NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WFSB) – Connecticut broke ground Monday on the first phase of a billion-dollar-plus project to modernize the New Haven Line, with the goal of cutting approximately 25 minutes off the trip between New Haven and New York City by 2035.<\/p>\n
A trip from New Haven to New York City currently takes approximately two hours. <\/p>\n
The multi-year project is designed to deliver faster, more frequent, and more reliable service for the roughly 100,000 passengers who ride the line every weekday.<\/p>\n
What the project includes<\/p>\n
The first phase includes improving and upgrading track signals and infrastructure, as well as replacing a bridge in Stratford. <\/p>\n
The project will also widen the space between tracks, allowing trains to reach speeds of up to 90 miles per hour in certain sections.<\/p>\n
Connecticut Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto said riders will notice the work in the short term but will see significant benefits once complete.<\/p>\n
\u201cShort term, passengers will see a lot of work along the railroad,\u201d Eucalitto said. \u201cLong term, it\u2019s going to have significant time savings for its trips.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eucalitto said track infrastructure has been the limiting factor for train speeds in Connecticut.<\/p>\n
\u201cTrains have the higher operating speeds, but the tracks have always been the limitation for us in CT,\u201d Eucalitto said. \u201cThat\u2019s where we\u2019re doing our part to upgrade the infrastructure.\u201d<\/p>\n
What leaders are saying<\/p>\n
Gov. Ned Lamont called the groundbreaking a milestone for the state.<\/p>\n
\u201cTime for CT, high tide for this upgrade,\u201d Lamont said. \u201cOne of the most significant upgrades in the history of rail in this state.\u201d<\/p>\n
Riders react<\/p>\n
Elias, a Stratford resident who rides the New Haven Line to New York City, said the trip is not always smooth.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere have been times I\u2019ve had to stand up the whole time, not able to find a seat,\u201d Elias said. \u201cThat\u2019s a big chunk of time.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said a 25-minute reduction would make a meaningful difference.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat would be incredible, you know,\u201d Elias said. \u201cThat\u2019s 40 minutes round trip I\u2019m sitting on the train that I don\u2019t have to be there.\u201d<\/p>\n
What\u2019s next<\/p>\n
Phases 2 and 3 of the project are set to begin in 2030 and 2031. <\/p>\n
The Connecticut Department of Transportation and the state\u2019s congressional delegation are pursuing federal funding for those phases.<\/p>\n
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