After its Board of Aldermen rejected a proposal for streetcar service, New Haven has resubmitted a plan that would replace its match with regional or state transportation funds.
Kelly Murphy, New Haven's economic development administrator, confirmed in a letter to board President Carl Goldfield that the city is discussing funding with the U.S. Department of Transportation.
"I believe that we will arrive at a financing plan that is acceptable to the board," Murphy said in the letter.
In October, aldermen rejected a request to accept a $780,000 grant from the Federal Transit Administration to study a light-rail system, with a majority citing the need for the city to kick in $200,000.
A DOT matching grant would enable the city to avoid incurring further debt to pay for the study and could sway aldermen otherwise opposed.
The New Haven Register reported that U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, whose district includes New Haven, played a big role in securing the grant.
