Federal stimulus grants approved this week by Governor Rell’s Connecticut Recovery Working Group will enhance public transportation in Shelton and elsewhere in the region and encourage wider use of Greater Bridgeport Transit buses and Metro North commuter trains, state Representative Jason Perillo, and state Senator Dan Debicella said Wednesday, March 25th.Funding to purchase and install repowered engines on 40 buses for Greater Bridgeport Transit and make improvements to the Derby/Shelton train station depot are among the projects recently approved by the Governor’s Recovery Working Group.
Specifically, the working group approved spending $2.8 million in federal stimulus funds for the Greater Bridgeport Transit bus engine repowering project, and $75,320 to make improvements to the Derby/Shelton train station depot. Governor Rell established a working group made up of state and local officials and legislators to identify projects that qualify for federal stimulus funds.
“I am most excited about the emissions improvements that are a major feature of the repowered engines to be installed in the buses operating in downtown Shelton and along the Bridgeport Avenue corridor. The refurbished buses will improve the quality of the air we breathe and be especially beneficial to people with respiratory problems,” said Representative Perillo, R-113th District. “This project, as well as the upgrades to the Derby / Shelton Railroad Station, will encourage wider use of public transportation and stimulate economic development in Shelton and elsewhere in Greater Bridgeport.”
“Investing in projects that encourage commuters to make better use of mass transportation benefit our environment, relieve highway traffic congestion, and help our economy. Governor Rell’s support for these particular projects is good news for our part of the state, especially Shelton,” said Senator Debicella, R-21st District.
The two legislators also noted that Governor Rell recently announced that her working group approved spending federal stimulus funds to install a new traffic signal on Route 108 at Church Street in Shelton.
