Congressional Delegation Announces CT Receiving $11.6M to Expand Service on Hartford Line

Governor Ned Lamont and the members of Connecticut’s Congressional delegation today announced that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is awarding Connecticut approximately $11.6 million from President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to increase and extend service along the CTrail Hartford Line.

This funding is being awarded to the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) under the FRA’s Restoration and Enhancement Program to further expand rail services and improve customer service for riders along the corridor. The federal grant will be matched by approximately $13.4 million in state funds from CTDOT.

Governor Lamont said, “The Hartford Line is not only providing a valuable and convenient public transit resource for people who live in central Connecticut, but it is also helping create new opportunities for economic growth and development in the towns it serves. Expanding service on this line will further make travel on this rail line even more convenient, and I appreciate President Biden and the FRA for partnering with our state to make this happen.”

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal said, “This major grant is a monumental boost for Connecticut rail – more service, more reliably and safely. It’s great news for job growth and economic progress.”

U.S. Senator Chris Murphy said, “Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this $11.6 million federal investment in the Hartford Line will help cut down on travel times and pump billions of dollars into Connecticut’s economy, all while creating good-paying union jobs and reducing our carbon footprint. This is a big win for Connecticut commuters and for communities along the Hartford Line who will enjoy the benefits of more convenient, reliable transportation and sustained economic growth for years to come.”

U.S. Representative John Larson (CT-01) said, “I am glad to join Governor Lamont and the Connecticut delegation to announce more than $11 million in federal infrastructure funding to expand passenger rail service along the Hartford Line. Over a decade ago, our state and delegation secured the first federal funding to build the Hartford Line. Now, it is serving 600,000 riders annually. Today’s funding is another example of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law connecting our region and expanding transit options for residents and commuters alike. We will continue to work together to create good-paying jobs and make affordable, reliable transit more accessible for all along our ‘Knowledge Corridor.’”

U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) said, “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will help Connecticut get to an economy with more jobs and higher wages to deal with the cost of living. Today’s announcement of $11.6 million for the Hartford Line is just one more example of the benefits of federal, state, and local collaboration on transportation projects. Totaling $300 million so far from BIL, these rail investments will expand services from Hartford south to New Haven and north to Windsor Locks and Springfield, supporting our transit-oriented development goals and connecting people with jobs while bolstering our local economies.”

U.S. Representative Jahana Hayes (CT-05) said, “With a stop in Meriden, the Hartford Line provides accessible transit options for people living in the Fifth District and those traveling across Connecticut. The Federal Railroad Administration funding announced today will continue to expand rail services and connect more travelers to safe, reliable public transit. I am thrilled to see yet another investment for our state made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.”

Connecticut Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto said, “This continued and increased investment from the FRA ensures the Hartford Line and Hartford Union Station will continue to grow and provide reliable service for years to come and provide even greater connectivity to Bradley International Airport. I would like to thank the FRA, Governor Lamont, and our state and federal partners for supporting rail investments that improve quality of life in our state.”

The overall $25 million project will increase service and reliability across the entire Hartford Line, including the rail stations in New Haven, Hartford, Windsor Locks, and Springfield, Massachusetts.

In total, the CTrail Hartford Line Expanded Enhancement Project will:

• Add one weekday round trip from New Haven to Hartford, addressing a midday service gap of up to three hours.
• Increase customer service hours at Hartford Union Station by 75%.
• Extend the weekend 6456, 6457, 6458, and 6459 trains to Windsor Locks station.
• Extend the weekday 4401 train from Windsor Locks to Springfield.
• Continue previous 2020 funding for the addition of two weekdays trains between New Haven and Springfield.
• Enhance connectivity of the existing rail service along the Northeast Corridor.

Since its inception in 2018, the CTrail Hartford Line has grown significantly, spurring economic development and investments throughout the corridor. More than 750,000 passenger trips were expected in 2024, the highest ridership year since the service began.

By 2030, the CTrail Hartford Line Expanded Enhancement Project is projected to increase ridership by about 90,000, and saving motorists more than 100 million miles traveled, over 3.5 million gallons of fuel annually, and over 25,000 metric tons of reduced carbon emissions per year.

For more information on the Hartford Line, visit HartfordLine.com.