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STAMFORD, Conn. Making the Stamford Transportation Center able to accommodate more people will be key to attracting business to the entire county, several politicians said during a news conference at the train station Monday.
All eyes are looking to this station for a viable solution, Stamford Mayor Michael Pavia said at a news conference celebrating a $10.5 million federal grant the station received to make improvements.
This is like the movie Field of Dreams:' If you build it they will come, Sen. Joseph Lieberman said of the rail station improvements, saying that it will bring jobs to the county.
The project in Stamford will include a pedestrian ramp connecting the eastbound platform to Atlantic Street, improvements to allow the station to handle more riders and streetscape improvements for safety. The politicians expect it to be safer and more accommodating for commuters.
To make Connecticut more competitive in attracting businesses, Gov. Dannel Malloy has made it a point to improve the states rail system. In addition to pushing for the funds for the Stamford station, the state has added 62 new rail cars and opened a new station in Fairfield this year, he said. Malloy hopes more improvements can be made and more stations built.
The transportation center received a $10.5 million grant last Thursday as a result of a Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery grant. During this round of grants, more than $14 billion requested with only $500 million available from the government, Lieberman said. In addition to the federal money, the project will also receive $16.7 million from the private sector, Sen. Richard Blumenthal said.
This project will not be the only improvements made to the transportation center. Malloy promised to begin looking into parking improvements at the station. He and James Redeker, state transportation commissioner, will attend meetings within the next two months.
You cant keep Stamford down, Malloy said.
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