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The Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT) recently announced plans to scale back the scope of the New Haven Rail Maintenance Facility, which will be used to maintain and store new M-8 electric cars that will run on MTA Metro-North Railroad's New Haven Line.

In June 2008, ConnDOT's Office of Policy and Management began an audit of the project after costs escalated. Hill International Inc. reviewed the project's scope, design and constructability, as well as ConnDOT's cost estimation policies, procedures and practices.

The audit divided the project components into three tiers: Tier One projects that are required for proper operation of the line and maintenance of the cars, which are scheduled to be delivered later this year; Tier Two improvements that go beyond critical functions; and Tier Three improvements that may be deferred or eliminated.

ConnDOT plans to proceed with all Tier One projects, including a component change out shop, acceptance facilities for the new cars, and diesel storage and off-site warehouse facilities. Tier One components also include improvements to wheel maintenance and train storage facilities, and tracks and signals.  

Meanwhile, the agency will eliminate several project components, including the fourth floor of the proposed change out facility (which would have been used for office space) and a central warehouse. ConnDOT will replace a proposed parking garage with an at-grade parking lot, and a pedestrian bridge with an at-grade walkway. In addition, the department will reduce the scope of other shop facility improvements and defer construction of a rail car wash.

The Tier One projects will cost $849.3 million; deferred or eliminated components are estimated to total $234.8 million.

Connecticut Gov. Jodi Rell has directed ConnDOT and the Office of Policy and Management to develop a financing plan for the facility and implement recommendations for improving cost estimation and project management procedures.