Malloy Announces $3 Million To City For Traffic Signals

Governor Dan Malloy on Tuesday announced that Bridgeport will receive $3 million to upgrade traffic signals along Park Avenue at the intersections of Vine Street/Wood Avenue, Laurel Avenue, Washington Avenue, Prospect Street, South Avenue, South Frontage Road and Railroad Avenue (Railroad Avenue eastbound and westbound).

News release from Malloy:

Governor Dannel P. Malloy today announced that ten Connecticut municipalities and three transit districts will share a $20 million federal grant for transportation projects designed to improve the flow of traffic, improve air quality, and reduce energy use.

“These grants combine two of the most critical issues of our time: transportation and the environment. Growing and modernizing our transportation system in a way that’s beneficial to air quality is absolutely critical,” Governor Malloy said. “We must keep working to provide a best-in-class transportation system–the future of our state hinges on it.”

The grant was awarded under the Federal Highway Administration’s Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program, which funds projects that improve air quality and reduce traffic congestion. To qualify, municipalities must demonstrate that their projects will result in reduced vehicle exhaust emissions and, at the same time, be cost effective.

The transit projects will assist in retaining current transit users and attract new ones by providing additional bus routes in heavily traveled corridors along with improved real-time passenger information signage at major hub locations. This will result in less personal automotive use.

“This federal funding is a win-win for Connecticut’s transportation infrastructure–modernizing our transportation systems and cutting exhaust emissions to improve air quality,” Senator Richard Blumenthal said. “Local leaders know best how to solve town traffic problems and reduce energy use. We need more federal investment in these areas, and that’s why I fought hard for passage of the FAST Act in Congress, which increases investments in our roads and rails, creating jobs and making it easier for Connecticut commuters to get to work safely and reliably.”

“I’ve heard from people all across Connecticut, and they’re fed up with traffic,” Senator Chris Murphy said. “But I know that when we make smarter use of clean energy technologies and resources already at our disposal, we can improve quality of life and the flow of commerce throughout our state. By reducing traffic and improving air quality, this $20 million investment will make overdue improvements to our roads and public transit systems that will grow Connecticut’s economy and make our state a more vibrant place to live and work.”