Federal Grant Awarded for New CTrail Station at Windsor Locks

CT RailConnecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) has 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 new station will be about a mile north of the existing Hartford Line station and is part of a larger Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) project in historic downtown Windsor Locks, adjacent to the new Montgomery Mills apartment complex along the Windsor Locks Canal.

“Up and down the Hartford Line, towns like Windsor Locks have engaged in aggressive planning around the train stations to maximize the economic energy created by the investment in this train service,” said Governor Lamont. “This project represents the best in state, local and private partnerships, and underscores everyone’s commitment to transit-oriented development.”

Several state agencies have been working on and funding the project, including CTDOT, the Department of Economic and Community Development, the Department of Housing and the Office of Policy and Management, through its Responsible Growth Grant Program. Windsor Locks also received a Community Connectivity grant from CTDOT, for $321,949, specifically for improvements for pedestrians at this location to allow for last-mile connections to the future station and the new Montgomery Mills housing.

“Transit-oriented development is taking root all around Connecticut and this project underscores our commitment to enhancing Hartford Line service and truly represents our shared vision,” said CTDOT Commissioner Joe Giulietti. “This work will improve the safety, efficiency and reliability of the passenger rail system in the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield corridor.”

“Windsor Locks has recently experienced strong economic, population and grand list growth in anticipation of this new Hartford Line Station coming to the center of our downtown commercial district,” said Windsor Locks First Selectman Chris Kervick. “And now as the promise becomes reality, we expect things to really take off. TOD is not a theory. It is a proven method of growing our economy, and if there is any doubt, come to Windsor Locks.”

In addition to the new station, the intersection of Bridge Street and Main Street will be reconstructed to reduce traffic congestion at this busy intersection. Other improvements include track and signal work, street-level rail crossings and Amtrak rail yard work. Of the total cost of the $64.9 million project, $17.4 million will come from today’s grant and the remainder will come through state bond funding.

—via Press Release

This article was posted on: March 4, 2020