Waterbury Mayor Neil M. O’Leary says the city is moving quickly to authorize $5 million in local matching funds required under a recently approved $23.1 federal infrastructure grant. The $28.1 million in federal and local funding will be used to continue construction of the Naugatuck River Greenway Trail, create a riverfront park on Jackson Street, make improvements to West Main Street and build charging stations for electric vehicles at the city train station. The Capitol Region Council of Governments was awarded a $16.3 million grant to help close the last gap in the 84-mile Farmington Canal Heritage Trail from New Haven to Northampton, Mass. This $30 million project also will connect the multiuse trail to the CTfastrak trail in New Britain. Waterbury will use some of its $23.1 million federal grant to construct the next 2.3 miles of the Naugatuck River Greenway Trail. O’Leary told Buttigieg construction of the first phase of the trail from the Naugatuck border to Eagle and South Main streets is expected to be completed next month.
