The future of the Naugatuck River Greenway Trail is in jeopardy following the sudden cancellation of a $5.725 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. According to a notice sent by Maria Lefevre, executive director for the Office of the Under Secretary of Transportation, the funding was canceled due to the project no longer aligning with the priorities of the USDOT, making it fall outside the purview of the grant. Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments Executive Director, Rick Dunne, said he disagreed with the DOT’s assessment that vehicular travel would better work to improve the quality of life for the average citizen. According to NVCOG, the purpose of the project was to advance an interconnected network of trails that linked downtown centers of neighboring communities that provided a transportation and recreational asset in the Naugatuck Valley – extending from Torrington to Derby.
Future of Naugatuck River Greenway Trail uncertain after $5.7M federal grant is canceled
