11/03/17 - The Town of Trumbull has been notified they will receive a $2,050,000 grant from the Local Transportation Capital Improvement Program (LOTCIP) to construct a trailhead and trail connector on Church Hill Road leading to the Pequonnock River Trail. The application was reviewed and approved by the MetroCOG Board and subsequently submitted to the State of Connecticut Department of Transportation for additional review and acceptance into the program.
The project is in keeping with the 2014 Plan of Conservation and Development, which calls for connecting the Pequonnock Trail to Trumbull’s commercial centers to the degree possible. “In addition to supporting our businesses and providing additional connectivity in our community, the project will enhance public safety by creating mid-point access to the trail and it will also help alleviate the parking problems in the Tait Road and Whitney Avenue neighborhoods”, stated Timothy M. Herbst, First Selectman.
Over 6,000 people a week use the trail during peak season. “The Pequonnock River Trail is an asset for Trumbull and the region. It is a recreational asset and more and more it is a transit way. Millennials want connectivity and they want to access services on foot and by bicycle. This connection will enhance Trumbull and the region and provide economic benefit to area businesses. It is an excellent project “, stated Matt Fulda, executive director for MetroCOG.
“We will be working through project details in the coming weeks with MetroCOG and CTDOT. Trumbull will support the design as its contribution to the project. The construction costs are covered by the grant. The project can stand-alone or be incorporated with the community center if that project is approved in the future. If the community center ultimately goes forward, this grant will reduce the cost of that project by $1,000,000 in hardscape costs,” stated Rina Bakalar, economic and community development director. Ms. Bakalar also referred to a recent study by the Naugatuck River Greenway that showed trail users spend an average of $14 per visit when using trails. If you look at 6,000 visitors weekly at $14 dollars per visitor during peak times, that is $84,000 of potential investment in our local economy during those weeks. I look forward to meeting with residents and businesses on the details of the project and the benefits to Trumbull”, she stated.