Lawmakers Question Transportation Commissioner On Waterbury Rail Delays

HARTFORD – State Representative David Labriola (R-131) joined 11 of his fellow State Senators and Representatives yesterday in sending a bipartisan letter to Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner Redeker seeking an explanation regarding a recent report from the Connecticut Commuter Rail Council that documents a 65.2 percent On-Time Performance (OTP) rating for the Waterbury Branch Line.

The lawmakers deemed this performance – which is 20 percent lower than the New Canaan Line, Danbury Line and Shore Line East – “unacceptable;” stressing the importance of  their constituents being able to rely on Connecticut’s railways, especially when trying to avoid clogged roadways on their commutes to work.

The letter requested answers to the following questions:

1. Why did the Waterbury Branch line have such a low On-Time Performance?
2. What is the Commissioner’s office doing to prevent this performance again in the future?
3. What is the Commissioner’s plan to ensure success (i.e. increased ridership and reliability) for the Waterbury Branch Line?

A response has not yet been issued.

View a copy of the full letter here.