After years of planning, Waterbury’s Union Station – the former home of the Republican-American newspaper – will reprise its role as a train station, albeit on a smaller scale.
After years of planning, Waterbury’s Union Station — the former home of the Republican-American newspaper — will reprise its role as a train station, albeit on a smaller scale.
The historic building at 389 Meadow St. — with its 240-foot-tall clock tower modeled after the Torre del Mangia in Siena, Italy — is slated for redevelopment.
As the owner works with a developer to transform the building into a mix of 38 luxury apartments, office space and retail, the state Department of Transportation has its own plans for the south end of the building, which it leases from the former newspaper operator.
The DOT confirmed Friday that it has allocated funds to improve the Waterbury train station, including replacing the platform, installing a ticket kiosk and security upgrades at a cost of $24.5 million.
In addition, the DOT plans to spend $7.5 million converting the former baggage room at the south end of 389 Meadow St. into an indoor waiting area. The renovations will include replacing the antiquated canopy and adding public bathrooms.
The 1,570-square-foot waiting area will feature 21 seats, water fountains and customer information displays. The mezzanine will have two offices that are reserved for DOT and Metro-North use.
The basement will house dedicated spaces for elevator control, DOT and Metro-North telecom, and security equipment. A new elevator will be installed to connect all three floors, but will not be open to the public.
Although the waiting area will not be permanently staffed, it will have security cameras, the DOT said.
The DOT expects to break ground on the waiting room in September, with completion set for fall 2026.
“The upgrades will improve safety, comfort, efficiency, accessibility — basically the entire passenger experience,” said Waterbury Mayor Paul K. Pernerewski Jr. “They are not only functional, but will support the continued redevelopment of downtown, building on the momentum of the investment in 11 buildings purchased by private investors, and supporting the conversion of upper floor offices into residential units, and street-level space into retail and commercial uses. These improvements will be an important part of that transformation.”
A rendering of the new indoor waiting area at the Waterbury train station. Contributed
The former Republican-American building served as the city's train hub from the time it was constructed in 1909 until American Republican Inc. purchased it in 1952.
The Republican-American, which was acquired by Hearst Connecticut in February, moved out of 389 Meadow St. this week. Employees say Hearst is looking for a new office for them.
This Waterbury project is part of a larger $140 million DOT initiative to upgrade all six stations on Metro-North Railroad’s Waterbury Branch to include expanded accessibility features, improved platform designs and renovated passenger facilities.
Work has begun on an effort to relocate the Naugatuck train station, which is being moved about one-third of a mile from its existing spot, placing it closer to Naugatuck’s downtown.
The new Naugatuck station, which will also include a passenger waiting area, is expected to open in summer 2027.
The Waterbury Branch, which provides diesel service from the Devon section of Milford to Waterbury, carried 269,352 passengers last year — an increase of nearly 11%, according to CT Mirror.
As of early 2025, the Waterbury Branch was one of just two commuter lines in Connecticut that had surpassed pre-pandemic ridership levels.
