Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont and that state’s Congressional delegation announced Friday the state won two grants totaling more than $85 million for infrastructure improvements along the Northeast Corridor.
The Federal-State Partnership for State of Good Repair Grant Program will fund two significant capital projects to improve safety and reliability along the state’s New Haven Line and the Amtrak-owned Shore Line East, ensuring no disruptions occur along the Northeast Corridor.
“We all know how critical the Northeast Corridor is for job creation, economic growth, and environmentally friendly transportation,” Lamont said. “Our administration has a vision for faster, more reliable, and greener public transportation, and we are doing everything possible to make that vision a reality. Thanks to these grants, that reality is moving one step closer. We can’t do it alone as a state, and I am thankful for the continued support from our federal partners, our Congressional delegation, and Amtrak. Together, we’re continuing to bring more trains and services to Connecticut travelers and throughout the Northeast Corridor.”
The first grant, for $65.2 million, will support the replacement of the existing 115-year-old, Amtrak-owned Connecticut River Bridge between Old Saybrook and Old Lyme. The project will replace the old bridge with a new modern and resilient movable bridge to improve safety, reliability, and trip time. The Connecticut Department of Transportation and Amtrak will provide 38 percent matching funds.
The second grant, for $20 million, will support phase one of the Ct DOT’s overall plan to replace seven power substations along the New Haven Line. These substations have not been repaired or renovated since the 1980s. The upgrade will make the substations more reliable, more energy efficient, and less costly to maintain, the department said.
“The Northeast Corridor is one of the busiest rail lines in North America, with more than 144,000 commuters using the New Haven Line and Shore Line East daily to travel to work or visit family,” the Congressional delegation said in a statement. “This critical Federal Railroad Administration funding will provide desperately needed improvements to the New Haven Line and Shore Line East, paving the way for more reliable and faster public transportation. This important investment in Connecticut upgrades the power supply and removes a major chokepoint along Shore Line East by replacing the outmoded, deteriorating Connecticut River Bridge. We will continue to fight for federal funding to improve Connecticut’s infrastructure.”