CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NEWS RELEASE 2800 BERLIN TURNPIKE P.O. BOX 317546 NEWINGTON CONNECTICUT, 06131-7456

FOR RELEASE: August 15, 2013

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS TELEPHONE: (860) 594-3062 FAX: (860) 594-3065 WEB SITE: www.ct.gov/dot

Public Informational Meeting on Overhead Rail Power System Replacemen

In Norwalk, Bridgeport, Westport & Stratford

      The Connecticut Department of Transportation will conduct a public informational meeting concerning proposed replacement of the existing catenary system on the Metro-North New Haven Main Line in Norwalk, Westport, Bridgeport and Stratford.

      The meeting will be held on Thursday, August 22, 2013, at the City Council Chambers of Bridgeport City Hall located at 45 Lyon Terrace in Bridgeport. Department personnel will be available at 6:30 pm to answer questions prior to a formal design presentation at 7 pm. 

      The presentation will cover the replacement of the antiquated 90+ year old system which will be replaced with a state-of-the-art two wire automatically tensioned catenary system.  The new system is designed for the maximum speed allowed by track geometry, other physical restraints, to support Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor High Speed Rail Program and Federal High Speed Rail initiatives. Also, aerial innerduct to house Fiber Optic Cables on the north and south sides of the railroad will be installed as part of a system wide communication upgrade planned for the entire New Haven Line.

      Construction will take place starting 2014 and complete 2017 at an estimated cost ranging between $60 and $90 million.

      The meeting facility is ADA accessible.  Deaf and hearing impaired persons wishing to attend this meeting and requiring an interpreter must make arrangements by contacting the Department’s Office of Communications at (860) 594-3062 (voice only) at least five working days prior to the meeting.  Language assistance is provided at no cost to the public, and efforts will be made to respond to requests for assistance.

      Department personnel and plans of the project will be available during the meeting for discussion.  More detailed information can be obtained through the Department of Transportation’s Office of Rail, 2800 Berlin Turnpike, Newington, Connecticut, Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. excluding holidays or you may send written inquiries to Mr. Jayantha Mather, Transportation Principal Engineer, Department of Transportation, 2800 Berlin Turnpike, P.O. Box 317546, Newington, Connecticut 06131-7546.  Please refer to State Project No. 301-145 in all correspondence.  Anyone wishing to discuss the project may contact Mr. Jay Young Project Engineer at (860) 594-2881 or by e-mail at d.jay.young@ct.gov.

      Any interested parties are welcome to attend this meeting and discuss this project with Department personnel.