CTDOT Begins Naugatuck Station Construction
Written by Jennifer McLawhorn, Managing Editor
Courtesy of CTDOT
NAUGATUCK, Conn. - The Connecticut Department of Transportation, CTDOT, began constructing a new train station located in Naugatuck.
Naugatuck Station
The project costs $33.2 million and is funded through 80% federal funds and 20% state funds. According to the CTDOT, this is part of the current $140 million statewide program to upgrade all six stations located on Metro-North’s Waterbury Line: Waterbury, Naugatuck, Beacon Falls, Seymour, Ansonia, and Derby-Shelton. This new train station in Naugatuck will be located 0.3 miles south of the current station and is scheduled to open summer 2027. CTDOT states the new station will serve as a multimodal hub with access to downtown Naugatuck and the Naugatuck River Greenway.
While the platform area will measure 4,400 square feet, it will include a 350-foot-long high-level platform with a snow melt system. As well as ADA-compliant access via elevator, the station will have a new passenger waiting area, ticket vending machine, and a real-time display showing arrival and departure times. Along with a new parking lot and electric vehicle charging stations, the two-story station will see “upgraded safety features.”
“The new Naugatuck station will provide a safe and modern customer experience while connecting riders to the best service in Metro-North history,” Metro-North Railroad President Justin Vonashek said. “And moving the station to a more convenient downtown location makes it even easier for riders to access all the amenities downtown Naugatuck has to offer.”
Commissioner Eucalitto said, “Through this project and others along the Waterbury Branch Line, CTDOT is helping communities like Naugatuck realize their transit-oriented development goals. . . We’re building modern and accessible stations that align transportation improvements with local plans for growing downtown. I want to thank Metro-North for their continued partnership on this project and others across the Waterbury Line. I’m also grateful to Governor Lamont and the Federal Transit Administration for the critical investments that are making this work possible.”
HNTB’s Role
In June, HNTB was selected by CTDOT to provide construction, engineering, and inspection (CEI) services for the “series of transformative station improvements along the Waterbury Branch Line,” as reported by HNTB. The engineering firm stated it will oversee construction of several improvements including the construction of new platforms, ramps, and canopies; improvements to parking; installation of electric vehicle charging stations; realignment of tracks; and relocation of a railroad signal hut. The firm also states it will manage the historic Derby Station renovation as part of the overall series of improvements.
HNTB Connecticut office leader and vice president Jake Argiro, PE said, “We are excited to support our client with this opportunity to enhance rail service and infrastructure for communities along the Waterbury Branch Line. . . By bringing in top-tier talents in CEI and integrated project controls capabilities, we’re ready to support the state’s most complex infrastructure projects with innovative, efficient and cost-effective solutions.”
HNTB senior resident engineer and project manager David Speerli, PE said, “The Waterbury Branch Line upgrades have been a long-standing priority for CTDOT. . . As part of its commitment to modernizing the line, CTDOT has already acquired new coach cars, which will be in service upon project completion, further enhancing the quality, frequency and reliability of service for passengers. These upgrades will align Waterbury Branch stations with the standards of other Metro-North lines, supporting long-term growth and mobility in the region.”
