THE CITY OF BRISTOL TO RECEIVE $6.85M FOR ROUTE 72 CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
BRISTOL, CT – The City of Bristol has been approved to receive a Community Investment Fund 2030(CIF) grant from the State of Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development in the amount of $6,850,000 for the Route 72 Corridor Improvement Project. Today’s grant will fund one element of the City’s Route 72 Corridor Improvement Project, which focuses on pedestrian safety enhancements, traffic calming, and streetscape improvements on Riverside Avenue and Park Street.
“Bristol is very excited as this will allow us to build on the momentum of downtown development. The streetscape project represents a tremendous opportunity to transform an entire corridor. We are very thankful for the great support from the entire CIF Board and DECD, who clearly recognizes that Bristol can leverage this support to link the many projects that are currently underway,” stated Bristol Mayor Jeffrey Caggiano.
The Streetscape project will mirror elements already in place on North Main and Main Streets, and will include the installation of sidewalks, lighting, signage, trees, and curbing along the busy corridor. “This will be a significant improvement to an important gateway into Downtown,” said Dawn Leger,
City Grants Administrator. “With all the development in the center of Bristol, we also need to improve the roadways leading into Downtown so that surrounding areas can benefit from the economic and aesthetic changes taking place in the City.”
The Community Investment Fund was established by the State Legislature in 2021 to support economic development in distressed communities by providing grants for capital projects to municipalities and non-profit entities operating in those cities and towns. The proposals must advance the state’s Economic Action Plan by promoting jobs, fostering vibrant neighborhoods, and addressing climate resilience as well as the specific needs of underserved or marginalized groups.
The City submitted an application for a multifaceted project that will incorporate enhancements to the Route 72 corridor, including Park Street, with proposals for capital improvements submitted by several non-profit organizations on Riverside Avenue. These include the BHA/Vesta Group’s redevelopment of the Sessions Factory into housing, plans for expansion and improvements to American Legion Post #2, improvements at the New England Carousel Museum, and potential upgrades to the Disabled American Veteran’s facility that will continue to seek funds in future rounds. The next round of applications for CIF will be reviewed in May 2023 and Bristol will continue to support the applications of all eligible projects, especially those on the corridor.
