As previously reported, New Rochelle has taken a lead role in a regional planning consortium running from central Connecticut through the Hudson Valley, to New York City, and then out to Long Island. Our goal is a more coherent and integrated strategy for promoting sustainable, transit-oriented development, including planning and policy initiatives related to transportation, housing, infrastructure, business attraction, and more. The Consortium has already been awarded a $3.5 million federal grant.
This is an exciting venture, not only because of its practical benefits, but also because it can serve as a model for better managing growth and promoting economic vitality. The Consortium recently received national recognition from the Department of Housing & Urban Development for its collaborative and innovative approach to these challenges; you can read the article here.
HUD only highlighted two of the many specific projects under the Consortium umbrella. New Rochelle will use its share of federal funding to improve access to our Transit Center, especially for pedestrians and cyclists.