Gov. Dannel Malloy and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Sen. Chris Murphy and Rep. Jim Himes have announced the award of $10 million in federal grant money to support the $146 million development of Barnum Station, a new Metro-North commuter rail station that would serve the east side of Bridgeport.
The funds will come from the federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery program and are part of Malloy”™s 30-year, $100 billion transportation plan, “Let”™s Go CT.”
“Our administration has prioritized the creation of this new train station for Bridgeport’s East Side and East End neighborhoods because we know it is local capital projects like these that will help create livable, walkable communities that spur economic development and job creation,” Malloy said. “We need to think big in Connecticut when it comes to our rail system, and it’s these types of investments that will make our state more regionally competitive and more attractive for employers and employees alike.”
Blumenthal said the highly competitive federal award is a major investment in the new station, which he referred to as a “game changer” for Bridgeport; sparking much needed investment in surrounding neighbors of the proposed new station as well as the city as a whole.
“Barnum station will eventually host retail stores, housing and critical transportation options. It will transform a bleak and neglected neighborhood into a vibrant source of opportunity for the people of Bridgeport,” Himes said.
The station is expected to become operational sometime in 2018 and increase express and local service along the nation”™s busiest commuter rail corridor.
