Two top Democratic lawmakers say the projected $1.2 billion price tag for a proposed commuter rail maintenance facility raises red flags.
House Speaker James Amann of Milford says that besides inflation, he thinks incompetence and miscommunication may be to blame for the escalating cost. The initial estimate in 2005 was $300 million in state and federal funds.
Senate President Donald E. Williams Jr. says it’s not a certainty the General Assembly will approve $250 million in additional bonding before the session ends May 7 to keep the first phase moving along.
Both Democrat and Republican legislative leaders met with Gov. M. Jodi Rell privately Wednesday to discuss the project, a day after two legislative committees grilled administration officials about the overruns.
The facility is a year behind schedule and expected to be completed by 2012. It will service at least 300 new commuter rail cars and hundreds of existing trains.
