Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto today issued the following statement after Connecticut was awarded $2 million in federal funds to study, reenvision, and plan for a multi-modal future for one of its busiest central corridors along Route 5, known as the Berlin Turnpike.
The Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Grant—which was awarded to The Capitol Regional Council of Governments (CRCOG) in collaboration with CTDOT, CTtransit, and the towns of Berlin, Newington, and Wethersfield—will lay the foundation to improve safety for all roadway users, including pedestrians, customers of public transportation, and bicyclists.
Commissioner Eucalitto said: “The 11-mile Berlin Turnpike is a critical corridor connecting New Haven and Hartford Counties ripe with commerce and economic development opportunities. This grant award will help lay the foundation to create a future Route 5 with safety at the forefront. It will allow for the study and design of pedestrian and bicycle friendly infrastructure, such as sidewalks and trails, and look to develop a public transportation hub and land development opportunities in Newington, Wethersfield, and Berlin.
“CTDOT is fully supportive of this project and is committed to contributing matching funds for the advancement of a study with clear steps and outcomes that will make Route 5 a safe, productive corridor for all roadway users. Thank you to Secretary Buttigieg and the U.S. Department of Transportation, our federal delegation, CRCOG, and Berlin, Newington, and Wethersfield town officials for partnering on this important initiative. This award is a testament to what’s possible when federal, state, regional, and local partners work collaboratively with the shared vision of improving lives through transportation.”