin Park. The proposed walkway is within a half mile from the train station and downtown. The walkway aims to enhance pedestrian access to the train station and decrease the demand for motor vehicles.
- New Haven - Long Wharf District Responsible Growth Plan: $935,000 to fund a comprehensive set of projects and planning initiatives in the Long Wharf/Union Station section of New Haven. This includes economic planning for infill and redevelopment, constructing streetscape improvements, traffic and transportation planning, aesthetic and mobility improvements, and urban park planning.
- Northwest Hills Council of Government - HouBike Trail Alignment Study: $26,250 to study alternative routes for a seven-mile segment of the HouBike Trail which currently runs along US-7 between Kent and the Cornwall Bridge. The study will focus on re-routing the trail off of Rte. 7 in order to improve connectivity and accommodate a broader user group including casual riders, walkers, and families with children.
- Northwest Hills Council of Governments - Water/Wastewater solutions for infill development in West Cornwall: $45,000 for a study to identify potential options for water and wastewater infrastructure that would enable infill development within the historic village center, and protect the Housatonic River from wastewater pollution.
- Naugatuck Valley Council of Government - Naugatuck River Greenway Study: $110,000 to study and establish an official route for the final 10.9-mile segment of the Naugatuck River Greenway, between Thomaston and Bogue Road in Torrington. This includes re-routing a 3.9 mile section of trail from Thomaston Dam south through downtown Thomaston to Old Waterbury Road where the town is currently designing and has funding to build a trailhead and section of trail running to the Watertown town line
- Old Saybrook - Saybrook Junction Infrastructure Planning: $125,000 for a traffic study, planning and preparation of construction drawings related to streetscape enhancements around the Old Saybrook train station and town center. Planning for this project will address sidewalk gaps, crosswalks, ADA compliance, and other streetscape amenities.
- Torrington and Winsted - Sue Grossman Still River Greenway: $1,825,000 to construct a two-mile extension of the existing three-mile Sue Grossman Still River Greenway into downtown Winsted, and prepare final design & construction plans for the remaining five miles into downtown Torrington. The extension is designed to establish safe routes for pedestrians and bicyclists between two city centers
- Waterbury - Freight Street redevelopment Strategy: $189,000 to develop and implement a TOD strategy for the Freight Street District, including a review of existing physical conditions, market analysis, public outreach, conceptual plans, and zoning assessment. The redevelopment strategy plans to attract, cultivate and retain talent that drives Waterbury's future.
- Westport - Saugatuck Station Area TOD Master Plan: $440,000 to fund a detailed master plan of the Saugatuck Station Area including an existing conditions analysis, public outreach, district planning, identification of partnerships, and preliminary design. The plan is focused on improving the Saugatuck area in a manner that will benefit local residents, new residents, commuters, and businesses.
- Windsor - Animal Shelter Relocation and Site Development: $993,000 to create a development-ready site in Windsor Center adjacent to the state's planned commuter rail station. This project includes relocation of the existing animal shelter, clearing existing buildings and completing an environmental assessment and remediation planning.
- Windsor Locks - Main Street Property Acquisition and Pre-Development: $137,000 for the acquisition and pre-development costs associated with three properties adjacent to the state's planned commuter rail station. This project is intended to better position these properties for redevelopment in-line with the town's vision for TOD.
- Twitter: @GovMalloyOffice
- Facebook: Office of Governor Dannel P. Malloy