Please donate to the Historic Train Station Restoration Project!

Train Station Rally

The Town of Windsor Locks is actively seeking donations for the restoration of the historic train station.  To donate on-line visit www.wltrain.org

Main Street Update

We have great progress on many fronts in the enhancement of Windsor Locks Main Street. Last week the Town received the commitment of the Commissioner of the Department of Transportation, James Redeker, to invest departmental resources on furthering plans for the relocation of the train platform back to the downtown area. First Selectman Steve Wawruck along with Chris Ferrero of Fuss & O'Neill and Patrick McMahon, Economic Development Consultant, met with Governor Dannel Malloy's Chief of Staff, Mark Ojakian, and Commissioner Redeker at the State Capitol. At issue was the timing of the relocation. Service on he New Haven, Hartford, Springfield Commuter Rail Line is slated to begin in 2016. However, the State only has funds to double track south of Hartford. State and federal funds have not been identified to complete the double tracking north of Hartford to the state line. It may be several years beyond the 2016 service start date before that stretch of the line is double tracked. The Town does not want to have to wait until the double tracking for a decision on relocating the train platform The goal of the meeting was to get a commitment to have the platform moved for the 2016 start date. Commissioner Redeker stated that his department would continue to develop plans for the new platform site, a planned rotary on the East Windsor side of the Route 140 bridge, and complete environmental reviews that would be required for approval by the Federal Rail Administration. This marks a watershed moment for the community.

The First Selectman is participating in a Cooridor Advisory Committee made up of elected and appointed officials from the various communities along the New Haven, Hartford, Springfield Commuter Rail line and the CT Fastrak bus line from Hartford to New Britain. This is an opportunity for local officials to learn about efforts underway in other communities and share information.

The President of Amtrak has signed off on internal reviews by his staff paving the way for the sale of the historic train station to the Town for $1. The project has now been refered to Amtrak's real estate division for the preparation of a sales agreement. Amtrak indicted that the Town should have the draft next week. The arrchitectural firm hired to design the restoration, Crosskey Architects, received the temporary permit to enter the building to evaluate its condition and begin the design work. Residents are welcome to get involved in the fundraising efforts for the restoration. Meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 7 p.m. at Town Hall.

Two grant applications are still pending. One application was to the Enviornmental Protection Agency for $400,000 for brownfield assessment funds. Another application for funds for the Church Street intersection is still pending with the Office of Policy and Management.

A meeting was held this week with the only bidder on the Montgomery complex to discuss how the Town and developer could work together to improve this important property for the community. It is hoped that control of the property will transfer in the next 30 to 60 days. Once the property transfers then the new owner will do a full blown assessment of the condition of the building and property and determine potential uses. The Town is eager to see this property returned to productve use.

The Transit Oriented Development Planning Study is moving along well. There are exciting plans regarding roadway circulation in the downtown area. Fuss & O'Neill is also developing a form-based code for zoning purposes that will pave the way for well-designed mixed-use development. A public forum will be scheduled for June to present the latest plans and findings to residents.

Town Receives Letter of Intent from Amtrak on Sale of Historic Station

The Town of Windsor Locks has received a Letter of Intent from Amtrak to sell the historic trian station and its footprint to the Town. This is an important step so that the Town and State of Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) feel comfortable spending Small Town Economic Assistance Program grant funds on the design of the restoration of the historic station. The Town will be consulting with the grants administrator for DEEP to get authorization to proceed with the design work. Crosskey Architects of Hartford has been selected to design the restoration.

Amtrak intends to arrange for a real estate appraisal of the station. Once the appraisal is in hand then Amtrak and the Town can negotiate the price for the acquisition. The Town has communicated to Amtrak that it would like to purchase the building for $1 so that any funds that are raised going to the actually restoration. Amtrak has commenced its standard, internal engineering and operational clearance process and its management review process. Amtrak also intends to consult with the State of Connecticut in regards to the station's role in the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield commuter rail line project. Once the above steps have been completed the Town and Amtrak would enter into a Agreement of Sale setting forth the terms and conditions for the sale and purchase of the Station.

