Connecticut's Malloy makes economic pitch for New Haven Line upgrades

An economic analysis of proposed improvements to the MTA Metro-North Railroad's New Haven Line demonstrates that the economic value of the upgrades would outweigh the costs by a benefit/cost ratio of 2.51, Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy announced late last week.

Although the proposed upgrades to eventually add express train service and more frequent stops along the New Haven Line would cost an estimated $3.9 billion, the future benefits would amount to $9.7 billion — a net gain of $5.8 billion, according to the governor's press release.

The improvements are part of Malloy's "Let's Go CT!" transportation initiative, which calls for major improvements on the New Haven Line to provide faster and more frequent service.

"Improving the New Haven Line is critical to our economic success, not just because it will attract new businesses and grow jobs, but improve quality of life," Malloy said. "Everyone should be able to live in Connecticut with a car or without one."

The proposals include increasing track capacity to full-service of four tracks; currently, the line features two to three tracks that are in service at any given time. Malloy also is calling for changes to the Connecticut system, including upgrades to track, the signal system, the communication system and reconfiguration of several stations to allow for express train service on two inner tracks and local train service on two outer tracks.