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Fourth District to Receive
$6.05 Million in Funding for Transportation,
Economic Development Projects
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Christopher Shays (R-CT)
announced today the Fourth District will receive $6.05 million
for transportation and infrastructure developments in the
House FY 07 Transportation, Treasury and Housing Appropriations
bill. Under the bill, Bridgeport is slated for $2.55 million;
Norwalk will receive $2 million; and Stamford $1.5 million.
“This funding is critical for transportation and infrastructure
improvements throughout the Fourth District and the continuing
investment helps to meet the challenges commuters in our region
face every day,” Shays said. “This is a great
first step in a lengthy process and we will work with our
Senators to ensure the funding is protected in the final bill.
I am grateful for this wonderful support and recognition of
the needs in the Fourth District.”
All projects were requested by each city with the endorsement
of each Mayor.
Bridgeport - $2.55 million
"Congressman Shays has worked hard to identify this
funding for Bridgeport and we appreciate his efforts,"
said Bridgeport Mayor John M. Fabrizi. "We look forward
to working with Senators Dodd and Lieberman to maintain and
hopefully increase these appropriations."
Charles Smith EDI: $300,000
The funding will be used to support building a supermarket,
retail stores and a bank as part of the East End Neighborhood
Revitalization Zone's Stratford Avenue Corridor Improvement
Project, to encourage urban growth and revitalization. This
project has received $100,000 in federal funding previously.
“The Foundation and the East End Neighborhood Revitalization
Zone is grateful to Congressman Shays for securing a third
round of funding for the benefit of our neighborhood. The
Congressman's leadership and commitment has planted the seed
for a mixed-income and mixed-use community to complement the
efforts of Steel Point,” explained Charles Smith. “Not
only does the Congressman serve as a national advocate for
affordable housing and community development; he provides
local leadership to Greater Bridgeport. He has a clear vision
knowing that the revitalization of inner-city neighborhoods
is good for the City of Bridgeport and the region.”
Bridgeport Intermodal Center: $1.25 million
The funding will support construction of Phase 2b of the
Bridgeport Intermodal Center – the train station. Phase
1, which was to construct a transit garage, has been completed.
Phase 2a, which is a bus station, broke ground last month
and is scheduled to be completed by Spring 2007. The project
has received $56.5 million in federal funding to date.
Seaview Avenue Corridor Project: $1 million
The funding will support the work to provide access to the
1,000 acres of industrially-zoned land called Lake Success
Business Park, one of the areas Bridgeport intends to redevelop
as part of its economic development strategy. Access will
be provided via the Seaview Avenue Industrial Corridor, which
is a four-lane north-south arterial roadway intended to enable
convenient access from a newly-constructed I-95 interchange
to the 335-acre Lake Success Business Park while, at the same
time, improving development opportunities along the 2-mile
corridor and preventing added disturbance of adjacent residential
areas. Bridgeport has received $11.25 million in previous
federal funding for this project.
Norwalk - $2 million
“This is great news. It’s clear our trips to
D.C. and constant communication with the Congressional delegation,
especially Congressman Shays, has paid off." Norwalk
Mayor Richard Moccia said. “We’ll continue to
monitor the progress of these requests and are hopeful that
we will see this come to fruition for Norwalk.”
South Norwalk Intermodal Center: $1 million
The funding will support the South Norwalk Railroad Station
Intermodal Passenger facility, which attempts to improve the
commuter connections for passengers from the train station
to Norwalk's corporate employment centers and transit-oriented
development in the surrounding area. The federal government
has provided $1.668 million in for this project in past funding
cycles.
Norwalk West Avenue Redevelopment: $1 million
Funding will go towards the West Avenue Corridor Municipal
Development Area Academy Street Extension, which is part of
a larger downtown redevelopment project the City of Norwalk
is undertaking. It will include road improvements, housing,
and economic development. The federal government has supported
this project with $2 million in previous years.
Stamford - $1.5 million
"The rail underpass project is critical to helping reduce
traffic on I-95 and this is good news for Stamford residents,"
said Stamford Mayor Dannel Malloy.
Stamford Rail Underpass Project: $1.5 million
These funds will go for the Stamford Railroad Underpass and
Route 1 Realignment Project. This is a four-phase project
to widen and increase the vertical clearance of four constrained
railroad underpasses, and make associated roadway improvements
in order to allow full utilization of the Stamford Rail Transportation
Center and reduce traffic congestion on I-95. The four underpasses
- the Atlantic Street Railroad Underpass, the Route 1 Underpass
and Road Realignment, the Elm Street Railroad Underpass and
the Canal Street Railroad Underpass - are too narrow, too
low and severely constricted, operating at an undesirable
level of service and causing major traffic disruption in the
urban area and around the Stamford Transportation Center.
This project received $8.8 million in the High Priority Projects
of SAFETEA-LU.
The Transportation, Treasury, HUD Appropriations bill is
expected to come to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives
for a vote next week.
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