STRATFORD, CT — Governor Ned Lamont and Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto held a groundbreaking ceremony in Stratford to mark the start of construction on TIME-1, the largest component to date of TIME FOR CT, a comprehensive, multi-year initiative to rebuild, improve, and expand Connecticut’s rail network.
The three-phase, $1.6 billion TIME-1 project will modernize critical sections of the New Haven Line, creating the infrastructure necessary to deliver faster, more frequent, and more reliable rail service between New York City and New Haven, Connecticut. The New Haven Line is the busiest individual commuter rail line in the United States.
TIME-1 is expected to deliver one of the largest rail improvement upgrades in recent state history.
Upon completion of all three phases in 2035, trains will be able to operate at speeds of up to 90 miles per hour in designated sections of the corridor, an increase from today’s maximum of 70 miles per hour in the project area. Additionally, the improvements will upgrade these sections of the line to the Federal Railroad Administration’s Track Class 6 standards, an increase from today’s standards of Track Class 4.
The project, along with other capital projects and service enhancements, will enable Connecticut rail passengers to enjoy reduced travel times between New Haven and New York, culminating in a total of approximately 25 minutes saved. Together, these investments will strengthen one of the nation’s busiest rail corridors, improving reliability for Metro-North Railroad, Amtrak, freight operators, and the approximately 100,000 passengers who travel the New Haven Line each weekday.
“We are building the rail system Connecticut needs for the future — one that gets people where they are going faster, delivers more reliable service, and provides modern, accessible stations,” Eucalitto said. “This ambitious project is possible because of the partnership between Governor Lamont, the Federal Railroad Administration, our federal delegation, state and local partners, and the skilled crews who are turning this vision into reality through their hard work in the field.”
The first phase of the TIME-1 project focuses on a 3-mile section of track between Bridgeport and Stratford, Connecticut. Crews are installing new catenary structures that power trains, adding turn outs to the East Bridgeport Rail Yard, replacing the Longbrook Avenue Bridge in Stratford, upgrading track and signal infrastructure, and adding new track connections to improve train operations through the corridor. The first phase is a $340.7 million project that will support approximately 125 jobs. Funding includes $184 million from the Federal Railroad Administration, $145.5 million from the State of Connecticut, and $11.2 million from Amtrak.
The second phase, expected to begin in 2030, will deliver targeted improvements at Stratford Station, including track and platform upgrades, ADA accessibility improvements, enhanced passenger communications systems, and modernized electrical infrastructure with improved lighting and emergency power. This phase will also advance major corridor improvements, including catenary upgrades, bridge replacements, and retaining wall installations.
The third phase, expected to begin in 2031, will continue these efforts with additional bridge replacements, catenary upgrades, and infrastructure improvements to further enhance rail operations and reliability.
| Your local Trimble Construction Division dealer |
|---|
| SITECH Northeast |
| SITECH Northeast |
| SITECH Northeast |
| SITECH Northeast |
| SITECH Northeast |
Combined, the second and third phases have an anticipated cost of approximately $1.3 billion. Lamont, in partnership with the Connecticut Department of Transportation and Connecticut’s Congressional delegation, will continue pursuing federal and partner funding to advance the full program.
