New highspeed railroad coming to CT

HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) -- More than 100 million federal dollars are earmarked for a high-speed railroad between New Haven and Springfield, Mass. and going thru Hartford, but will it be money well-spent?

If everything goes as planned trains reaching speeds of up to 110 miles per hour could be making that trip.

The history of rails in Connecticut is as long and storied as the tracks themselves. Yet the infrastructure hasn't changed much in decades until now.

"This is a win-win-win situation," said Governor Dannel Malloy.

Governor Malloy announced the release of 121 million federal dollars to make the dream of high-speed rail in Connecticut a reality. This is the third federal grant to bring high-speed service from Springfield, Massachusetts to Hartford to New Haven. It also provides better connectivity from Canada to Virgina.

"These trains are going to connect people to families, schools to jobs to opportunity," said the Deputy Commissioner.

"This state is one that gets it, and you saw that with the high-speed program, and it's now a regional asset that's going to be transformed from New England and Canada down to Virginia."

The state is already investing millions in the New Britain to Hartford busway project, and is promising $174 million in this endeavor.

News 8 asked the Governor if the state is over-extending itself in tough times.

"You gotta start telling the truth. The state under-invested, that's why we lost jobs for 22 years in a row net basis," Gov. Malloy said. "When you are not rebuilding your infrastructure and not expanding your infrastructure, you lose."