Let's go look around.

Easy to park, walk, look. Food choices, Architecture. Ghost signs seen on buildings. An open window with cheerful plants adorning the ledge. A bicycle rider seen who easily crossed to Meriden Green. Flags, signage. Ample parking. As someone who loves train transportation (and shopping for a way to easily travel to New York City for business), this walk around, look-see has a purpose. Instead of departing from New Haven or the shoreline, what about Meriden?

A ceremony to commemorate the grand opening of the new CTrail Hartford Line Meriden Station, located at 60 State Street, recently drew a crowd. Governor Dannel P. Malloy, alongside Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) Commissioner James P. Redeker and numerous federal and state officials, met to celebrate this station that will provide service to existing Amtrak trains and future Hartford Line trains when the CTrail Hartford Line passenger rail service launches in June. Importantly, the transportation portal offers visitors more convenient access to the city’s new transit-oriented development (TOD) sites, located in direct proximity to the new station.

“My administration has been committed to improving transportation options for families and businesses,” Governor Malloy said. “This new station is a catalyst for transit-oriented development in Meriden, helping to make it a more livable, walkable community and drastically increasing transportation choices for commuters. The Hartford Line will allow Connecticut residents to look to transit rather than automobiles, resulting in less traffic on our overburdened highways, fewer emissions, and healthier communities.”

Construction of the station began in December 2014 and was completed in November 2017. It features several amenities aimed at improving the passenger experience for Hartford Line riders, including high-level platforms on both sides of the tracks, elevators, stairways, an overhead pedestrian bridge, canopies covering approximately 50 percent of each platform, ticket vending machines, and a passenger information display system. To improve passenger safety, the new station features automatic platform snow melting systems, security cameras, and blue light emergency call boxes.

The station includes a 65-space surface parking lot, and additional parking is available in a recently opened garage located at the intersection of Colony Street and Church Street that has approximately 225 spaces reserved for Hartford Line passengers and the general public on a first-come, first-served basis. In addition, the station parking lot includes one electric vehicle charging station, with three more located in the parking garage. Each charging station allows two vehicles to charge at once.

“The robust and customer-centric station you see here today is an illustration of the years of commitment and collaboration between the department, its program management team and the City of Meriden,” CTDOT Commissioner James P. Redeker said. “The station is already driving economic development, and with the expected increase in rail ridership following launch, this station and others along the Hartford Line will serve Connecticut communities well for years to come.”

“We’re proud to celebrate the opening of the Meriden station and the significant benefits it will create for passengers and the city,” said Tom Moritz, assistant vice president of Infrastructure Access and Investment at Amtrak. “We offer our congratulations and thanks to Governor Malloy and CTDOT for their strong vision and partnership in bringing reliable and convenient passenger rail services to the states of Connecticut and Massachusetts.”

“I’m truly excited to see the new rail station open in Meriden. Our residents will have a gateway to Hartford, Springfield, Boston and New York City through a state-of-the-art rail station, located in a safe, convenient location in Meriden’s center,” said Meriden Mayor Kevin Scarpati. “The opportunities for our residents to travel the Northeast Corridor and beyond are a great convenience. As part of the TOD, the potential benefits to local businesses and those businesses looking for a centrally located city with many economic incentives of all types are great. To all, we say welcome. My thanks to Governor Malloy and our state and federal delegations for their vision and securing the funding for this incredible station and the Hartford Line. We look forward to the great rewards and opportunities this rail station will offer the Meriden community over the years to come. On behalf of the City Council, our staff and residents I offer my sincere thanks and congratulations on this special day.”

Before opening, Meriden’s new rail station spurred several TOD projects, including a 273-space parking garage, three mixed-use developments totaling 295 new residential units and 31,000 square feet of commercial space, a new Transit Center, a 14-acre town green, and the demolition of the Mills public housing project and the former Record-Journal building. Ongoing public and private investment in Meriden’s TOD projects exceeds $150 million.

One of these new developments, 24 Colony Street, which is just steps from the new Hartford Line train station, was completed in December 2016 and is the first new construction in downtown Meriden in 30 years.

In related news, should you ever need a reason to go explore and be curious – Connecticut Open House Day is Saturday, June 9 – a perfect day to wander and learn as cultural and tourism sites across the state will showcase history, art, destinations – for travelers and residents alike. The Connecticut Office of Tourism is sponsor of this one-day statewide event and offers a searchable database linked here via ctvisit.com. Choose a town or a topic or just scroll through at random to discover great destinations. Remember, sites welcome visitors (sometimes for a small admission fee on other dates) – make a note for another time if you run out of daylight or energy while exploring this weekend. Many great ideas for teachers, Scout leaders, families for adventures and explorations, field trips.

In Meriden: Gallery 53 on Colony Street (one street over from the new train station and Meriden Green, downtown) – open from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., offering complimentary refreshments as well as art and stories of the artists and community.

Andrews Homestead (on the west side of town, near the McDonald's and in front of Ben Franklin Elementary School) free admission from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. In additional to their permanent exhibits, visitors can view tea sets made by International Silver Company and other Meriden manufacturers on display.

People around the world collect items made in Meriden; some visit to research items and track down where they were created. Stories abound here and many of the buildings are worth a second look for their ties to world innovation, design, and business. Aeolian Company, International Silver, Charles Parker, William Rogers Manufacturing, Bradley & Hubbard, New Departure, Pratt Ivory – so many, many more – all “making places” featured on Connecticut Mills, a project of The Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation. The origins of The Russell Hall Co., whose trucks can be seen around the state, is listed – “In 1854, at the age of 18, Russell Hall began to engage in the making of tinware, and was considered to be one of the well known Yankee Tin Peddlers throughout the area. The company was operated out of a barn behind Russell Hall's house at 469 East Main St. in Meriden, Connecticut. In the 1860's Russell Hall branched out and began dealing as a wholesaler of grocers supplies. Russell Hall developed a reputation throughout the state as a businessman who practiced legitimate and square methods only, and his business grew as one of the largest of its kind in the state. Russell Hall died in 1922, and the business was carried on by his son, Howard B. Hall. The product line expanded, including such items as fine papers, wrapping papers, paper towels, canned goods, grocery supplies, and toys (wagons, scooters, sleds). The Russell Hall Co. became a distributor of general merchandise of all kinds. In 1923 the company moved to its present location, 19-23 No. George Street.”

Each featured structure has a short history with interesting details and status – many are incomplete with more information to be added.

“The point of cities is multiplicity of choice.” – Jane Jacobs

Note: By walking and looking around, saw the classic design of a fire alarm call box by Gamewell Co., and had to learn more about this company – and this functional and important product. Gamewell originated in Massachusetts and has since been acquired by Honeywell – headquarters are now in Northford, Connecticut. “Recognized as an American icon with its familiar red, cottage shell, the Gamewell Masterbox is universally understood and immediately identifies the specific location of a reported fire alarm.”