Rep. Welander Hails $12.6 Million Federal Infrastructure Grant for Improvements to the Derby-Shelton Multimodal Transportation Center
Today, I was happy to join Governor Ned Lamont, Senators Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal, U.S. Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, Derby Mayor Richard Dziekan, CTDOT Commissioner Joseph Giulietti, my legislative colleagues and other state and local officials to announce a $12.6 million Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability & Equity (RAISE) grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation for upgrades to the Derby-Shelton Multimodal Transportation Center Project.
"I am thrilled to share in the announcement of the $12.6 million RAISE grant awarded by the US Department of Transportation to the CTDOT for the Derby/Shelton Multimodal Transportation Center Project. I toured this historic property earlier this year with about a dozen members of multiple state agencies and commissions and we all agreed that while this wouldn't be an easy project, it had the ability to transform the City of Derby and the surrounding area," Rep. Welander said. "I am so grateful to our federal delegation, Governor Lamont, CTDOT Commissioner Joseph Giulietti, and so many more for committing the time, effort, and resources toward this project - and for seeing the amazing potential that Derby has. I would also like to thank everyone involved at CTDOT for their work in getting this grant moving; working directly with you all from an impromptu conversation all the way to this point has been so rewarding."
"Making these desperately needed improvements to the Derby-Shelton station benefits our transportation network, passenger experience, and the local economy,” said Congresswoman DeLauro. “These improvements mean better American jobs, better Connecticut jobs. Not only will this project provide short-term construction jobs for Connecticut workers, but it will also spur economic development around the station ensuring that the surrounding communities thrive. RAISE grants like this one provide a unique opportunity to invest in road, rail, transit, and port projects that can really make transformational change. That is why as the Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, I was proud to provide $1.2 billion for RAISE grants in the 2022 Transportation, Housing, Urban Development, and Related Agencies funding bill. And I was proud to support the additional RAISE grant funding provided in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Together, with these vital investments, we can build the architecture of the future.”
The grant will fund significant upgrades to the station, including increased bus service, enhanced bus and rail amenities, improved bicycle and pedestrian safety and connectivity to downtown Derby and the Naugatuck Valley Greenway trails. It will also support new electric bus and car charging stations.
The project will bring significant short- and long-term benefits to the Lower Naugatuck Valley. In addition to direct safety improvements and modernization of the outdated station, it will enable connectivity between transit and encourage transit-oriented development around the station.
The USDOT RAISE grant initiative, formerly known as the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) and Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Discretionary Grants, invest in state and local road, rail, transit and port projects to improve their safety and efficacy to achieve national objectives.