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Train riders to have a waiting room

BY ANDREW LARSON

REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN

WATERBURY — For the first time since Union Station served as the city’s train terminal, riders will have an indoor area to wait at the Waterbury Train Station.

Starting in 2018, Union Station, now home to the Republican- American, will reprise its role as a waiting area for train passengers, though on a smaller scale than when it handled 66 trains per day.

Plans to transform the south wing of the historic building into a waiting area for passengers with restrooms are nearing completion. The city expects to go out to bid for the work in the fall.

Work will take place over the winter and should be completed by spring 2018, according to the state Department of Transportation.

The waiting area will have 25 fixed seats for train riders. Also, there will be three See TRAIN , Page 6A

The south end of the Republican-American building is shown in Waterbury on Friday. The area is scheduled to undergo a renovation. The project is set to go out to bid this year with completion scheduled for spring 2018.

CHRISTOPHER MASSA REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN

offices, two for the city’s Parking Authority and one for Metro-North Railroad, which runs the Waterbury branch under contract with the DOT.

The waiting area spans 583 square feet and is in a section of the building the DOT leases from American Republican Incorporated at no cost. Based on the newspaper’s deed to acquire the train station from the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Co. in 1952, the south wing of the building was reserved for transportation use in perpetuity.

The city will be reimbursed for construction costs with federal and state funds administered by the DOT. The project entails other improvements including landscaping, facade renovations and repaving of the parking lot. The total cost will be between $1 million and $2 million, according to the DOT.

The DOT has not yet reached an agreement with the city regarding a rental fee for using the facility. American Republican pays the DOT $660 rent per month to use a section of the reserved area, which won’t be affected by the renovations. That agreement expires in 2018 but can be renewed for another 15 years.

The Waterbury branch provides daily service between Waterbury and Bridgeport, with continuing service to New York City. It’s undergoing a $70 million signalization project, which will allow trains to use passing sidings and enable Metro-North to offer more frequent service.

Waterbury Development Corp. CEO Todd Montello said the new indoor facility, along with other investments on the rail line, will encourage transit-oriented development.

“It’s anticipated that these improvements will increase ridership,” Montello said. “The increased ridership will likely patronize surrounding businesses and hopefully attract new businesses to the area.”

Jim Gildea, chairman of the Connecticut Rail Commuter Council, called the renovations a step forward for the branch and hopes the DOT will build indoor waiting areas at other stations, including in his hometown of Derby.

“I’d encourage the state to look to other stations that offer similar opportunities,” Gildea said. “The Derby station is a classic station that has been historically underutilized and could be a great asset for the branch.”

Waterbury’s Union Station was built in 1909 and was designed by renowned architectural firm McKim, Mead & White. It sports the largest clock tower in New England at 240 feet in height. American Republican spent $800,000 on repairs and restoration of the tower last year.

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