CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NEWS RELEASE 2800 BERLIN TURNPIKE P.O. BOX 317546 NEWINGTON CONNECTICUT, 06131-7546

FOR RELEASE: October 23, 2018

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

GOV. MALLOY ANNOUNCES COMPLETION OF NEW TRAIN STATION IN BERLIN SERVING THE HARTFORD LINE

(BERLIN, CT) – Governor Dannel P. Malloy today joined Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner James P. Redeker and other state and local officials to commemorate the grand opening of the new CTrail Hartford Line station in Berlin.  Located at 51 Depot Road, the station provides service to Hartford Line and Amtrak trains.

Construction on the project began in December 2014.  The station was partially opened to passengers in June when the recently created Hartford Line launched for service.

“A modern and efficient transportation system is critical to growing our economy, attracting business, and creating new jobs,” Governor Malloy said.  “This new station in Berlin will help connect commuters who live in the area to cities and towns along the Central Connecticut corridor, making their daily trips easier and much less stressful.  With the creation of the Hartford Line, we are building a future that allows our state to be much more competitive and attract the jobs of the future.”

“The Hartford Line is spurring economic development along the Interstate 91 corridor,” Commissioner Redeker said.  “An example can be seen here in Berlin, where officials have been working diligently to develop transit-oriented initiatives near the station.  Their commitment provides new opportunities for residents to live, work, and compete in the 21st century.”

The new station features several amenities aimed at improving the passenger experience for riders, including high-level platforms on both sides of the tracks, elevators, an overhead pedestrian bridge, canopies covering approximately 50 percent of each platform, ticket vending machines, and a passenger information display system.  To improve passenger safety, it features automatic platform snow melting systems, security cameras, and blue light emergency call boxes.

A surface parking lot at the station includes spaces for 235 vehicles for the public on a first-come, first-served basis.  It includes an electric vehicle charging station that allows for two vehicles to be charged at once.

“Berlin is excited to be part of the CTrail Hartford Line,” Berlin Mayor Mark Kaczynski said.  “The new Berlin station is a great addition to our community and will help our town move forward with the adjacent transit oriented development zone.”

The Hartford Line spurred nearly $400 million in transit-oriented development (TOD) before its launch in June.  Berlin is one of several communities along the Hartford Line corridor that benefited from this transit-centered economic development.  In 2014, Depot Crossing, a mixed-use development that features ground-level commercial space and 16 residential units on the upper floors, opened across the street from the station.

Over the past several years, the Town of Berlin has secured funding for pedestrian improvements in the area surrounding the station and is creating a TOD plan for the development of prime land surrounding the station.

“The new Berlin station provides a convenient and accessible option for Hartford Line commuters while unleashing new opportunities for transit-oriented development,” Senator Richard Blumenthal said.  “I applaud the Connecticut Department of Transportation and am proud to have worked with partners in state and federal government to help see the Hartford Line come to fruition.  The Hartford Line marks a new era in Connecticut’s transportation network, and I will keep fighting for infrastructure funds to continue to expand and enhance our rail system and our economy.”

“This is fantastic development for Berlin and the Hartford Line as we expand affordable, new ways of transportation throughout the state,” Congressman John Larson said. “I am proud to have helped secure over $200 million in federal funding for the Hartford Line to make investments like the new Berlin station a reality.”

Parking and Ticket Fare Information for the Berlin Station

Parking fees for the Berlin surface lot were determined by an analysis of local market rates.  Parking for rail passengers at the station surface lot was free until September 4, 2018, at which point a discounted rate of $2 per day, or $20 per month was implemented.  Parking is free on weekends and federal holidays.  Parking payments can be made by utilizing the pay stations and ticket vending machines located at the station or with cash, credit card, or debit card.  Funds generated from the collection of parking fees will help offset the annual maintenance and operating costs associated with CTrail parking facilities.  The Hartford Line’s service provider, a joint venture of TransitAmerica Services and Alternate Concepts, is responsible for the management, security, and maintenance of the surface parking lot.

Tickets to ride the Hartford Line are available for purchase at three ticket vending machines, located throughout the Berlin station.

About the Hartford Line

Launched in June 2018, the CTrail Hartford Line provides frequent rail service featuring 17 daily round trips between New Haven and Hartford, with 12 of these trips continuing north to Springfield, Massachusetts.  The rail line stops at stations in several towns along the Interstate 91 corridor in Central Connecticut, including in Wallingford, Meriden, Berlin, Windsor, and Windsor Locks.  Future stations are under development for North Haven, Newington, West Hartford, and Enfield.

The Hartford Line is the first passenger rail line to open for service in Connecticut since 1990.  Trains operate at speeds up to 110 m.p.h., with a travel time between New Haven and Springfield of approximately 81 minutes.  Passengers on the Hartford Line can easily find direct or connecting service to New York City, Boston, and Vermont.

For information about the CTrail Hartford Line, including schedules and fares, visit www.hartfordline.com.  Additional information can be found on its social media pages via Facebook at facebook.com/hartfordline, through Twitter at @hartfordline, and through Instagram at @hartfordlinect.  Up-to-the-minute alerts on the status of specific trains on the Hartford Line are made via Twitter at @HLalerts.

The Hartford Line saw a total of 69,067 passenger trips during its first six weeks of operation through July 31, 2018 – not including the opening weekend of June 16 and 17 when service was free. Ridership for the month of June 2018 was 19,767 passenger trips (again, not including the free, opening weekend of service). Ridership for July 2018 was 49,300 passenger trips. These figures are more than double the July 2017 ridership levels on the previous Amtrak-only service.