View of the State Street Railroad Station design. The $5-million station is expected to be completed by Winter 2002.

Construction has begun on the new State Street rail station that will be located between Court and Chapel Streets in New Haven. The new downtown station will provide an added stop between Branford and New Haven's Union Station for the Shore Line East commuter rail service, which operates between New Haven and New London. The station will also offer easy walking access to the many businesses near the New Haven Green, providing an even more attractive alternative to driving while I-95 highway and bridge construction is underway for the next 12 years.

The State Street Station is "Contract A" of the 12-year, $680-million I-95 New Haven Harbor Crossing Corridor Improvement Program, which is intended to reduce traffic congestion and expand transportation alternatives in the region. (The improvement program includes construction of a new Pearl Harbor Memorial (Q) Bridge and reconstruction of the I-95/I-91/Route 34 Interchange.)

Significant improvements will also be made to the other Shore Line East rail stations in Branford, Guilford, Madison, Clinton and Westbrook, including adding parking and new high-level passenger platforms.

Federal, state and local officials emphasized the benefits of the downtown train station at a groundbreaking ceremony at the location of the new State Street station. Governor John G. Rowland and New Haven Mayor John DeStefano, Jr., were joined by Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT) Commissioner James F. Sullivan and other municipal and transportation officials for the ceremony hosted by Judy Gott, Executive Director of the South Central Regional Council of Governments (SCRCOG).

"Construction of the State Street rail station demonstrates the state's commitment to reduce congestion on I-95 and to mitigate traffic impacts associated with the highway and bridge construction," said Governor Rowland. "The new station will make it more convenient for commuters to switch to alternative modes of transportation." Governor Rowland stressed that government officials and agencies need to change rider behavior to reduce congestion on the highways. Every day, approximately 10,000 single-occupancy cars pass through New Haven on I-95. The congestion is "having a huge impact, not only on our opportunities for expansion, but on our quality of life," said the Governor.

"There is coordination of the pieces of this program in the region," said Gott. "The state chose the transit component to start off this improvement program to ensure that transit is in place before construction begins."

Pictured with ceremonial golden shovels from left to right are: Wallingford Mayor William Dickinson, the Chairman of SCRCOG's Transportation Committee; Division Administrator Donald West from the Federal Highway Administration; New Haven Mayor John DeStefano, Jr.; ConnDOT Commissioner James F. Sullivan; Governor John G. Rowland; and Milford Mayor Frederick Lisman and Chairman of SCRCOG.

A commuter rail station at this location will also bring a new focus to the eastern edge of downtown. The increase in activity and enhancement of commuter services are expected to advance the city's plans for development of a central bus depot directly across from the new rail station on State Street.

ConnDOT Commissioner Sullivan encouraged the public to ride the trains. More frequent morning Shore Line East service is expected to begin in April 2002, providing trains every half hour between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. with easy connections to New Haven Line (Metro-North) trains, Commuter Connection shuttles (to Sargent Drive and throughout downtown New Haven) and private shuttles.

Also participating in the event were Mayor William Dickinson of Wallingford and Chairman of SCRCOG's Transportation Committee; Mayor Frederick Lisman of Milford; Mayor H. Richard Borer, Jr., of West Haven; First Selectman Mitchell R. Goldblatt of Orange; First Selectman Anthony J. DaRos of Branford; and Mayor Joann Wentworth of North Branford.

Rideworks Review, Spring 2001 - Front Page