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Connecticut’s Shore Line East commuter-rail service will be able to purchase new rolling stock sooner than expected. On March 1, Connecticut Gov. John Rowland announced $25 million in state bonds have been allocated to Shore Line East to purchase rail cars and locomotives for the New Haven Line.

The funds will be added to $35 million the Transportation Strategy Board (TSB) already appropriated for the rolling stock purchase. Without the $25 million in bonds, the remainder of the funds would not have been available until fiscal-year 2005 or FY2006.

The new plan earmarks the full $60 million immediately, and frees up $14 million in cash and bonds for additional state transportation projects. The legislation enables Connecticut’s Department of Transportation — which operates the commuter-rail system — to purchase the vehicles immediately instead of waiting up to 18 months.

The plan enables TSB to fund additional transportation projects, such as extending two Shore Line East lines beyond New Haven to serve Bridgeport and Stamford, Conn., and expanding bus service to and from rail stations in Stamford, Norwalk, Milford and Stratford, Conn., to connect with MTA Metro-North Railroad stations.