Press Releases
12/07/2018
Gov. Malloy, Congressional Delegation Announce $9.1 Million Build Grant for Stamford Transportation Center
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Dannel P. Malloy, Senator Richard Blumenthal, Senator Chris Murphy, and Rep. Jim Himes today announced that U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded a $9.16 million BUILD Transportation grant to fund improvements to the Stamford Transportation Center. The grant – which will be matched by $13.74 million in additional state money – will fund upgrades to five elevators and 17 escalators and enhancements to the internal circulation system. The investment will ensure the station can operate in a state of good repair for the next 25 years and beyond.
“The Stamford Transportation Center sees more than 8 million passengers per year,” Governor Malloy said. “It is one of the busiest transit hubs in the nation, and it is a vital connecting point for rail and bus commuters to and from Stamford. This funding will make critically important improvements to the interior of the station, helping to ensure that it remains best-in-class for years to come.”
The grant will be administered by the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT), and construction on the improvements is expected to begin in 2019. In addition, and independent of this project, CTDOT has launched a multi-year improvement initiative that includes canopy, lighting, restroom, and communications upgrades. Taken together, the upgrades will improve the reliability and speed of movement in the station, reduce the risk of severe delays, access impediments, and injuries to travelers.
“This massive federal investment provides a major boon to rail access — and likely boost to ridership, as well as safety and comfort,” Senator Blumenthal said. “Reliable escalators, elevators and lighting will transform this key transportation hub for travelers region-wide. It will spur economic growth and new jobs and reduce traffic congestion and pollution. I will continue to fight for such investments to assure reliable, safe 21st century infrastructure.”
“I’ve been on a crusade to transform our transportation system in Connecticut,” Senator Murphy said. “It’s the single most important thing we could do to grow jobs in our state. The Stamford station is the second busiest station on the New Haven line. Upgrading the station to serve even more commuters is a big deal for Fairfield County. I’ll keep fighting to make our rail lines faster and more reliable.”
“The Stamford Transportation Center is a critical hub in Connecticut’s infrastructure network,” Congressman Himes said. “As the busiest station in the Metro North system after Grand Central, Stamford needs dedicated resources to keep commuters moving at the busiest times. This grant will help improve the daily process of getting people in, out, and on their way. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the federal, state and local level to secure even more funding in the months and year ahead for projects across Southwest Connecticut to alleviate congestion and further improve quality of life for our families.”
"The award of this BUILD grant is wonderful news for our customers,” CTDOT Commissioner James P. Redeker said. “Advancing these much-needed facility improvements will go a long way to providing the station experience our riders deserve."
“As both Connecticut and Stamford evolves, the need for a 21st century train station has become ever more evident,” Stamford Mayor David Martin said. “This grant is an important first step that will hopefully lead to further transformation of the station. Thank you to Senators Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal, Congressman Jim Himes and Governor Dan Malloy for recognizing the importance of upgrading our Transportation Center.”
BUILD Transportation grants replaced the pre-existing Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant program. BUILD funding can support roads, bridges, transit, rail, ports or intermodal transportation.
The Connecticut Department of Transportation supports the operation of two passenger rail lines and three branch lines in Connecticut.
The New Haven Line, consisting of the New Haven Main Line and the New Canaan, Danbury and Waterbury Branch Lines, is operated by Metro-North. The New Haven Line serves stations along the shoreline from New Haven to Greenwich and on to Grand Central Terminal in New York City. Shore Line East serves stations from New London to New Haven, with select trains continuing to Bridgeport and Stamford. Hartford Line serves New Haven, Hartford and Springfield.
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