Gov. Lamont unveils plan that aims to shorten train commutes in CT

The time savings come from fixing overhead power cables, reinforcing century-old bridges, and straightening tracks.

News 12 Staff

Jun 21, 2021, 9:24 PM

Updated 1,187 days ago

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Gov. Ned Lamont announced a new plan on Monday that aims to shorten the train commute for residents by up to 25 minutes.
The new plan, called Time for Connecticut, aims to shave six minutes from New Haven to Bridgeport by 2035. From Bridgeport to Stamford, an extra 12 minutes will also be shaved off.
From Stamford to New York, the commute is planned to be shortened by seven minutes.
The time savings come from fixing overhead power cables, reinforcing century-old bridges, and straightening tracks.
Officials say a lot of the changes needed are small things, such as drainage issues.
“A drainage issue leads to a 35 mph speed restriction,” says Transportation Commissioner Joe Giulietti.
The improvements could cost up to $10 billion over the next 15 years. Officials say they're hoping Washington will cover 90% of it.
This depends on President Joe Biden's new infrastructure plan.
Speeding up commutes was a key campaign promise for Gov. Lamont in 2018. However, Time for Connecticut is more modest than his initial “30-30-30” proposal that called for half-hour trips between New Haven and Stamford, and 30 minutes from Stamford to Grand Central Station.
New Metro-North trains are being added to New York on Monday. More will be added in August.
Officials say repairs that are already underway should cut 10 minutes off the commute by next year.
More information on the Time for Connecticut plan can be found online.