CDOT to Replace 3-Mile Stretch Along Metro-North’s New Haven Line
Written by Kyra Senese, Managing Editor
(Metro-North)
As part of a multibillion-dollar effort to improve commuter rail service across the state, the Connecticut Department of Transportation plans to replace a three-mile stretch of track along Metro-North's New Haven line.
According to a press release from the department, the construction work will begin in the spring of 2025 and will boost the maximum speed of trains between Bridgeport and Stratford from 70 mph to 90 mph.
Officials hope the improvements will help the state meet Gov. Ned Lamont’s goal of reducing travel time between New Haven and New York City by 25 minutes by 2035, as reported by the Connecticut Post.
“This unique project is aimed at improving the safety and speed of Connecticut’s rail system,” said Haresh Dholakia, a transportation department engineer who is overseeing the project.
The project is the first stage of “Time For CT,” a statewide program aimed at improving rail service, creating construction jobs, and helping the environment. State officials have said the federal government will fund much of the $8 billion to $10 billion needed to fund the effort, and state funds will also be used.
Track upgrades in Stratford are expected to cost up to $385 million, according to CDOT documents. The state has requested $231 million in infrastructure grants from the federal government for the project, but has yet to receive funding, the Post reported.
The project will primarily consist of reconstructing the railway’s curvature, allowing trains to travel at higher speeds. To allow for high-speed track changes, crews will also upgrade an existing interlocking and construct a new one.
