Construction Begins On West Haven Rail Station

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Construction Begins On West Haven Rail Station Station Set To Open In 2012

 

WEST HAVEN, Conn. November 11, 2010

-- By Robert Goulston WFSB. CBS/CH.3 Reporter

 

Construction is starting on a new Metro-North Railroad commuter train station in West Haven.

 

Gov. Jodi Rell and other officials participated in a ceremonial groundbreaking for the $103 million project, which has been planned for years on Wednesday.

 

West Haven and neighboring Orange are part of an 11-mile stretch between Metro-North's stations in New Haven and Milford.

 

It's the longest portion without a station on the New Haven Line, which links Connecticut shoreline towns with New York City.

 

The station is expected to open by the end of 2012. It will have parking for about 660 vehicles plus a waiting room, restrooms and a news stand.

 

"It will be a first-class station in every way, and it will serve the community and our commuters for years to come," Rell said.

 

Rell said the station will help reduce congestion by getting people out of their cars and into trains.

 

U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro praised the groundbreaking on Wednesday.

 

DeLauro released a statement that said: "Our region faces a serious strain when it comes to transportation infrastructure, and with 80 percent of Connecticut commuters driving to work by themselves, we have to provide a better alternative. Today's groundbreaking is an important step in the right direction, and will provide safer, more efficient means of getting to and from work, reduce our impact on the environment, and revitalize the West Haven community.

 

"Investments like these are critical to creating jobs and producing long-term economic growth in Connecticut, especially amongst our hard-hit construction industry. By investing in our transportation infrastructure again, we can put these men and women back to work. I thank my colleagues for their hard work and dedication to this project, and look forward to seeing the West Haven Train Station come to life."

 

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