Gov. Dannel Malloy, along with state and federal officials, announced Monday afternoon the award $121 million in federal funding for a high-speed rail project between New Haven, Hartford, and Springfield, Mass.
While standing at the Meriden Train Station, Malloy called the funding a major step in the project’s future.
“Achieving this milestone means we can complete the design and construction of new track, signal and communication systems, bridge and station infrastructure improvements between New Haven and Hartford and provide an economic boon for the region,” Malloy said in the announcement.
The $120.9 million will be combined with $175 million in state bond financing. The total federal commitment will be $191 million. In total, $366 million in state and federal funding has been committed to the Connecticut portion of the New England rail system.
The 62-mile project will include trains every 30 minutes during peak periods and every 60 minutes off-peak. Speeds could reach 110 mph.
Service is expected to begin in 2016 when service aboard 12 trains a day will be increased to 34, or 17 round trips.