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New Trumbull Street Imminent

May 8, 2007
Editorial By Courant

With the completion of the Hartford 21 apartment tower and other downtown development projects, it was encouraging to see that city hall has solicited bids for streetscape improvements to Trumbull Street.

Assuming that the city selects a contractor within six weeks, groundbreaking on the estimated $5.5 million project could start as early as mid-summer.

Downtown businesses have long sought to turn Trumbull, which runs from Jewell Street at Bushnell Park to Main Street and beyond, into a much more pedestrian-friendly thoroughfare with wider sidewalks, a more attractive median, street trees and ornamental lighting.

Last year, the city allocated $500,000 for architectural designs and engineering studies that were needed to prepare the bid specifications. Bond money is now available to enable the project to move forward.

It is expected that private contributions will help to pay some of the expense of beautifying the street. A face-lift for Trumbull Street, one of downtown's main thoroughfares, deserves priority.

It will help put a finishing touch on Hartford's rebirth.