Stamford Awarded “Historic” $17 Million Federal Grant to Reconnect Communities Near Mill River
U.S. DOT funding part of environmental justice effort by Biden Administration
STAMFORD — Within the next few years, neighborhoods along the Mill River Greenway will be equipped with more pedestrian access and safety improvements. This will be all thanks to a massive federal appropriation for the city.
On Friday, March 15, Mayor Caroline Simmons announced that Stamford received a whopping $17 million grant from the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) to fund the remaining expenses around the Mill River Greenway project. According to a city announcement, this project will create “a 12-foot wide mixed-use path with enhanced lighting, and a direct connection from the Mill River Greenway to the Stamford Transportation Center.” This will provide the final phase to connect the entire Mill River Greenway area.
Construction work has already begun and completion for the whole connected project is estimated to be done within around 3-4 years.
A DOT press release stated that the funding is part of a broader, national $3.3 billion initiative “aimed at reconnecting communities that were cut off by transportation infrastructure decades ago, leaving entire neighborhoods without direct access to opportunity, like schools, jobs, medical offices, and places of worship.”
With the Biden-Harris Administration bringing much-needed relief to more than 40 states and Washington, D.C., support from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act is making communities whole again. Stamford’s congressional delegation played a big role in bringing the project funding to the city.
“This unprecedented investment will reconnect communities that have long been disconnected and divided by highways,” said Senator Richard Blumenthal in a press release. “With this federal funding, Connecticut communities will transform road and pedestrian safety, and make access to reliable transportation easier for all.”
“Projects like these have impacts far beyond transportation – they create good-paying jobs and revitalize our downtowns,” said Senator Chris Murphy in the press release, “and I’m glad to see the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continue to pay dividends.”
“As an avid biker myself,” said Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04) in a statement, “I understand the importance of dedicated infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists so that every member of our community can easily traverse our cities and enjoy Southwest Connecticut’s vibrant natural spaces and bustling commercial areas.”
The massive federal appropriation for Stamford means that the West Side Neighborhood Connector project will have sufficient funding to move forward with its goal of connecting neighborhoods along Mill River.
Local leaders also expressed their enthusiasm about what the funding means for Stamford as well as its residents, visitors, and other stakeholders.
“The Transportation, Traffic & Parking Department is excited to receive this $17 million Reconnecting Communities federal grant. The West Side has some of the highest crash rates in Stamford and lacks easy and safe access to the train station and other parts of Stamford,” said Stamford Transportation Bureau Chief Frank Petise in the city’s announcement. “Thanks to this grant, our Department will work closely with the community to improve safety and mobility for the West Side.”
“The Mill River Collaborative is thrilled that the DOT Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods grant will significantly advance our shared vision of a greenway along the Mill River to the Long Island Sound,” said Nette Compton, president and CEO of the Mill River Park Collaborative. “This considerable investment will go a long way towards connecting the West Side and Downtown to nature, to transit, and to all that Stamford has to offer. We look forward to working with the City of Stamford in the coming years to build out this investment.”
In a WICC interview on Tuesday, March 19, with “Melissa in the Morning” host Melissa Sheketoff, Simmons elaborated on the exciting announcement and acknowledged the hard work of many individuals who made the grant for Stamford a reality.
“I’ve got to give credit to our team. We had a great application that met all the criteria of the grant. … [A]lso I have to credit our federal delegation. We advocated directly to Congressman Himes, Senator Murphy, Senator Blumenthal, and we worked with our city’s federal lobbyist,” she said. “We went down to Washington, D.C. during the U.S. Conference of Mayors and met directly with DOT officials to advocate for the project. So I think all of those things really helped.”
To learn more about the project, view the city’s announcement here.
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