State-of-the-art terminal to feature 10,000 sf terminal building with the capacity to accommodate 17 buses simultaneously
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - April 24, 2006 - Mayor John M. Fabrizi joined with federal and State officials today to celebrate the official groundbreaking for the City of Bridgeport ' s new $23 million state-of-the-art bus terminal. Seventeen bus bays will be built as well as a 10,000 square foot terminal for passengers, which will physically link to the railroad platforms. The new bus terminal is scheduled to open in early 2007 and is an integral component of Bridgeport ' s Intermodal Transportation Center (ITC). It will replace the antiquated and inefficient bus terminal at 35 John Street.
" Everyone knows that commuting in Southern Connecticut is a nightmare and getting worse daily, " explained Fabrizi. " Bridgeport ' s new bus terminal and Intermodal Transportation Center position our city to play a major role in the congestion mitigation solution to Connecticut ' s overcrowded highways. Likewise, while improving our transportation infrastructure is costly, it is critical that the new development my administration is attracting to Bridgeport be designed in a way that allows residents and developers to take advantage of the bus, rail, water, and highway connections that this city has to offer. There is no question this investment will improve the economic vitality of not only Bridgeport but also lower Fairfield County. "
The Bridgeport Intermodal Transportation Center (ITC)
project is designed to integrate, physically and functionally, a variety of
existing and proposed modes of transportation in the heart of Bridgeport ' s
central business district. The combination of intra- and inter-city bus,
commuter rail, ferry, taxi, limousine, airport shuttle, automobile, and
pedestrian transportation modes in a single facility is expected to be a
significant transportation and economic development magnet to Bridgeport ' s
downtown and waterfront areas.The Federal Transit Administration ' s Deputy Administrator Sandy Bushue joined the mayor for today ' s celebration. " In scores of American communities and cities today, we have seen that reliable, cost-effective transit service can catalyze growth, " Bushue said. " When we invest in transit, we are investing in the Bridgeport economy and its revitalization. This is an exemplary project, because Bridgeport and Connecticut are thinking ambitiously and proactively about transit ' s role in the
local economy. "
The ITC will incorporate the functions of the local bus service, the Greater Bridgeport Transit Authority (GBTA); intercity bus services, such as Peter Pan & Greyhound; Metro North and Amtrak commuter rail services; ferry service to Long Island, NY; as well as shuttle services to metropolitan airports, such as Connecticut Limo. The goal of the project is to bring these services into one easily accessible facility with expanded passenger amenities and improved connectivity.
In addition to the ITC itself, integral components of the project include the 900-car Transit Garage at Harbor Yard, which was completed in 2001, a proposed Main Street connection between the rail platform and the central business district of the city, plus covered pedestrian walkways connecting the various facilities. The Transit Garage is now filled to capacity and, with assistance from the Federal Transit Administration and the Connecticut Department of Transportation, soon will be expanded to accommodate an additional 500 spaces.
Bridgeport initiated the ITC project in 1999 and has been working with its state and federal delegations, the governor, and State officials to secure the necessary funding. Federal funding for the ITC provides for eighty percent of the overall cost while the State provides a twenty percent match.
" This is a great day for commuters, the city of Bridgeport, and the State of Connecticut, " offered Senator Christopher Dodd. " It has taken a lot of hard work and determination, but today ' s groundbreaking marks a landmark step in the right direction. This facility will ultimately help improve transportation options for workers in the region and help give them greater flexibility and options when it comes to their daily commute. It also will spur economic renewal and job growth, which are so critically important to Bridgeport and our state. I am proud to have played a role in securing the federal resources that have helped make this day a reality. "
" This bus facility is a critical part of Mayor Fabrizi ' s plan to revitalize downtown Bridgeport, " stated Senator Joseph Lieberman. " When complete, the bus facility will be an engine of growth for attracting businesses and creating jobs throughout the metropolitan area. The mayor should be commended for his leadership and I am proud to have been able to help by securing federal funding for this and other vital projects in Bridgeport. "
Congressman Christopher Shays also joined the mayor for the occasion. Shays, a Bridgeport resident, explained, " A major factor of Bridgeport ' s future success is riding, literally and figuratively, on the strength of our transportation system. Today is a huge day for our city, celebrating breaking ground on the bus terminal -- a key component of the Intermodal Center, which combines rail, water, and bus transportation at one site. It ' s innovation like this that will continue to draw people to the Park City to see all that it has to offer. This project is a team effort with our governor, senators, mayor, department of transportation, and so many others committed to Bridgeport ' s development; it ' s truly a testament to the power of all levels of government working together on a bipartisan basis. "
" The bus terminal is a key component of the overall Intermodal Center, " Commissioner Steven E. Korta, II said. " The terminal ' s proximity to the train station, the ferry landing, and downtown will offer an important linkage to the community. The terminal also gives the customers of the GBTA bus service a much more inviting, pleasant, and convenient gateway to the transit system. "
" The Bridgeport Intermodal Transportation Center is going to be a driver for economic and community growth in the City of Bridgeport as well as the region, " Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) Commissioner James Abromaitis stated. " Once completed, the Center will serve as a one-stop access point with unlimited destination possibilities. I ' m very pleased that our agency is a partner on this project and look forward to seeing the Center operational. "
The new bus terminal will house offices for the Greater Bridgeport Transit Authority (GBTA), which has been operating the region ' s transit system since 1979. GBTA Chairman Vincent Biondi said, " Public transit is an important and growing part of the lives of the people in our community. The construction of the new terminal allows us to do so much more than we are able to do today for those who use public transit in their everyday lives. We ' re very excited about the possibilities it opens up for the community - both in relation to other developments taking place and also in terms of the level and quality of service we ' ll be able to provide. "