2011 has been a productive year on important initiatives in Windsor Locks.  The Town has been working closely with the Department of Transportation and Amtrak on moving the train platform back into the downtown area.  A great deal of progress has been made including a very well-attended public information session in the fall.  The Town was then awarded a $250,000 Transit Oriented Development Planning Grant to study the area around where we are proposing to move the train platform (just north of the historic station).   We have some additional exciting news.   We met with senior official from Amtrak's Government Affairs division and we have restarted discussions about the historic train station.  Here is a copy of a letter we received earlier this month:

First Selectman, Steve Wawruck, and I traveled to an Amtrak-sponsored conference in Burlington, VT earlier this month about restoring historic train stations.  We had very productive conversations with several Amtrak officials at the conference.  We expect some significant progress on moving this historic preservation project forward in the New Year.  The Town has established a designated account for donations toward this important cause.  Monies donated would only be able to be utilized for the historic train station project and no other purpose.   The account would be audited just like any other Town accounts.  Please consider sending a check to the Historic Train Station Restoration Project c/o Town Hall, 50 Church Street, Windsor Locks, CT 06096.   Also important to note, the $225,000 that the Town secured through a STEAP grant for planning efforts related to the historic train station is still available for our use.  We expect to get an RFP for architectural services out early in the New Year.   We will need a great deal of participation by our residents to make the historic train station project, as well as a relocated train stop a reality for the community.  Please get involved.    

 

There is also progress related to Bradley International Airport.   The Connecticut Airport Authority has been established to work to increase the economic development potential of the airport.  Also in October, the new Bradley Airport Development Zone became effective which provides tax incentives to certain businesses that locate in Windsor Locks, as well as our neighboring Bradley Development League communities.  Finally, there is great progress toward a new Route 75/Route 2o interchange that will help with an exciting new mixed-use development proposed called Governors Station to the south of the Ramada Inn.  

We wish all our residents and businesses that call Windsor Locks home, as well as all our development partners a very Merry Christmas and healthy and properous New Year.