The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) will hold an in-person public information and Connecticut Environmental Policy Act (CEPA) scoping meeting concerning TIME-1, track and speed improvements, and New Interlockings along Metro-North Railroad on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. at Stratford Town Hall, Council Chambers, Room 211, 2725 Main Street in Stratford. Virtual options will also be available on Zoom and YouTube.

“This unique project is aimed at improving the safety and speed of Connecticut’s rail system,” said CTDOT Project Manager Haresh Dholakia. “We encourage rail users to attend or watch the public information meeting and share their experiences with the CTDOT team to incorporate in track and speed improvements on the Metro-North Railroad in Bridgeport and Stratford.”

The public information meeting is being held to provide the public and local community the opportunity to offer comments or ask questions regarding the proposed project.

A question and answer (Q&A) session will immediately follow the presentation, which will be recorded. For instructions on how to access the virtual meeting, ways to provide comments, and how to ask questions, please visit http://portal.ct.gov/DOT300-214.

Project No. 300-214 TIME-1
The purpose of the TIME-1 project is to increase the Maximum Authorized Speed (MAS) of a three-mile section of Metro-North Railroad (MNRR) in the cities of Bridgeport and Stratford from 70 mph to 90 mph. The project will reconstruct the track to improve track geometry from Mile Post (M.P.) 56.77 (east of Seaview Avenue, Bridgeport) running east to M.P. 60.30 (approximately 400 feet east of East Main Street, State Route 113, Stratford), including corresponding overhead catenary adjustments and the reconstruction of eight bridges using accelerated construction techniques. Bridges at Bishop Avenue (Bridgeport), Bruce Avenue (Stratford), W. Broad Street (Stratford), King Street (Stratford), Main Street (Stratford), Longbrook Avenue (Stratford), and East Main Street (Stratford) that intersect with MNRR will be replaced.

Project No. 301-550 New Interlockings
The New Interlockings project aims to construct a new interlock and add to an existing interlock. The new interlock built in Stratford, CP-259 (Change Point), is located within the TIME-1 project area and will allow for improved train operations and high-speed track changes. The construction of a new almost-universal interlocking, CP-259, will be located due southwest of W. Broad Street in Stratford and ending just northeast of Longbrook Avenue. The project will add a one-track crossover to CP-261, which is located directly east of Naugatuck Avenue in Milford. This project is in Stratford and Milford.

There are right-of-way impacts associated with the proposed improvements, which are anticipated to be construction and slope easements.

Construction is anticipated to begin in spring 2025 based on the availability of funding, acquisition of rights of way, and approval of permit(s). These projects are anticipated to be undertaken with federal funds and state funds.

Individuals with limited internet access can listen to the meeting on Zoom by calling (877) 853-5257 and entering Meeting ID 835 2949 7469. Persons with hearing and speech disabilities may dial 711 for Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS). Persons with limited internet access may also request that project information be mailed to them within one week by contacting Haresh Dholakia at Hareshkumar.Dholakia@ct.gov or (860) 594-3173.

Language assistance may be requested by contacting the CTDOT Language Assistance Call Line at (860) 594-2109. Requests should be made at least five business days prior to the meeting. Language assistance is provided at no cost to the public, and efforts will be made to respond to timely requests for assistance. 

This meeting will also be livestreamed on the CTDOT YouTube channel; no registration is required. Non-English language closed captioning will be available on Zoom and YouTube. The recording will also be posted immediately following the meeting in the list of CTDOT virtual public meetings at portal.ct.gov/ctdotVPIMarchive.

Members of the public can submit comments and questions during the two-week public comment period following the meeting. Please submit comments and questions by May 9, 2023, to DOTProject300-214@ct.gov and (860) 594-2020 or Haresh Dholakia at Hareshkumar.Dholakia@ct.gov; or (860) 594-3173. Please reference State Project Nos. 0300-0214 and 0301-0550.