Rep. Polletta Stands in Support of Legislation Making Improvements to Waterbury Rail Line

HARTFORD – State Representative Joe Polletta (R-68) was among a bipartisan group of nearly 30 municipal leaders, business community representatives, and fellow lawmakers on Monday to stand in support of legislation that would require the state Department of Transportation (DOT) to complete work being performed on the Waterbury Rail Line.

The legislation, co-sponsored by members of the legislature’s Waterbury Rail Line Caucus, would enable the state to acquire new rail cars, expand service to meet passenger and regional needs, and develop adequate rail storage and maintenance facilities.

“This is common sense legislation that would improve the lives of the thousands of people who rely on the Waterbury Line for their commute and access to the main Metro-North Line,” said Rep. Polletta, a member of the Waterbury Rail Line Caucus. “In addition, improvements to the line would send a positive signal to developers who are looking to take advantage of less expensive and conveniently-located workspaces, but who currently view the Waterbury as inaccessible. This would, in turn, create well-paying jobs and make Waterbury an economic hub once again.”

At 27 miles, the Waterbury Rail Line is the longest branch of the Metro-North Railway and serves most of the Naugatuck Valley with its six stations. Legislators say that years of neglect and failed upkeep have left the line dilapidated, unreliable, and obsolete.

At a press conference Monday, legislators lamented that commutes are regularly interrupted by excessive delays and an insufficient number of trains. Moreover, riders are provided with no real-time information when service is disrupted or delayed, and in some cases, rail service is substituted with buses, causing a significant lag in commute times.

To date, the state has invested $90 million in new safety systems but has not invested in the equipment and service improvements advocates say are needed to make marked improvements to the line.

The legislation proposed by the Waterbury Line Caucus went before the Transportation Committee for a subject matter public hearing later in the day.

“I hope my colleagues on the Transportation Committee and in the legislature recognize the need—and potential economic benefits—of improving service on this line,” continued Rep. Polletta. “It’s been a long time coming, and I look forward to finally seeing it come to fruition.”

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