Connecticut commuters are calling for a faster trip to New York City, but aging bridges and infrastructure are partly to blame for the slower rides.
State Department of Transportation Commissioner James Redeker estimates a cost of at least $3 billion to upgrade bridges, overhead catenary lines and the signaling system – all work needed before the Metro-North Railroad trains can go faster.
Politicians and business leaders argue the investment would help the state's economy and ease traffic woes.
But Redeker says that while he understands the attraction of faster commutes, he needs a strategy not just for rail but for all modes of public transportation. His agency has begun an initiative called Transform CT to help gauge the public's desire for improvements and the willingness to pay for them.
