State Approves $26 Million for High-Speed Rail

By LEANNE GENDREAU and DEBRA BOGSTIE

Updated 4:09 PM EDT, Fri, Jan 8, 2010

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Hopes are alive for a high-speed commuter rail service for the New Haven and Springfield corridor, and all of the economic potential officials say it offers the state.

The State Bond Commission has approved $26 million for a project which, House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan, D-Meriden, said is important for the state and the region because it will create jobs and encourage economic development.

Donovan issued a statement on Friday morning to announce that the funds were approved. They are expected to help with environmental and design components of the proposed high-speed rail line and help develop the project.

"Bookended by Boston and New York, our location is one of Connecticut's great assets. If we remove one of the great impediments to growth - traffic congestion along the corridor - with high speed rail, our economic future improves exponentially," Donovan said. "With the investment of these funds, we are telling the federal government that we are committed to moving a project with enormous economic ramifications for Connecticut and the Northeast forward."

The vote was delayed from October because Sen. Eileen Daily, D-Westbrook, had some questions, the New Haven Register reported.

The plan is to restore double tracking on 10 miles near Hartford, which would allow Amtrak to carry more traffic more efficiently, the Register reports.

“Getting an (New Haven-Hartford-Springfield) line up and running will take a tremendous load off crowded Interstate 91 and bring new visitors, new business and new development to the entire corridor,” Gov. M. Jodi Rell said. “This ‘trunk’ will have branches that connect to Bradley International Airport, Metro-North, Amtrak and Shore Line East – making it easier, faster and more efficient to get anywhere in our great state.”

"I believe that we're moving forward and I think certainly I think transportation and mass transportation has had a high priority in this administration," she said.