Gov. M. Jodi Rell is calling for a review of a new commuter rail maintenance center in New Haven that needs an additional $300 million to build.
Rell wants her budget office to find an analyst with no ties to the Department of Transportation to look into why the cost of the project has skyrocketed and whether any cuts can be made. Results are due to the governor by June 30.
Her call for an outside review comes on the eve of an informational hearing at the state Capitol, where the legislature’s Transportation and Finance committees plan to question officials from DOT and the Office of Policy and Management about the project.
Democratic state lawmakers want to know why OPM did not know about the overruns earlier. Sen. Donald DeFronzo, co-chairman of the Transportation Committee, says there’s a disconnect within the Republican administration.
Lawmakers also worry that more than 300 new MetroNorth rail cars could be in jeopardy if money can’t be found for the maintenance facility.
