Central Connecticut Rail Study

 

Welcome

The State of Connecticut, through CTDOT, determined the need to conduct a market analysis and feasibility study regarding the implementation of fixed-guideway rail or bus transit service in the Central Connecticut Corridor, directly serving the cities of Waterbury, Bristol, and New Britain and adjacent towns of Plainville, Berlin, and Plymouth. This initiative is referred to as the Central Connecticut Rail Study (CCRS).

This website has been used as a tool to help keep the public informed of all activities related to the study, as well as provide a method for the public to provide input on the study as it progressed. The project is now complete, and information will remain available on this website through October 31, 2017. After that time, all documents will be available through the Connecticut Department of Transportation website: http://www.ct.gov/dot/site/default.asp

If you have questions or would like further information, please contact Ms. Anna Bergeron, Transportation Planner II, Connecticut Department of Transportation. Office of Intermodal Planning Email: Anna.Bergeron@ct.gov.

News

Project Update 5/2/2017

The CTDOT has completed the Central CT Rail Study. Documents are now posted on this website and include the following reports:

• Existing Conditions
• Freight market Analysis
• CCRS Infrastructure Assessment
• Freight Workshop Summary
• Bus Rapid Transit Alternative
• Diesel Multiple Unit Alternative
• Transit Oriented Development
• Summary of Findings

To review these documents or download them, please click here.

To view the final project press release, click here.


6/24/2016: : The final public meetings were held on June 15 and 16 in Berlin and Bristol. Copies of the presentation for each meeting can be found here: Bristol and Berlin.

6/10/2016: The final Public Meetings for the CCRS will be held on June 15, 2016 at the Berlin-Peck Memorial Library in Berlin and on June 16, 2016 at the Bristol Public Library in Bristol. Each meeting will run from 5:30pm to 7:30pm, with a presentation at 6:00pm. For more details on these meetings, please click here.

8/31/2015:
Over the past several years, the Connecticut Department of Transportation has been conducting this study of the transit needs of the Berlin – Bristol - Waterbury corridor, and the potential future use of the Pan Am Southern line between Waterbury and Berlin. During the past year, the focus of the Central Connecticut Rail Study (CCRS) shifted to:

• finishing the passenger analyses (rail and bus)
• exploring ways to improve freight rail service on the Pan Am Southern line


The latter efforts included assessing the existing rail infrastructure, examining the current and future freight rail market and opportunities, and evaluating methods for sustaining and improving freight service on the line. Most recently the Department is working with Pan Am Railroad on potential options for growing the market and improving the rail and related infrastructure in the corridor. The latest discussions are expected to continue through the end of this year, and the results will become part of the study report.

Options for improving freight movement were given a significant boost this summer through Governor Dannel Malloy’s newly authorized Let’s Go CT transportation program, which includes a freight rail improvement program. The program includes an annual commitment of $10 million for freight rail improvements statewide. Corridors such as the Pan Am Southern Line will be the primary beneficiary of this new state program. To view Let's Go CT click here.

Freight rail improvements will not only support economic development in the corridor, they will also support continued maintenance and upgrades of the rail line infrastructure that will be important for any restoration of passenger service.

1/8/2015: The third Advisory Committee meeting for the CCRS was held on November 20, 2014. To view the report of this meeting, including the presentation that was given, please click here.

11/3/2014: The third Advisory Committee meeting for the CCRS will be held on November 20, 2014 from 10am-12pm at the offices of the Central Connecticut Chambers of Commerce (200 Main Street, Bristol, CT). This meeting is open to the public. An update will be given on adjustments made to the Study’s scope of work. The meeting will also include a presentation of work that has been completed since the last Advisory Committee meeting.

10/2/2014: Historic photos of the Terryville Tunnel and its construction have been added to the website under Study Documents. Construction on the tunnel began on February 21, 1907, and it opened for passenger rail service on January 28, 1911. Analysis of this tunnel is a critical component of the CCRS. To view the historic documents, please click here. Documents courtesy of the Plymouth Historical Society and Judith Giguere, Town of Plymouth Historian.

