Central Connecticut could get a big economic boost if plans to create high speed rail between New Haven and Springfield, Mass. by 2016 come to fruition, officials said Monday.
Creating the high speed corridor would lead to more investments in the region that are bound to lead to more jobs and growth, said state Sen. Donald DeFronzo, the New Britain Democrat who is co-chair of the transportation committee.
DeFronzo said it would mean a lot to the area if residents could get on a train and be in New York City in a couple of hours for a reasonable fee.
State leaders, including DeFronzo, met behind closed doors Monday morning with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood to discuss the prospects for snagging federal money to boost the high speed rail line that would run through Berlin and Newington.
“This is one issue that we are all together on,” said U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd, a Democrat who’s retiring this year.
Dodd said that if the state meets the required timetables for studies and other work along the way, construction could begin in 2014 and the entire project could be finished in 2016. CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL STORY
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