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Health & Fitness

Back To The Future For Windsor Locks

The dream of a train platform in the center of town is closer than ever. Main Street in Windsor Locks could return to it's former glory.

In January 1975 Ella Tambussi Grasso boarded a train from Windsor Locks to Hartford beginning her historic journey to her inauguration becoming the first elected woman governor in U.S. history. The train station was located in the center of Windsor Locks. 

Soon after Amtrak officials abandoned the historic train station and constructed a train platform on the outskirts of town. Thirty-six years later our train platform consisting of a tiny plastic shelter is still not located in the center of town. 

We only need to look to Windsor to see what a great train station needs to look like. The irony of this is that our little train station services 5,000 more passengers than Windsor’s train station. Our platform is across the street from the sewage treatment plant. 

Find out what's happening in Windsor Locks-East Windsorwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The historic train station where Ella Grasso boarded the train to Hartford sits crumbling due to neglect and vandalism. What an embarrassment to the Town of Windsor Locks and the State of Connecticut. Windsor Locks is referred to as “The Gateway to New England”. Part of that gateway should not be on the outskirts of town across the street from the sewer plant.

But wait, there is a plan. The Town of Windsor Locks has a vision. A vision that will not only bring the train platform back to the center of town, but will preserve the old historic train station. 

Find out what's happening in Windsor Locks-East Windsorwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Our little town of Windsor Locks has worked with the state Department of Transportation to overcome traffic and crossing issues to make a train platform in the center of town a reality. Governor Dannel P. Malloy has showed interest in our vision because not only does it address the transportation issues we have in the state, but it will be the model of economic development to revitalize Main Street. 

If this train platform can be brought back to the center of town, businesses will come back to Main Street. Tomorrow’s Main Street will look like a new version of the Main Street that so many older people in town have fond memories of.

Our town has received confirmation that the $225,000 STEAP (Small Town Economic Assistance Program) grant for the Train Station Renovation is intact. We are still awaiting word from Amtrak on whether they will assign the rights to the town, but we are pleased the funding will still be made available.

I invite every reader to look at the vision for Windsor Locks and come to the Town Meeting on September 20, 2011 at 7:00pm in the Windsor Locks High School Auditorium. Tell the Department of Transportation that we support a train platform on Main Street.

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