Press Releases
03/14/2022
Lt. Governor Bysiewicz, Windsor Elected Officials Announce Grant-in-Aid for Transit-Oriented Development Project
(WINDSOR, CT) – Today, Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz and Windsor elected officials announced $1 million grant-in-aid to complete construction and phase 2 of implementing complete street and road diet to facilitate transit-oriented development.
In December 2021, Governor Ned Lamont announced the approval of $839 million worth of upgrades to Connecticut’s transportation system by the State Bond Commission. The governor, who serves as chairman of the State Bond Commission and determines which projects get placed on the agenda, said that these upgrades are long overdue and compliment projects that are expected to be financed through the recently adopted federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
“I want to thank Governor Lamont and the State Bond Commission for making this possible,” said Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz. “This is a project long in the making. First proposed in 2014, the road diet project to improve the infrastructure on Broad Street. This plan will also create more parking and pedestrian bump-outs and to improve the safety and walkability of the downtown area. These improvements will make it safer for motor vehicles and residents to safely ease about the town center and afford better access to businesses and city offices.
The focus on transit oriented development in the town of Windsor has been a priority for local officials, who created a Windsor Center Transit Oriented Development Master Plan and Redevelopment Strategy in 2014, and have been working diligently to implement the strategy since. The plan assembles the community’s vision for Windsor Center and lists the pragmatic steps to accomplish it.
Back in February 2020, Governor Ned Lamont announced that the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) received a $17.4 million grant from the Federal Railroad Administration for construction and other improvements at a new $64.9 million Hartford Line railroad station in Windsor Locks.
The future for Windsor’s TOD will include preservation and enhancement of Windsor Center’s historic features but will also find new sources of economic investment and civic energy that are needed in the 21st century. One of the key sources of positive change will be significantly improved rail access to the region, and beyond.
“It’s a great pleasure that we received this $1 million in funding from the State Bond Commission,” said Windsor Town Manager Peter Souza. “Thank you to the Governor, our state delegation, and particularly Representative Jane Garibay for bringing this part of our downtown strategy to fruition. This is one part of a comprehensive approach that’s been in the works since 2013-2014. We look forward to moving together on implementing this strategy.”
“Trying to revitalize Windsor’s center has been on our to-do list for quite a few years,” said Windsor Mayor Donald Trinks. “I want to thank Rep. Garibay for her work, and today we get to see the fruits of our efforts.”
“Thank you to everyone who was part of this important project, particularly Representative Jane Garibay and those at the state level, along with our Town Manager Peter Souza and town staff,” said Windsor Deputy Mayor Lisa Bress. “This is very exciting for us in Windsor. The hope is that it will bring more vitality to the center of Windsor, that it will bring more feet on the street, and hopefully attract and retain some of the wonderful small businesses that we always like to see in Windsor. I’ve very grateful to Governor Lamont and the state for this $1 million.”
“I want to thank Governor Lamont, Lt. Governor Bysiewicz, Rep. Borer and all of those who helped make this possible,” said State Representative Jane Garibay. “House staff did a lot of the work to help me be able to bring this forward. I live in the center of town; we do have younger people coming. This will help bring in business and make Windsor a more walkable town.”
“Thank you, I’m excited to be here today and I’m excited for Windsor,” said State Representative Maryam Khan. “Well maintained roads are vital to our public safety and our economic development. This is going to be very important for the people of our town.”
Windsor’s goals include attracting redevelopment to key sites that will bring new uses and organize them to complement the established, compact patterns of streets, blocks and buildings.
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For Immediate Release: Monday, March 14, 2022
Contact: Chelsea Neelon