The Fairfield Metro Center project was not included in the latest round of projects funded by stimulus money from the state, according to an article in the Connecticut Post.
The Metro Center project includes plans for a third train station in Fairfield on property in the Black Rock section of town. The plan also involves a 1,500-space parking lot that is designed to alleviate parking problems at the town’s other train stations.
See The Mirror’s article on the Monday, March 23 town meeting on the project.
First Selectman Kenneth Flatto recently requested $28 million in federal stimulus funds to help finance the Fairfield Metro Center project.’ Flatto told the Connecticut Post that despite the denial of stimulus funds, the project is still a priority for the Connecticut Department of Transportation (DOT). The state of Connecticut set aside nearly $163 million in stimulus funds for transportation, but those funds did not include any for the Metro Center in Fairfield.
The projects on the list of potential stimulus recipients had to be ‘shovel-ready,’ or ready to go forward within 180 days, according to Matt Fritz, a representative of Gov. Jodi M. Rell’s office.’ The Fairfield Metro Station project included road work that would cause the state to modify its Environmental Protection Agency Permit.’
The permit modification process could take four to six months, according to the article.’
Fritz said that there is ‘discretionary funding’ available from DOT that could be allotted to the Metro Center project.’
Both Fritz and Flatto agreed that there are other sources of funding still available that could finance the public portion of the Metro Center project, according to the Connecticut Post article.’
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