WINDSOR LOCKS —
Town officials have scheduled a public hearing Tuesday Sept. 20, a significant event in the effort to relocate the train stop from its current remote location near the Interstate 91 interchange back to downtown Main Street adjacent to historic train station. What makes the hearing — which will take place at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium — so important is that state Department of Transportation officials will be there to gauge residents’ support for the move, along with presenting plans for the train stop relocation. “They want to hear from the public that relocating the train station is going to be acceptable,” town economic development consultant Patrick McMahon said. “It’s crucial because DOT requested the public informational session.” The train station relocation is part of a plan to offer high-speed commuter train service from New Haven to Springfield, projected for 2016. State and federal funds would pay for train line. Local voters in August approved the town’s application for a $250,000 state grant to create plans for a retail, office, and-housing development that would be located around the proposed downtown train stop. “It sends a signal that the town is serious about relocating the station and having economic growth in the vicinity of a relocated train stop,” McMahon said after the vote. Riders could get to Bradley International Airport by bus from the train station. The DOT favors a downtown location as opposed to the current site for cost and engineering reasons, along with revitalizing the downtown. Keeping the train stop where it is provides no future economic benefit to the town nor does it help the state’s future rail line as much as a downtown site, McMahon said. Expanding parking at the current location is problematic because of its proximity to the Connecticut River
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