Rep. Howard: Public Invited to Public Information Meetings for Eastern CT Corridor Rail & Transit Feasibility Study

Public Invited to Public Information Meetings for Eastern Connecticut Corridor Rail and Transit Feasibility Study

The public is invited to attend a series of in-person and virtual public information meetings for the Eastern Connecticut Corridor Rail and Transit Feasibility Study conducted by the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT).

The public information meetings are being held to introduce the study and provide the public and local community the opportunity to offer comments and ask questions regarding the study. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the viability of additional public transportation services in Southeastern Connecticut.

Meeting 1: Monday, December 12, 2022 from 6:00-7:30 p.m. at Kelly STEAM Magnet Middle School, 25 Mahan Drive, Norwich, CT 06360 and streamed live on CTDOT’s YouTube channel

Meeting 2: Thursday, December 15, 2022 from 12:00-1:30 p.m. at the Submarine Force Library and Museum, 1 Crystal Lake Road, Groton, CT 06340 and streamed live on CTDOT’s YouTube channel. Attendees will have free access to tour the library and museum, and the Nautilus Submarine following the meeting.

Both in-person venues are ADA accessible and accessible by SEAT buses.

Meeting 3: Thursday, December 15, 2022 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. via Zoom Webinar and YouTube Live (with option for audio-only). Registration is not required, but details on how to join the meeting can be found at https://portal.ct.gov/DOT/PP_Bureau/ECRTS-Public-Meetings.

During the 2021 legislative session, the Connecticut General Assembly passed a bill requesting that CTDOT conduct a feasibility study pertaining to extending Shoreline East service. CTrail Shore Line East is a commuter rail service operating between New London and New Haven, with connections to Metro-North’s New Haven Line.

The study is being conducted at the direction of the state legislature to investigate the feasibility of and market for:

• Extending the Shore Line East rail line into Rhode Island
• Establishing a new passenger rail service from the City of New London to the City of Norwich
• Establishing a new passenger train station in the Town of Groton and Stonington Borough
• Extending other ground transportation systems in the eastern region of the state and provide interconnectivity between such systems and rail lines

The existing conditions assessment portion of this study will establish the foundation for a detailed evaluation of the needs and opportunities for additional rail and transit service in Eastern Connecticut, including an extension of rail service to Norwich, Connecticut and to Westerly, Rhode Island, as determined through a partnership between Rhode Island Department of Transportation and the Connecticut Department of Transportation. The study is anticipated to be completed and delivered to the Connecticut legislature on or before October 1, 2023.

Residents and stakeholders are invited to respond to a survey (Spanish/Español – Haitian Creole/Kreyòl ayisyen – Chinese/中国人) about the study.

Members of the public can submit comments and questions to Elise Greenberg, AICP, Project Manager, at DOTplanning@ct.gov or (860) 594-3239. Please reference the name of the study in your email or voice message.

Language assistance can be provided at no cost to the public and efforts will be made to respond to timely requests for assistance. Persons may request assistance by contacting CTDOT’s Language Assistance Line at (860) 594-2109, at least five business days prior to the meeting. Persons having hearing and/or speech disabilities may dial 711 for the Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) and instruct the operator to contact (860) 594-2243.

Recordings of the meetings will be available on the Eastern Connecticut Corridor Rail and Transit Feasibility Study website and on CTDOT’s YouTube channel following the events.