Reported bed bugs at New Haven’s Union Station shuts down seating area

NEW HAVEN, CT (WFSB) – New Haven’s Union Station has no seating for travelers due to reports of bed bugs.

It was partially shut down on Monday, but was expected to reopen on Tuesday.

The New Haven Parking Authority said it cleaned surfaces on Monday.

“Overnight, licensed exterminator and cleaning vendors [were] on site to address the hard scape surfaces and reopen the area to the public in the morning,” the parking authority said.

Travelers said they were surprised to find that the seating at Union Station blocked off when they arrived.

“Never heard of bed bugs on tile and wood floors ever before,” said Laure Dibartolo from Middletown.

The parking authority said it worked with vendors and the health department to help keep travelers safe.

Exterminators and cleaners came in Monday into Tuesday to exterminate and clean the surfaces.

They said treating bed bugs is a complex and extensive process. Treatments include:

Remove any clutter.
Throw away the infested items.
Develop, employ a professional treatment plan to kill the bed bugs.
Continue to check at least once a week for any remaining bed bugs.

Travelers should also not put their bags on the ground to avoid any unwanted stowaways.

While travelers told Channel 3 that they were grateful of the action taken by cleaning crews, they were puzzled about how it happened in the first place.

“I’m here until 9:45 [p.m.] and I see this is all closed off, so I ask the gentleman what’s going on?” Dibartolo said. “And he says, ‘bedbugs.’ And I’m like ‘what? Bed bugs?! Where are the beds?’”