6/23/2014: During last Spring's Alternatives Workshop and Study Advisory Committee meeting, a number of additional items were identified for study consideration. As a result, the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) has expanded the scope of the CCRS, and the Study Team has been revising the study approach to address these items. The new CCRS scope includes an expanded analysis of potential new bus options, additional rail vehicle options, and a more detailed look at freight rail conditions. The next Study Advisory Committee meeting is planned for Fall 2014. To view the updated Study schedule, please click here.

6/13/2013: A CCRS technical group held an alternatives development workshop on May 13, 2013. To view the report of this workshop, please click here. Also, the second Study Advisory Committee meeting for the CCRS was held on June 5, 2013. To view the report of this meeting, including the presentation and handouts that were distributed, please click here.

5/31/2013
–The first Public Meetings for the CCRS will be held on June 17, 2013 at the Silas Bronson Library in Waterbury and on June 20, 2013 at the New Britain Public Library. Each meeting will run from 5:30pm to 7:30pm, with a presentation at 6:00pm. For more details on these meetings, please click here.

5/29/2013
–The second Study Advisory Committee meeting for the CCRS will be held on June 5, 2013 from 10am-12pm at the offices of the Central Connecticut Chambers of Commerce (200 Main Street, Bristol, CT). This meeting is open to the public. An update will be given on Study activities to date, and a presentation will be given on the Long List of Alternatives and potential station locations within the Study Corridor. Please Note: This information will also be presented at public meetings on June 17, 2013 in Waterbury and on June 20 in New Britain. More information about these public meetings will be posted soon!

5/1/2013
–Following the first Study Advisory Committee (SAC) meeting in February, SAC members were given the opportunity to comment on the preliminary alternatives, draft purpose and need statement, and Existing Conditions Report presented at this meeting. A summary of these comments and the responses from the CTDOT can be found here. An updated version of the CCRS Purpose and Need Statement can be found here, and the updated Existing Conditions Report can be found in the Study Documents section of this website. The comments regarding the preliminary alternatives will be considered in conjunction with the feedback collected at an alternatives workshop being held later this month.

4/23/2013
–The Study Team hosted two focus group meetings on April 3, 2013. The purpose of these meetings was to better understand the travel experiences, perceptions, expectations, and preferences of individuals who live and work in the Study Corridor. To view the Summary Report of the items discussed at these meetings, please click here.

2/19/2013
–The first Study Advisory Committee meeting for the CCRS was held on February 7, 2013. To view the report of this meeting, including the presentation and handouts that were distributed, please click here.

2/4/2013 –The CCRS Study Team has published its Survey Analysis Report, which summarizes the information obtained from Study Corridor residents and employees through in-person and online surveys. The report can be found under “Study Documents.”

1/25/2013
– The first Study Advisory Committee meeting for the CCRS will be held on February 7, 2013 from 10am-12pm at the offices of the Central Connecticut Chambers of Commerce (200 Main Street, Bristol, CT). This meeting is open to the public. To view the meeting agenda, please click here.

1/7/2013
– The CCRS Study Team is in the process of analyzing survey data and developing preliminary alternative concepts. These items, along with other aspects of the Study, will be discussed at a Study Advisory Committee meeting in February 2013. Details of this meeting will be posted on this website as they become available. If you are interested in receiving notifications of Study activities, please complete the Contact form at the bottom of this page and request to be added to the Study’s Interested Parties e-mail list.

11/20/2012 – The CCRS Study Team has completed the first existing conditions report for the CCRS – Existing Conditions: Demographics and Transportation. The purpose of this report is to identify current demographic and socioeconomic conditions, as well as transportation services and infrastructure within the Study Corridor. This report can be found under “Study Documents.”

10/9/2012 –The CCRS Study Team needs YOUR input! Where do you travel? When do you travel? What are your priorities? Please click here to fill out our survey. Your input will help shape the future of transportation in the place where you live and work. Four $25 Amazon gift cards will be awarded randomly to survey participants. UPDATE: The survey is now closed. Thank you to all who participated

10/1/2012 – Thank you for your interest in the Central Connecticut Rail Study! The study is underway, and the first public informational meeting is expected to be held in Winter 2012 / 2013. Details of this meeting will be posted on the study website as information becomes available.

