Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont and Transportation Commissioner Joseph Giulietti recently met with Stephen Gardner, Amtrak president and CEO, to discuss opportunities to advance rail infrastructure in the state.
The officials also discussed the partnership between Amtrak and the state.
Lamont said bringing faster trains to Connecticut will improve the state’s economy, growth, and quality of life. He also asserted that now is the time to invest in rail infrastructure.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law authorized $30 billion in competitive grants to improve the Northeast Corridor’s rail performance. Initiatives also are working toward this goal and could benefit from the competitive grant funding.
The TIME FOR CT initiative developed a roadmap to bring faster and more frequent train service between Connecticut and New York. The Northeast Corridor Commission’s CONNECT NEC 2035 initiative aims to improve rail throughout the Northeast.
“The partnership between Amtrak and the Connecticut Department of Transportation is essential to the future of rail in Connecticut,” Giulietti said. “I know by working together – Amtrak and the state – we will be able to bring more services and amenities to Connecticut’s rail passengers. We are looking forward to pursuing funding for key priorities, including TIME FOR CT.”
“We have a partnership in Amtrak that has been successful over the years, and we look forward to that continuing,” Lamont said.