04-24-06
Contact: Paul Griffo
Telephone: (202) 366-4043
Construction starts today for the bus terminal that will serve as a major component of the city’s new transportation hub, a project that is being paid for in large part by the federal government.
The Federal Transit Administration’s Deputy Administrator Sandy Bushue was among the federal, state, and local officials on hand to celebrate the groundbreaking of the bus terminal, which will receive a total of $18.4 million in federal funding for the project, with a total cost of $23 million. She was joined by U.S. Congressman Christopher Shays and Bridgeport Mayor John Fabrizi.
“Across America, reliable, cost effective transit service is a catalyst for growth,” Bushue said. “This project is an investment in the revitalization of Bridgeport and its economy.”
When the terminal is complete, it will replace an obsolete and cramped building with a state-of-the-art, rider-friendly facility, equipped with advanced communications technology that will continuously update passengers on train and bus arrivals, Bushue added.
The terminal will serve as the central operating hub of the local bus operator, the Greater Bridgeport Transit Authority (GBTA). The new bus terminal will be part of the Bridgeport Intermodal Transportation Center that has been in development and construction. Intercity bus carriers will also use the new bus terminal, and the terminal will provide an efficient and seamless connection to the Metro North/Amtrak rail station via a new pedestrian walkway.
When completed, various modes of transportation will be integrated into one facility, increasing transportation options and making transfers easier for passengers.
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