It's happening now.

The New Haven-Hartford-Springfield (NHHS) Rail Program, funded under the Federal Railroad Administration’s High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program, represents a broad partnership between the State of Connecticut, Amtrak and the Federal Railroad Administration, as well as the states of Massachusetts and Vermont. The goal is ambitious – to provide those living, working or traveling between New Haven, Hartford and Springfield with some of the nation’s best high speed passenger rail service.

What does that mean for anyone living here, growing a business, providing food or specialty products? A growing market – added value to communities, business looking to relocate or expand their scope – and better access to populations centers.

The high speed rail service will operate at speeds of up to 110 mph, cutting travel time between Springfield and New Haven to approximately 80 minutes. Travelers at New Haven, Wallingford, Meriden, Berlin, Hartford, Windsor, Windsor Locks and Springfield will board trains every 30 minutes during the peak morning and evening rush hours and every 60 minutes during off-peak periods. The new service will connect with existing Metro-North and Shore Line East commuter rail and Amtrak services on the New Haven Line to New York and on the Northeast Corridor to New London and Boston.

Readers are encouraged to submit comments and questions on the NHHS Program website at www.nhhsrail.com/stay_informed to receive a response from the NHHS Program Team. More than 3,800 residents, businesses, local groups and public agencies are subscribed to the New Haven Hartford Springfield (NHHS) Rail Program newsletter (sign up at www.nhhsrail.com) – and here are some of the highlights of the most recent one.

Construction of the new stations in Wallingford, Meriden, and Berlin is in progress with a target completion of spring 2017.

Construction at stations generally includes the installation of high-level platforms (approximately 500 feet), an overhead pedestrian bridge, passenger information display systems, ticket vending machines, automatic snowmelt systems and one electronic-vehicle charging station. All station elements will be Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant. Other planned improvements include increased parking, bicycle racks, video surveillance systems and emergency telephones.

Hartford Union Station underwent improvements as a newly installed high-level platform went into service in August. Unique to Union Station is the incorporation of a fold-up edge along the platform. While normally in the level or ‘down' position for passenger use, this feature allows the edge (outer 29 inches) of the platform to fold up so freight trains may carry wide loads through the station, as needed.

An overview

Berlin: A new station will be constructed adjacent to the existing historic station building, along with a new 220 space parking lot. Upgrades and repairs to the existing station building will also occur and once complete, it will be reused by the Town of Berlin.

Meriden: A new station will be constructed to the south as a replacement for the existing station. A new parking lot with a capacity of approximately 80 vehicles will be constructed. Through a separate, transit-oriented development (TOD) initiative, an
additional 225 spaces will be accommodated in a parking garage to be built at the corner of Colony Street and Church Street.

Wallingford: A new station will be constructed near the corner of Parker Street and North Cherry Street. Parking lots will be provided at North Cherry Street and Route 5 with a total capacity of approximately 220 parking spaces. The work listed will incorporate cutting edge design elements and passenger focused amenities at the stations. Passengers will continue to use the current stations until the new stations are opened in 2017.

Hartford: A new 260 foot, high-level platform has been constructed on top of the existing low-level platform and was put into service in summer 2016. South of Hartford, work began in July on a new high-level platform at New Haven’s State Street Station. Currently, this station serves Shore Line East, with plans to include this as a daily stop for Hartford Line riders, providing a quick and convenient walk to and from the downtown area.

Future stations are planned for North Haven, Newington, West Hartford, Enfield.

In June 2016, Governor Dannel P. Malloy announced that nearly $4.5 million in grants was approved to five municipalities along the CT Rail Hartford Line under the state’s Responsible Growth and Transit-Oriented Development Grant Program.

Governor Malloy said, “Investing in transportation is critical. Transportation and the future of our economy are fundamentally linked. Our focus is on not only improving overall quality of life for residents in these areas, but also encouraging economic development by making our towns and cities more accessible. These grants will help us take another step towards making our state more competitive.”

Grants were awarded to these projects:

Berlin: $500,000 to assist commercial property owners in the rail TOD zone with facade and landscaping upgrades to attract new businesses and encourage pedestrian activity near the station.

Hartford: $2,000,000 for storm-water infrastructure, streetscape improvements, transit, pedestrian and bicyclist connectivity, and infrastructure capacity to accommodate development around the Parkville CTfastrak Station.

Windsor: $993,000 to create a development-ready site in Windsor Center adjacent to the station.

Windsor Locks: $137,000 for acquisition and pre-development costs for three properties near the soon-to-be relocated station.

Meriden: $869,389 for sidewalk and complete streets improvements within the city’s central business and TOD district.

So what is Transit Oriented development (TOD)? TOD creates compact, walkable, mixed-use development, centered around the 1⁄4 mile of transit destinations to encourage the use of mass transit. TOD reduces reliance on driving, and fosters more dense, livable, walkable communities, while connecting people to job opportunities, housing, and retail and entertainment destinations.

The TOD plan envisions residential townhouse units between the rail line and North Colony Street. In Meriden, across the street from the train station, there will be a combination of 63 affordable and market rate apartments, 11,000 square feet of ground floor retail space and a 275-space parking garage for use by residents, customers, and rail passengers. Proposed improvements to North Colony Street include on-street bicycle lanes, dedicated on-street parking, and a wider landscaping buffer on the east side of the street for greater pedestrian safety and ambience.

Also, the Wallingford Planning and Zoning Commission recently adopted a Transit-Oriented Development Plan, which outlines recommendations for development and infrastructure updates around the new station.

The plan recommends replacing the existing commercial, industrial zone near the station with medium- and high-density residential zoning while moving the heavier commercial and industrial uses towards North Plains Highway. The plan also supports improvements in the station area that will encourage new residential and commercial development and better connect the station to downtown Wallingford.

In addition, in June 2016, the Capitol Region Council of Governments received a $200,000 grant from Connecticut’s Regional Performance Incentive Program to analyze how anchor institutions such as hospitals, universities/colleges, and large employers, could provide opportunities to support ridership and increase economic activity within the CTrail Hartford Line and CTfastrak transit corridors.

Editor's update: On Dec. 21, 2016 – the historic Berlin station was engulfed in flames – and is apparently destroyed. What a loss as this structure was a gem of architecture and details – like a visit to the past to step inside. Here is a link to The New Britain Herald story, reporting on the fire.