What Happened?
Several cities are leveraging state and federal grants to launch new construction and redevelopment projects around rail transit hubs to support economic growth and sustainability.
Elizabeth
About $55 million in state and federal funding is being allocated toward new construction around the transit station in Elizabeth, New Jersey. The project calls for a new two-story building and train platforms to enhance the accessibility and efficiency of the station. The overall goal of the new developments is to:
- Accelerate economic activity
- Increase housing values
- Spur business growth
- Create new jobs
- Expand accessibility to opportunities
The new train station will have room for commercial vendors to set up shop, as well as increased space to accommodate increased ridership. The city anticipates more people will move to Elizabeth now that public transit options make it easy to travel to and from work in other locations, NJ.com reported.
Furthermore, the train station is conveniently located close to the city’s midtown business district, commercial and retail spaces. The upgraded station will increase foot traffic to this neighborhood of the city and strengthen economic activity, NJ.com reported.
Stratford
The Connecticut Office of Policy and Management recently awarded a $200,000 grant to Stratford to support development projects along the nearby train station. The transit-oriented development planning grant will help fuel Stratford’s Complete Streets Improvement Plan designed to create more transportation choices for residents within a half-mile radius of the train station, Stratford Star reported.
When a developer offers plans for a project in the area, the city will provide grant money to spur its advancement. The money can be used for a variety of add-on such as streetscaping, new lighting or adding an island, Stratford Star reported.
Stratford’s transit-oriented development projects are focused on providing compact, mixed-use infrastructure and amenities within walking distance of various public transportation options. The city aims to attract consumers and businesses to surrounding area around the train station to spur economic growth. To accommodate this growth, the city also has plans for mixed-use housing developments with apartments above restaurants and commercial space, Stratford Star reported.
Winter Park
The state of Florida has set aside $10 million in its budget to pay for the development of quiet zones statewide. One recipient of these grants, Winter Park, received $1.1 million from the state to create quiet zones around its railroad tracks to increase property values and quality of life for residents. Residents living near the railroad tracks continually submit noise complaints to the city. With the help of the grant, and additional $700,000 of city funds, Winter Park will be able to reduce the noise pollution along the SunRail line, Orlando Sentinel reported.
Along rail lines, nearby businesses and houses are subjected to train whistles and alerts that can be disruptive throughout the day. Through the implementation of several safety measures, Winter Park aims to reduce the need for locomotive engineers to blast horns to alert motorists at railroad crossings when a train approaches. Upgrades to railroad crossings that make them more visible will enable trains to pass through the town with less noise than before, Orlando Sentinel reported.
Related Stories
DOT Awards $1B for Boston Rail Extension First Wireless Light Rail Tested How Transit Agencies Will Cope With Emergencies