An Historic Train Station planning committee meets regularly on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at 7 p.m. to further the restoration effort. The next meeting will take place at Windsor Locks Town Hall on August 14th. A specially-designated account has been set up by the Town to recieve donations. Checks can be written to the Town of Windsor Locks with Historic Train Station Restoration Fund written in the memo section.

Closely tied to the historic station is the Town's efforts to get the train platform relocated back into the downtown area. Now that the Environmental Asssessment public hearing process has concluded for the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield, the Town will be communicating with the Connecticut Department of Transporation about the next steps in the decision-making process relative to moving the station. ConnDOT received favorable public support for the relocation effort during the public hearing process.

The Town has also executed a grant agreement with ConnDOT for a $250,000 Transit Oriented Development Planning Grant. The purpose of the grant is to investigate mixed-use development in the vicinity of the historic train station where the Town would like to see the train platform located. Fuss & O'Neill has been hired by the Town to conduct this planning study. The scope of the work includes the street network in the project area, developing a station-area plan, developing zoning regulations that would encourage mixed-use development in the area, investigating potential redevelop parcels, and a market analysis showing that mixed-used development would be profitable to developers.

The Town is also continuing its efforts to secure back taxes on the Montgomery complex. The Town had pursued a tax-foreclosure auction last September but the property owner declared bankruptcy. Recently the bankruptcy court granted a relief of stay on the foreclosure sale and we are awaiting communication from the court about when we can begin to move forward with the foreclosure. In the meantime, a commercial realtor is working with the owner on trying to secure a purchaser for the property.

First Selectman Steve Wawruck stated, "These are exciting times for the Windsor Locks community. Our planning efforts over the last several years are beginning to have results as we are receiving more developer interest in Main Street area." The Town has been working diligently in securing funds for road reconstruction projects in the Main Street area. The Town has secured funds for sidewalk replacement along Main Street. The Town is also working with local residents in the establishment of a Farmers Market at Dexter Plaza. We are asking local residents to get involved to help in the historic train station restoration project and other enhancements in the Main Street area.

Historic Train Station Project Back on Track

The Town of Windsor Locks is working with Amtrak on the acquisition of the historic train station and its eventual restoration. This project will be catalytic to the enhancement of Main Street and complement the assets already existing in downtown including the WL Canal State Park Trail, the CT River, Ahlstrom, Memorial Hall, Town Hall and numerous shops and restaurants. Let's seize the day and make something happen.

The Town's Namesake

The Windsor Locks Canal is a very unique feature of the community with an amazing history. A major initiative for Main Street revitalization is to once again open up viewsheds of this historic canal and possibly find access to its southern end. A 4.5 mile bike/walking trail exists from just north of the 140 Bridge leading to just short of the 190 Bridge in Suffield. Check out these links:

American Canal Society listing

Department of Environmental Protection - Windsor Locks Canal State Park Trail

The Irish Connection

Order local author Maria Giannuzzi's photo history book of the canal

Ahlstrom Figures Prominently in Windsor Locks Main Street

The Ahlstrom Corportation has a major presence in downtown Windsor Locks. Ahlstom which succeeded the Dexter Corporation in operating a manufacturing facility on the banks of the Connecticut River and along the Windsor Locks Canal has made substantial investments in their plant in the last several years and is one of Windsor Locks' major employers. Several of the recommendations in the Windsor Locks Main Street Master Planning Study and subsequent planning efforts include items relevant to Ahlstrom. For instance, it is recommended that some additional study be done regarding extending the Windsor Locks Canal State Park Trail through the Ahlstrom complex. A vegetation management plan is currently being developed by Ferrero-Hixon and Associates to try and open up more views of the Connecticut River, Ahlstrom and the Windsor Locks Canal. It has also been suggested to utilize the utility bridge to install a Windsor Locks sign. Meetings have been held with Ahlstrom officials who are eager to engage in the community. Several Ahlstrom employees have participated in Main Street clean-up efforts.