House Republican Press Release

March 7, 2007

Press Office: 860-240-8700

Rep. D’Amelio: DOT Inspection Shows Need for Improvements at Waterbury Rail Station

Report: Demolish Parking Structure between Station and Meadow Street; Reconfigure Parking Lot Entrance

An abandoned and decrepit parking structure located between Meadow Street and the Waterbury Rail Station should be demolished and the entrance to the parking lot should be reconfigured to ameliorate a traffic hazard stemming from its proximity to an exit from a nearby bank, according to a recent state Department of Transportation inspection report, state Representative Anthony J. D’Amelio said today.

The report also recommends that a vacant office building near the parking structure be either demolished or leased. Both structures are owned by the Department of Transportation (DOT), said Representative D’Amelio, R-71^st District.

“While the probable demolition of the parking structure and office building between Meadow Street and the rail station and the reconfiguration of the entrance to the parking lot at the station appear to be the most dramatic recommendations made in the report, it is unlikely those projects will be completed in the near future,” Representative D’Amelio said. “Under Governor Rell’s 2007 – 2009 budget, $5 million would be spent to address ‘immediate maintenance and amenity issues’ identified in inspection reports for 36 train stations in Connecticut, one of which is the Waterbury Rail Station.”

“While the ‘amenity and maintenance issues’ are not big ticket items, they will clearly make the Waterbury Rail Station more attractive and commuter-friendly for the hundreds of people who use the facility,” Representative D’Amelio said. “As a member of the Transportation Committee, I will be doing whatever I can to get the work started as soon as possible. Some of the amenity and maintenance improvements at the station that I believe should be done immediately include the replacement of the existing flat aluminum benches with black contoured benches, which will be more comfortable for commuters waiting for their trains to arrive, and adding post mounted lights along the Meadow Street entrance and along walkways behind the platform, which will enhance safety.”

Other amenity and maintenance improvements recommended in the report include:

• Installing a station entrance sign at the pedestrian entrance on Meadow Street.
• Adding several black trash cans to the platforms and removing one of the recycling bins.
• Adding a bicycle rack behind the platform.
• Repainting the kiosk and canopy with brighter, more attractive colors.
• Adding a station clock, possibly in the kiosk.
• Installing variable message signs.
• Painting (or replacing) the metal platform, stair and ramp guide railing black.
• Moving the blue recycling bins blocking the station name signs on the platform.

The complete inspection report for the Waterbury Rail Station and for other rail stations around Connecticut can be viewed on the DOT website at http://www.ct.gov/dot/station_report