Lieberman, Blumenthal, Murphy, O’Brien Announce Grant to Revitalize Downtown New Britain

New Britain—Today, Senator Joe Lieberman, Senator Richard Blumenthal, Congressman Chris Murphy and New Britain Mayor Tim O’Brien announced a $1.6 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to help fund a revitalization project in downtown New Britain. 

The funding, from the FTA’s Bus Livability program, will allow the city to implement “complete streets” improvements to the road network surrounding CTFastTrak’s (New Britain-Hartford Bus Rapid Transit) new Downtown Station, with an emphasis on enhancing safety and ease of movement.   The city also hopes to make major improvements to its own local bus hub known as “Central Station”, as well as pedestrian and bicycle improvements to the overpass crossing Route 72 that will link both sides of downtown to the proposed Downtown Station.

“This grant will make the streets in downtown New Britain and around the future CTFastTrak station safer for pedestrians and is yet another example of the federal government’s support of Connecticut’s push for smarter transit and safer streets.” Lieberman said.  “This investment will bring businesses and commuters downtown and strengthen New Britain’s local economy.”

“An investment in our roads, bridges and highways is an investment in jobs at a critical moment in our economic recovery,” Blumenthal said. “I am pleased to see strong federal support for Connecticut’s long-term transportation priorities through this grant and others.”

“This is great news for the city,” Murphy said.  “This funding is a major step toward making downtown New Britain an even better place to work, live, and do business.  It will help create much-needed, construction-related jobs in the near term and promises to make downtown New Britain a center of economic growth over the long haul.”

"This grant will help with our efforts to revitalize downtown New Britain. The improvements that we will undertake with this funding will make the downtown area safer, more attractive, and more pedestrian-friendly," said Mayor O'Brien.  "I would like to commend Congressman Murphy and our two senators for helping us achieve this federal grant."

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