Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell today formally applied for a $220M federal grant to improve the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield railroad line for high-speed commuter rail – the capstone project of Rell’s transportation network efforts.
The commuter rail line will eventually lead to Vermont and Montreal, and the grant application was supported by the governors of Massachusetts and Vermont as well as 20 members of Congress from the three states.
On Wednesday, the Connecticut Bond Commission is expected to approve $260 million in state funding for the high-speed rail line, well above the 20-percent state funding match needed for the federal grant.
When complete, the project goal is to reduce the number of cars on the road by 4,000 each day; increase connectivity of rail and bus systems, especially the proposed Hartford-New Britain Busway; link to Bradley International Airport; and generate 4,000 jobs.