Study Maps

study area map

study area map

Study Team

The Study Team consists of representatives from CTDOT as well as members of the consultant team. The consultants were led by URS Corporation of Rocky Hill, CT. The team also included individuals from A. Strauss-Wieder, Inc. (Westfield, NJ) and Nelson\Nygaard (New York, NY). The Small Business Enterprise (SBE) firm on the team is Gregg Wies & Gardner Architects, LLC (New Haven, CT).

Schedule

The CCRS began in Spring 2012. The projected was completed in Summer 2016.


Background

The State of Connecticut, through CTDOT, has identified a need to conduct a study regarding the implementation of fixed-guideway rail or bus transit service between Waterbury and Berlin. This corridor has been analysed for enhanced transportation options and passenger rail service times in the past, and the Study Team has reviewed studies that have identified and addressed transportation needs within the CCRS Study Corridor. These reviews provide a summary of relevant study reports, highlighting their relationship to the CCRS. Please click on the link below to view the Review of Previous Studies.

Review of Previous Studies


Public Involvement

Given the numerous communities and stakeholders associated with the CCRS, public involvement was a critical aspect of this study. This section of the website includes information relating to the Public Involvement Plan, Study Advisory Committee, and Public Meetings.

Public Involvement Plan
Final Press Release

Advisory Committee

The Advisory Committee met four times during the course of CCRS. All meetings were open to the public, and meeting documents are posted on the website.

Advisory Committee Meeting #1

 

Advisory Committee Meeting #2

  • June 5, 2013 / 10am - 12pm
  • Central Connecticut Chambers of Commerce (200 Main Street, Bristol, CT)
  • Agenda
  • Report of Meeting (5.3 MB)

Advisory Committee Meeting #3

  • November 20, 2014 / 10am - 12pm
  • Central Connecticut Chambers of Commerce (200 Main Street, Bristol, CT)
  • Report of Meeting (2.6 MB)

Advisory Committee Meeting #4

June 9, 2016 / 2pm - 4pm
Central Connecticut Chambers of Commerce (200 Main Street, Bristol, CT)
  • Presentation (2 MB)
  •  

    Public Meetings

    Two sets of public informational meetings were held for the CCRS. Details of these meetings are posted here:

    Spring/Summer 2013

    • June 17, 2013 / Silas Bronson Library (267 Grand Street, Waterbury, CT)
    • June 20, 2013 / New Britain Public Library (High Street, New Britain, CT)
    • Poster
    • Presentation (3.7 MB)
    • Boards (1.5 MB)
    • Study Corridor Flyover Video

    • Spring/Summer 2016

      • June 15, 2016 / Berlin-Peck Memorial Library (234 Kensington Road, Berlin, CT)
      • Presentation (2.21 MB)
      • June 16, 2016 / Bristol Public Library (5 High Street, Bristol, CT)
      • Presentation (2.21 MB)
      • Poster

       

      Newsletters

      Newsletters were produced to keep the public informed of the progress on the CCRS. These newsletters were distributed to public libraries and town halls in the Study Corridor. They were also emailed to interested parties. Please click the links below for copies of the newsletters:

      Newsletter 1: Spring/Summer 2013

      Newsletter 2: Spring 2016


    Study Documents

    Below are the final report documents.

    Due to large file size of some documents, the best method for download is to right-click (for Macintosh users, CTRL-click) the link and choose "Save as..." or "Save Target as..." to your computer.

    Existing Conditions (Final, 3.7 MB)

    Freight Market Analysis (Final, 2.6 MB)

    CCRS Infrastructure Assessment (Final, 3.2 MB)

    Freight Workshop Summary (Final, 2.6 MB)

    Bus Rapid Transit Alternative (Final, 2.1 MB)

    Diesel Multiple Unit Alternative (Final, 2.8 MB)

    Transit Oriented Development (Final, 35.7 MB)

    Summary of Findings (Final, 2.0 MB)


    Supporting documents