Shoreline Legislators Applaud Rail Expansion

State RepresentativesVincent Candelora (R-86) Noreen Kokoruda (R-101) and Devin Carney (R-23) joined Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman and Connecticut Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner James Redeker at the Guilford train station on Friday, to applaud the rail expansion of Shore Line East. 

The Guilford and Branford Stations of Shore Line East are currently undergoing upgrades. In Guilford, construction is underway to build 100 additional parking spaces, lengthening the platform from 40 feet to 200 feet, and other improvements to improve accessibility and ease of use.  A new platform and pedestrian bridge in Branford are also expected to be completed this year.

“The completion of this project will have a great local impact that our cities and towns need as our state moves through past this fiscal hurdle and into recovery,” said Candelora. “This will help revitalize our transportation grid.”

The Department of Transportation will also expand Shore Line East’s Madison station platform and is engaged in a feasibility study for a new station in Niantic.

“I am thrilled that Madison’s station platform is included within this expansion,” said Kokoruda. “This expansion will benefit Connecticut immensely, it’s important that we make investments into our rail network, these enhancements are a necessary investment.”

Construction will begin at the Clinton station in 2015, adding a new passenger platform. Old Saybrook will also be upgraded with an expected 200 parking spots and electric vehicle charging stations.

“I’m pleased that we will soon see an expansion of Shore Line East,” said Carney. “My hope is that these enhancements improve the service and quality of travel our riders experience.”

Shore Line East has experienced a 6.75 percent increase in riders every year for the last 10 years. The upgrades to Shore Line East are part of a transportation initiative, Let’s Go CT.