Despite a vote last May by the CT Transportation Strategy Board (TSB) to recommend Bridgeport as the recipient of state financing to develop a barge port and service to receive freight containers from major East Coast ports, the CT transportation and economic development agencies have yet to approve release of the funding. The TSB decision in May came after a year of debate and several years of competition between Bridgeport and New Haven over siting the barge facility.

Connecticut DOT officials told the Connecticut Post last week that the project would not help reduce I-95 truck traffic very much. The barge service is apparently only supposed to run five times a week. Despite this, it is a step in the right direction for the region. The Post reported that ongoing conversations between various state DOTs (including New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Delaware) and the Port Authority of NY and NJ are aiming to establish other regional locations for freight barge ports.

The paper reported that if Bridgeport does not receive the state agency recommendation, New Haven could have another shot at the funds. However, ConnDOT spokespeople told MTR this is unlikely, and the decision to release the money to Bridgeport will be approved in the next few weeks. A Post editorial this week urged the state DOT to "act swiftly" to approve the first installment of $1.5 million. $7 million total is available for the barge facility. 

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