Blumenthal, Murphy, Himes, Esty Back Federal Funds for Metro-North Danbury Branch Improvements

(Hartford, CT) – In a letter to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Congressman Jim Himes (D-4) and Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (D-5) offered full support for Connecticut’s request for $12 million in federal funds for the design, engineering and construction of a new dock yard in Norwalk for Metro-North’s Danbury branch line.

“This project is critical to stage and construct the replacement of the 119-year-old Walk Bridge on the NHL in Norwalk, but will also provide long-term benefits of operational flexibility, on-time performance, and increased capacity on the New Haven Line (NHL) and at NHL’s Danbury Branch,” they wrote. “This core capacity improvement project will add sidings and extend electrification on the southern end of Metro-North Railroad’s Danbury Branch of the New Haven Line (NHL) in an area formally known as the “Dock Yard” in Norwalk, Connecticut.”

Full text of the letter is below:

Dear Secretary Foxx,

We write in full support of the application submitted by the Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT) for funding from FTA’s “Pilot Program for Expedited Project Delivery, Section 5309 Fixed Guideway Capital Investment Grants (CIG).”  The funding will support ConnDOT’s Danbury Line Dock Yard Improvement project.  This core capacity improvement project will add sidings and extend electrification on the southern end of Metro-North Railroad’s Danbury Branch of the New Haven Line (NHL) in an area formally known as the “Dock Yard” in Norwalk, Connecticut. 

ConnDOT has requested $12 million in FTA Pilot Program funds to supplement an $18 million overmatch in state funds to be used for an innovative Construction Manager/General Contractor (CMGC) delivery method to expeditiously and cost-effectively complete design and construction of this project by August, 2017. 

The project is critical to stage and construct the replacement of the 119-year-old Walk Bridge on the NHL in Norwalk, but will also provide long-term benefits of operational flexibility, on-time performance, and increased capacity on the NHL and NHL’s Danbury Branch. 

We fully support ConnDOT’s application and ask for your consideration of this very worthy proposal. 

Sincerely,

Richard Blumenthal

United States Senate

Christopher S. Murphy

United States Senate                                                      

Jim Himes

Member of Congress

Elizabeth H. Esty

Member of Congress

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