Middletown to Get Modern Transit Hub After County Secures Grant
Orange County has secured a $7.5 million grant to build a new Middletown Transportation Center, moving the long delayed project into the design phase. County and city leaders say the transit hub will support downtown revitalization, improve regional connectivity, and link bus service directly to the Heritage Trail.
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Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus, Middletown Mayor Joe DeStefano, and County Legislator Janet Sutherland announced Friday that the Middletown Transportation Center project is advancing after the Orange County Planning Department secured a $7.5 million grant to fund construction. The funding will allow detailed design work to begin with the goal of putting the project out to bid in 2026.
The planned transit hub will be located in downtown Middletown and will include bus slips with protective canopies, a revamped on site parking area, and a direct pedestrian connection to the Heritage Trail. County officials framed the project as a key element in downtown revitalization, intended to improve access for commuters, residents, and visitors while strengthening links to the wider regional transit network.
Practical next steps call for design and procurement work over the coming months. If design schedules and funding remain on track, the county aims to begin the construction procurement process in 2026 and proceed to build the facility thereafter. The announcement noted that the project had experienced delays stemming from the COVID pandemic and from the restructuring of prior private bus operators, which interrupted earlier timelines and service plans.
Local planners say a modern, centralized transit facility can reduce on street congestion, create safer boarding areas, and better integrate bus service with pedestrian and bicycle routes. The direct connection to the Heritage Trail is intended to encourage multimodal trips, linking public transit to an important regional recreational corridor that attracts residents from across Orange County and beyond.
For downtown Middletown the project offers potential economic benefits as well. Improved transit access tends to boost foot traffic for local businesses and can make downtown locations more attractive to new retailers, restaurants, and employers. Upgrades to parking and pedestrian amenities are expected to complement private investment and municipal efforts to animate the streetscape.
The funding now in hand does not remove all uncertainty. Officials emphasize that construction timing depends on keeping design and procurement on schedule and on maintaining the financing path planned for later phases. County planners will also need to finalize site plans, environmental reviews as required, and any coordination with state or regional transportation agencies before construction begins.
The announcement appeared in the Orange County Government NewsFlash on October 31, 2025. As the project moves into design, residents and business owners in Middletown can expect further details on timelines, traffic impacts during construction, and opportunities for public engagement. The transportation center represents a locally focused investment with broader significance for regional connectivity and downtown renewal.
