It's All About the Trains

The game changed for the better in Naugatuck in July of this year. For the first time in history, the Waterbury Branch Line has 22 trains per day running in both directions from Waterbury to Bridgeport and Bridgeport to Waterbury. The State of Connecticut completed its long anticipated program of building train sidings (allowing two way train traffic) as well as modern signalization and positive train control. The increase in train cars means that the Waterbury Branch Line has become a reliable commuter train line for the first time in history. Commuters can now leave Naugatuck in the morning and know that they will have a reliable return trip with several time options later in the day. The increase in train services significantly improves the demographics in Naugatuck and is the catalyst for positive long term growth. 

Naugatuck has been waiting to launch its downtown development plans in order for them to coincide with the increase in train service. The State of Connecticut is relocating the existing train platform from its current location to Parcel B (the vacant parking lot on Old Firehouse Road). The State is also building a new train station on Parcel B and they are extending Water Street into Parcel B. These improvements are currently in the design stage and construction will commence in late 2023 or 2024.

The Borough issued a Request for Proposals to solicit developers to build a mixed use development on Parcel B adjacent to the train platform. The development will have a large residential component in order to attract more people to live in the downtown area to create vibrancy and a more livable and walkable downtown area. The units will have low space requirements and will consist solely of one and two bedroom units which will attract millennials, seniors and others who want to live in a vibrant downtown setting with direct access to public transportation. This form of development is labeled T.O.D. or Transit Oriented Development.

TOD works well throughout the United States where there is reliable public transportation in downtown settings. The recent increase in train availability has already paid dividends as there is increased interest in downtown Naugatuck on the residential as well as the commercial side. We have already attracted two highly rated development companies to develop Parcels A and B in downtown Naugatuck and there is increased interest in many other Naugatuck properties. At the end of the day it’s really all about the trains. 

More to follow.