Ground Broken for New Westbrook Train Station

   Governor Dannel P. Malloy today joined Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner James P. Redeker and local Westbrook officials at the groundbreaking for a new Westbrook train station serving Shore Line East customers.

   The $14.4 million station with nearly 200 parking spaces will be fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), providing high level platforms on the north and south sides of the track. The station will be located on Norris Avenue (Route 153), just off Interstate 95 (Exit 65), adjacent to the existing station.

   “Improving our mass transit infrastructure is vital to increasing our regional competitiveness and to ensuring a fast, convenient, and reliable commute for our workforce,” said Governor Malloy. "This station is only one of many investments we are making in our transit system — from roads and bridges to putting 405 new rail cars in service to new stations and parking in New Fairfield, Branford, and now Westbrook.  We will continue to push hard to bring federal dollars back to the state, and we will continue to strengthen our transit system—for our economy and for riders.”

   The new Westbrook train station will include canopy covered high-level platforms the length of four rail cars, an enclosed waiting area, pedestrian bridge, elevators and station amenities, additional parking on north and south sides of the tracks with a commuter drop off and/bus pick up area, ADA accessible ramp from the parking lot level to platforms on each side, and a full audio and visual messaging system.

   “We worked closely with Westbrook and the state legislature to secure this site for development as well as address other transportation needs here in Southeastern Connecticut,” said DOT Commissioner Redeker, adding that the new station will open next year.

   The $14.4 million total covers site acquisition, engineering, environmental compliance, construction and inspection services. Banton Construction Company of North Haven was awarded the contract to construct the station, platforms and surface parking.

   Shore Line East rail service is operated by Amtrak under contract with the DOT. Stations are in New Haven, Branford, Guilford, Madison, Clinton, Westbrook, Old Saybrook and New London. Through November 2011, SLE ridership was up 4.5 percent over the first 11 months of 2010. Additional information is available at www.shorelineeast.com.