Council Authorizes Plans to Proceed with Development of Transit Station

The Enfield Town Council gave its support Tuesday night to the economic development commission to proceed but with caution on plans for a transit station in Thompsonville. Despite some objections over potentially wasting money, the majority of the council supported further exploration of the project.

The council heard the report of the commission led by director Raymond Warren. In addition to presenting the results of the 60 day public comment period, the leaders of the transit station project sought council approval for three bullet points in order to progress the plans. They asked for authorization to conduct brownfields testing on parcels owned by Northeast Utilities that would become part of the complex, working with the Congressional delegation to secure funds for gaining access to the Connecticut River in conjunction with the station, and proceeding to final design plans.

The public commentary results were mixed with 24 voicing opposition to the project, 34 supporting the plan, and 3 comments of a general nature not taking a position.

Those opposed to the plan cited economic, safety, and traffic concerns. Several felt the station was not necessary and did not want any more tax dollars spent for the development.

Many of those supporting the plan saw it as a welcome investment for the town, a key to the revitalization of Thompsonville and bringing new jobs to Enfield.

Director of Community Development Peter Bryanton noted that very few of the comments dealt with the specific design of the project, so no modifications were made to the design plans.

“The comments were really, we like the idea or we don't,” he said.

He also stressed that the transportation aspects of the project were not the only goal.

“The revitalization committee have been planning for a long time, bringing transit to the community as well as housing, entertainment to Thompsonville. This is not just about bringing buses and trains.”

Funding for the project will come from a selection of Federal, State, and Local sources. The town has spent $500,000 over several years for the design of the project. Enfield would be one of four new train stations on the rail line from New Haven to Springfield.

Objections from several council members centered on spending of more funds without a clear picture of the possible contamination of the proposed sites, and uncertainty over whether the project could proceed at all depending on these findings.

Mayor Scott Kaupin spoke in favor of the project, stating that it is a long term investment in Enfield, and though all the specifics cannot be known at this stage, he did not want to see years of work stalled.

He also saw the transit station plan as part of the larger revitalization of Thompsonville and believed that to abandon plans would not serve the efforts to aid the troubled community.

“We can do nothing, we can continue to have a section of town which used to be the hub of Enfield, and we all know there are challenges there, there are problems there, but they are not going to go away if it continues to be an area that is not revitalized. We have to make change down there if it is to become the vision of a productive economic engine for Enfield,” Kaupin said.

He cited the hub around the Windsor train station and believed Thompsonville could achieve that kind of success.

Once the council agreed on the three consensus points for moving the process forward, the commission was charged to provide monthly status updates on the progress of the project.