State Senator Ted Kennedy, Jr. (D-12) announced Dec. 28. 2017, that the State of Connecticut has awarded Madison a $200,000 Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) competitive grant to help create a contiguous sidewalk network in a large portion of Madison Center and the area surrounding the train station.

The state will spend $200,000 on Bradley Road pedestrian improvements to construct pedestrian infrastructure improvements along Bradley Road extending from the train station to Wall Street, including new sidewalk construction, sidewalk widening, accessible curb ramps, and marked crosswalks.

In 2016, Madison received a Responsible Growth and Transit-Oriented Development grant for improvements to the Tuxis Walkway, and the small section of Bradley Road connecting the walkway to the train station. These two grant awards, combined with other improvements, will create a contiguous sidewalk network in a large portion of Madison Center and the area surrounding the train station.

“Many people, when they think about transportation, think about large infrastructure like train tracks or bridges and highways. But on a local level, sidewalks and decorative lighting and plantings can make or break a neighborhood or a business district. We need to connect the train station to local businesses and restaurants and cultural offerings. That’s the importance of this grant today,” Sen. Kennedy said.

Nearly two years ago, Sen. Kennedy advocated for Madison to receive the two state grants, noting they would allow the town to complete its Madison Center Project, improving pedestrian safety and enhancing downtown aesthetics.

“Madison aims to keep the Connecticut shoreline a competitive place to attract and retain businesses and homeowners, and I believe this project is well aligned with that goal,” Sen. Kennedy wrote state budget secretary Benjamin Barnes in mid-January 2016.

Both grants are part of the state’s Responsible Growth and Transit-Oriented Development Grant Program, which is administered by the Office of Policy and Management.