Politics & Government

Zeoli, Davis, Klarides and Slossberg Advocate for Train Station Construction

Testify before legislative committee in support of bill to move Orange station forward

Orange lawmakers joined forces in Hartford today to advocate for legislation to put construction of a Metro-North rail station in town back on track.

State Senator Gayle Slossberg (D-Milford), Representatives Paul Davis (D-Orange) and Themis Klarides (R-Derby) and Orange First Selectman James Zeoli offered testimony to the General Assembly’s Transportation Committee in a public hearing at the Legislative Office Building in support of a bill that would authorize the state Department of Transportation to enter into a partnership with a local developer and property owner to expedite construction of the Orange Train Station.

Construction of the rail station would be planned on a 50-acre parcel currently owned by Dichello Distributers, Inc. of Orange. The company has set forth a plan to finance, design and construct the project in partnership with the town and state.

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“Bringing a train station to Orange is a long-overdue action to help our local businesses grow and thrive,” Slossberg said. “Dichello has been a willing partner, and its time for the state to step up and take advantage of this great opportunity to join with the private sector to move our economy forward.”

“Our legislative delegation has been working with local officials and Dichello Distributers for years in supporting the concept of a public private partnership for development of the Orange rail station,” Davis said. “In the current economic climate, such a relationship would get the station built in an expedited manner without having to increase our bond indebtedness. I believe this approach is the most common-sense plan for moving this project forward at the lowest cost to the taxpayer. It is truly a community investment for a better future.”

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“I join with my colleagues Representative Davis and Senator Slossberg in fully supporting creation of a new Metro North train station in Orange,” Representative Klarides said. “Developing a transportation system designed to meet the needs of the business community should be a top priority. This station would benefit travelers, tourists and commuters coming in and out of Orange.”

“The town and state are both fortunate to have a developer still willing and wanting to move forward with this project in the current economic times,” said First Selectman Zeoli. “The shortage of parking in both Milford and New Haven has been acknowledged on numerous documents and in many statements the entire time this proposal has been under consideration. This rail stop has the availability of nine acres of property that will support flat parking of 500 cars to start and the ability of a stacked parking area that will allow parking for an additional 1,000 cars.”

The legislation—House Bill 6215, An Act Concerning Construction of the Orange Train Station—now awaits action in the Transportation Committee.

The 2011 regular legislative session adjourns on June 8.


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