Governor Rell Connecticut Receives $40 Million For New-Haven-Hartford-Springfield Rail Corridor

CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

NEWS RELEASE

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FOR RELEASE: January 28, 2010

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Governor Rell: Connecticut Receives $40 Million For New-Haven-Hartford-Springfield Rail Corridor

Governor M. Jodi Rell announced today that Connecticut has received $40 million in federal stimulus funding that will be used to add double-tracking to the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield rail line – the first step toward providing high-speed commuter rail service in that corridor.

“This is great news for one of the most important and ambitious public transportation projects we have undertaken in years,” said Governor Rell. “Indeed, this is more than a transportation project – it is an investment in Connecticut’s economy and will create a great many jobs. I believe that a viable commuter rail system through the center of our state and region is not only important for commuters, but for the opportunities it brings to the communities up and down the line.”

The award is to be formally announced in Philadelphia today by the Federal Rail Administration (FRA) and Amtrak. Transportation Commissioner Joseph F. Marie has been invited to the event to represent Governor Rell. Connecticut and the New England states have been collaborating since last year on seeking high-speed rail funding.

Last fall, at the Governor’s direction, the state Department of Transportation (DOT) applied for a share of the $8 billion the federal government was making available for high-speed rail projects under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Part of Connecticut’s application was for $41 million for double-tracking a 10-mile stretch of the corridor between New Britain and Newington.

Earlier this month, the State Bond Commission, chaired by Governor Rell, approved $26 million as part of Connecticut’s share of the double-tracking project.

“Our plans for the NHHS line call for bidirectional service between New Haven and Springfield running Monday through Friday on a 30-minute peak period schedule, which would be a major boost for Connecticut commuters and ease congestion on I-91,” said Connecticut DOT Commissioner Joseph F. Marie. He said the current proposal would also add several new stations and enhance the Windsor Locks station with a bus connection to Bradley International Airport.

Governor Rell and Massachusetts Governor Deval L. Patrick have been working together to expand commuter rail between the two major cities in the respective states. They wrote a letter last March to Amtrak President Joseph H. Boardman expressing their shared vision, outlining the benefits a reliable, high-speed service would bring to the region.