(NECN: Brian Burnell) - It is common knowledge the train is a more efficient method of transportation than the car especially in the very crowed northeast corridor where traffic is a big problem. Connecticut officials are looking to solve that problem over the rails and they've got a 40-million dollar go ahead from the federal government.
Rep.Chris Murphy, D-CT 5th District: "40-million dollars in federal funding to help us build a commuter rail line from Springfield to New Haven."
Its part of the 8-billion dollars President Obama has dedicated to high speed rail projects across the country. The 40-million is just a down payment on the total project. It will cover the cost of building a second track between New Britain and Newington to reduce congestion and allow more trains to run at the same time. The state transportation commissioner says the commuter line between New Haven, Hartford and Springfield can be up and running in 4 to 5 years. His ultimate goal of high speed trains would take 6 years if everything goes perfectly.
There's been what you might call a commuter rail culture in the southwestern part of the state for years because people have been traveling to New York City by rail for a long time. And officials are convinced that same culture will translate to the center part of the state with this commuter line.
Joe Marie, CT DOT Commissioner: "We're talking about a corridor now that connects our capital city, Springfield, the Massachusetts vision and how that fits in with western Massachusetts and Amherst and Northampton and all the way up to Burlington where we do see a future of inter-city and commuter travel."
Officials also see economic development along the rail line.
Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Connecticut: "Examples of Charlotte, North Carolina where a light rail system property values along that light rail system exceed property values of any other property in the Charlotte area. In Portland, Oregon the light rail system revitalized the city of Portland. It was a dead city and putting that light rail system in completely changed the economic opportunities in that community. Today it's a vibrant city."
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To get this done the entire 62-mile distance between Springfield and New Haven will have to be double tracked. This first project is expected to pay dividends immediately in the form of 400 construction jobs.
