A reliable and robust transit system in Bridgeport is integral to the region’s economy, quality of life and environment… The maintenance and administrative facility project will ensure that GBT’s infrastructure is in a state of good repair and expand its organizational capacity to become an even greater asset within the tri-state region.
Executive Summary
This website was prepared in association with an application for ARRA TIGER funding and is for the construction of an expansion, and improvements, to the Greater Bridgeport Transit Authority’s bus maintenance and administrative facility in Bridgeport, Connecticut. This project is critical to the economic growth of the Greater Bridgeport Region and Southwestern Connecticut and:
- Is the only project currently planned to increase transportation capacity in the Bridgeport Region that will support compact infill development
- Is included in the Bridgeport-Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)
- Is included in the State of Connecticut’s State Transportation Improvement Program
- Has broad local, regional and State support
- Is underway and, with full funding, will complete by February 2012
- Will create more than 250 jobs during construction and lead to steady growth in jobs at GBT and throughout the region for the next 20 years
- Incorporates the latest in sustainable design features to promote energy savings and reduce dependence on non-renewable resources
- Will lead to a total fossil fuel impact (gallons saved) of nearly 100,000 gallons annually by year 10 and more than 230,000 gallons annually by year 20
- Will lead to regional CO2 emission reductions of up to 1.5 million lbs. annually by year 10 and more than 3.7 million lbs. annually by year 20
- Save $13.2 million in avoided capital costs
- The community will see a 9% return on the investment in this project over the next twenty years in the form of fuel savings, new jobs, and avoided future capital investment costs. This 9% return on investment is the value of these savings over the next 20 years compared to the initial investment cost.
- Is eligible under Chapter 53 of Title 49, United States Code
- Will be “flash tracked” meaning, for example, the foundation package would be bid and construction started before the framing has been fully designed. This requires increased coordination between all members of the design team, construction management team, and the contractor(s).
Of critical importance to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) are the twin goals of rapid job creation and sustained economic growth. The Greater Bridgeport Transit Authority’s (GBT) Facility Expansion and Improvement Project (FEIP) more than meets these goals and, at the same time, sets a course for an enhanced and expanding public transportation infrastructure for the region. The project includes elements of design aimed at supporting local, state and federal goals of reducing dependence on foreign and non-renewable energy sources and improving the environment through innovation in design and the use of renewable resources and recycled materials.
The Project and Programmatic Requirements
The FEIP meets the programmatic goals under Chapter 53 of Title 49 United States Code. It is a bus facility project which will lead to the ability to expand bus transportation services in the Bridgeport Metropolitan Region through the expansion of the GBT’s maintenance and administrative facility at its current location. It will be demonstrated throughout this application that bus service cannot keep pace with growing regional demand for public transportation absent this expansion.
Job Creation and Sustained Economic Growth
This project will create more than 250 jobs during the construction phase alone and, upon completion, will result in the creation of additional jobs as public bus services expand. The investment of federal resources in this project will yield a positive economic impact for the region including a community return on investment of 9% over the next 20 years. This is detailed in the Benefits Cost Analysis section of this application.
Project Readiness
Since appropriations began under the ARRA, there has been a great deal of discussion regarding the definition of “shovel ready” and the readiness of proposed projects to meet the goals of the Act. Because of the temporal limitation on the draw-down of funding available under the TIGER program, the readiness of a project has never been more important.
As this application will indicate, the FEIP is underway and proceeding, within available funding to carry the project through the permitting and design phases. A design team has been retained; site planning and environmental work are underway with a schedule for substantial completion by February 2012 and the facility in operation by April 2012.
Regional Importance
The definition of “region” varies throughout the country as does the definition of “regionally significant”. This project is located in Bridgeport along Connecticut’s southwestern coast in the highly congested I-95 corridor and the New York City Metropolitan Area. The services that will result from this project will reduce current and offset future congestion, provide a viable alternative to the single occupancy vehicle, provide for enhance multimodal connections and provide a public transportation infrastructure capable of meeting the “transit” portion of the Transit Oriented Development and Smart Growths initiatives now underway in the Region and State. As detailed later in the application, among the numerous supporters of this project are The Bridgeport–Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization, The Regional Plan Association and the Tri-State Transit Campaign.
Environmental Protection
This project incorporates the principles of sustainability in transit throughout its design. Planned and designed with the goal of achieving a LEED Silver Certification, the FEIP includes the use of renewable energy sources (photovoltaics) and recycled materials. The expansion of bus services over the life of the project will lead to reduced fossil fuel consumption (230,000 gallons by year 20) and the reduction of more than 3.7 million lbs of CO2 annually by year 20.
Transparency and ARRA Reporting Experience
The Applicant is a Designated Federal Funding Recipient and, as such, has demonstrated experience with the management of federal funding, the requisite certifications, Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Project Management and Oversight (PMO) and large capital projects. It is noteworthy that GBT is already the recipient of $2.8 million in funding from the ARRA for transportation initiatives and is currently undertaking and reporting on an engine repowering project.
For the FEIP, GBT has gone beyond the certifications for transparency and created this Project website to allow ongoing public viewing of the status of the project and its funding as it progresses.
