CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NEWS RELEASE 2800 BERLIN TURNPIKE P.O. BOX 317546 NEWINGTON CONNECTICUT, 06131-7546

FOR RELEASE: March 9, 2016

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS TELEPHONE: (860) 594-3062 FAX: (860) 594-3065 WEB SITE: www.ct.gov/dot

The Connecticut Department of Transportation announced today that a temporary boarding platform will be established at the site of the Meriden train station while a new station is built at the existing location, 60 State Street.  The station project will also require the permanent closing of Brooks Street between Colony Street and State Street later this month.

The existing station will be demolished as part of the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield (NHHS) Rail Program, now branded as the CTrail Hartford Line. The temporary station will consist of a drop-off area, low level passenger loading platform, and bus shelter located on Brooks Street in Meriden. Travelers may purchase tickets on the train. 

The bus stop located at 60 State Street in Meriden will not be affected by the station closure. The temporary platform will remain in service until construction of the new CTrail Hartford Line Meriden Station is completed in spring 2017.

The Brooks Street closure will take effect during the week of March 21; the temporary station will begin operating on March 28 and the existing station will be permanently closed.

The nearly $60 million station construction project, which began in 2014, includes new stations in Wallingford, Meriden and Berlin. These stations will provide approximately 500-foot long high level platforms interconnected with a pedestrian bridge.  The bridge will house elevators to provide full Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) access.  The project also provides canopies over nearly half the platforms and incorporates a radiant hydronic heating system to address snow removal.  Over 200 parking spaces will be provided on surface parking lots at Berlin and Wallingford.  Meriden will have both a surface parking lot and a parking garage with a total of over 280 spaces. 

LANE CLOSURE INFO

When required, local detours will be established on Brooks Street, State Street, Colony Street, and East Main Street. Construction signs will be posted for local residents and businesses.

The future CTrail Hartford Line will provide more frequent, convenient and faster passenger rail service between New Haven, Hartford and Springfield by increasing the number of round trip trains from six daily Amtrak intercity and regional trains to a total of 17 round trip trains a day to Hartford, and 12 trains per day to Springfield.  The majority of the existing rail stations will be replaced and several new stations will be built.  The expanded service and new stations are expected to increase ridership, improve the high speed and passenger rail system serving the northeast, expand intermodal transportation options, encourage economic development and create more livable and sustainable communities. CTrail Hartford Line service is scheduled to launch in January 2018.