Officials Celebrate New Canopies at Fairfield Center Train Station

[Editor's note: The following information was provided in a press release from the First Selectman's Office.]

Town officials and Fairfield's state representatives celebrated the new canopy structures over the staircases at the Fairfield Center train station and other improvements made possible a state grant last week with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Fairfield was awarded a $100,000 Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP) grant in 2012 to build the permanent canopy structures to cover the staircases on both sides of the tracks, provide lighting under the canopies, and resurface the badly worn, uneven stairs.

Work for the stairs will be done in the spring, but the canopies have been installed.

“This is an important project for the thousands of commuters who have to use these stairs in inclement weather," First Selectman Michael Tetreau said at the ceremony on Friday. "This project will go a long way in ensuring their safety and comfort throughout the year."

He was joined by state representatives Tony Hwang and Brenda Kupchick, Parking Authority Chairman Ron Pine, and Parking Authority Manager Cynthia Placko in celebrating the work done to improve the station.

“Fairfield sends a lot of money to the State in way of taxes," Kupchick said. "It's nice to receive some back for this project through a grant.  I want to commend the Parking Authority, the Department of Public Works and the First Selectman for their hard work in making this project a reality."

Hwang agreed.

"This state grant improves an integral quality of life and safety standard for our resident commuters," he said. "It is also a worthwhile investment in our mass transit infrastructure that will be critical to our economic sustainability and growth as a town and region.”

Pine said he is happy with the quality of the canopy structures given the recent storms that hit Fairfield. He added that the Parking Authority spent another $62,000 for pavers to resurface the stairs and ramps at the Fairfield Center station, "which is money well spent, considering this station is located in the center of town."