It is sometimes easy to overlook the role passenger rail plays in Connecticut’s economy. We are a car-centric state, to be sure. That generalization tends to ignore the extraordinary effect rail has on housing markets, equity and access to jobs and educational opportunity, economic development, and the quality of life.
Where rail investments are made in the United States and around the world, economies thrive. Connecticut is fortunate to have historic rail lines that have operated continuously for generations. Unfortunately, we have not invested as much as we should, and we are not getting the most out of our rail system. We have some of the oldest rail infrastructure in the nation. Trains today are slower than they were 50 years ago, and this needs to change.
Governor Lamont’s vision from Day One has been about making transformative investments in passenger rail. Trains need to operate faster and more frequently to New York City and, they need to connect our cities better. Our ability to attract new businesses to the state and attract and retain talent depends on modern, higher-speed passenger rail service. While everyday commuters may use rail less often as some shift to working from home, others will use the system on weekends and other non-traditional commuting times.
TIME FOR CT, the recently announced plan to speed up rail service, is the start of something big. Planners and engineers have spent the better part of two years reviewing every mile of track, evaluating every bridge, developing service scenarios to achieve travel time savings, beginning with 10 minutes next year and then up to 25 minutes over the next 10 years. The plan will straighten track, rebuild major bridges, renovate train stations, and buy new rail cars and electric dual-power locomotives. The plan benefits all rail lines as travel between Hartford and Stamford, for example, will be possible without transfers in a few years.
TIME FOR CT comes at the right time with historic levels of federal investment planned for passenger rail. The Connecticut Department of Transportation is developing a pipeline of projects to take advantage of this moment. The replacement of the Saugatuck River Bridge in Westport and track straightening in the Bridgeport and Stratford area are two projects that will have a material impact on travel time. Building new rail platforms on the Waterbury Line will speed boarding and bring accessibility for all customers. A new siding on the New Canaan Line will enable new services. A new fleet of modern, comfortable, and 5G connected rail cars will upgrade the customer experience.
Connecticut is fortunate to have exceptional representation in Congress, a delegation that knows well the importance of making investments in passenger rail. The key to our collective success will be leveraging every federal dollar available to Connecticut. Federal funding may cover much of the cost, but state funding will be needed to match those federal dollars. The recently passed Highway Use Fee is an example of a long-term funding solution that will pay dividends many times over by enabling Connecticut to secure more federal funding.
TIME FOR CT is ready to go. It is a real plan that will produce real results. It is TIME FOR CT.
Richard W. Andreski
Bureau Chief for Public Transportation, Connecticut Department of Transportation