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Malloy: Upgrading Metro-North Would Boost Economy

FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. – Gov. Dannel P. Malloy says an economic analysis performed on his proposed upgrades to the Metro-North New Haven Line shows his plan would bring almost $10 million in benefits to Connecticut. 

Gov. Dannel Malloy says his proposals to improve the New Haven Line of Metro-North Railroad will bring economic benefits to Connecticut.

Gov. Dannel Malloy says his proposals to improve the New Haven Line of Metro-North Railroad will bring economic benefits to Connecticut.

Photo Credit: http://www.governor.ct.gov/

Malloy claims the study demonstrates that the economic benefits of replacing the Metro-North Railroad commuter system is more than twice the cost of the project upgrades and will be a major factor in being able to attract and retain businesses and grow jobs. 

The analysis determined that while the proposed upgrades have an estimated cost of $3.9 billion, its future benefits amount to $9.7 billion – a net gain of $5.8 billion, amounting to a benefit/cost ratio of 2.51. Further, the study found that on a long-term basis, the investments will result in over $6.2 billion in long-term cumulative business sales and output – $3.9 billion in additional gross state product and $2.8 billion in additional wage income. 

The project is expected to support 4,000 to 6,000 construction jobs during the construction phase, Malloy said. For every year following the opening of the new structure, the improved transportation efficiency and lower travel and shipping costs will support the creation of 2,000 to 3,100 jobs over the life of the new facility. 

As part of Malloy’s Let’s Go CT! transportation initiative, he has proposed major upgrades to service on the New Haven Line in order to provide more frequent and faster service. This includes increasing the track capacity to full service of four tracks, as opposed to the current two to three tracks that are in service at any given time. 

“The New Haven Line has the potential to carry thousands of additional commuters, and do so at a faster and more frequent rates. That means we will be far more attractive to businesses -- our economy will benefit greatly from these investments,” Malloy said. 

The New Haven Line is the busiest rail line in the country, with about 125,000 daily rider trips and about 39 million passengers per year.

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