AASHTO Journal - Connecticut DOT Building New Train Station in Enfield

The Connecticut Department of Transportation recently kicked off construction on a new train station in the Town of Enfield; restoring passenger rail service to that community for the first time since 1986.

[Above image by Connecticut DOT]

Located in the Thompsonville neighborhood within Enfield, the $125.3 million project is part of the Hartford Line Rail Program and will fill an approximately 15-mile gap between Springfield Union Station and Windsor Locks; reconnecting Enfield residents to destinations throughout Connecticut and Massachusetts.

The state is providing 85 percent of the funding for the Enfield train station project, with the remaining 15 percent provided by the Federal Railroad Administration, Federal Transit Administration, and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Construction of the new station is anticipated to be completed in fall 2030, noted Governor Ned Lamont (D).

“Our administration has been focused on improving access to public transit by rebuilding the Hartford Line one station at a time, and that includes creating a new train station in Enfield and finally restoring passenger rail service to this town after more than four decades,” he said in a statement. “Building this new station means better access to jobs and education, while creating new opportunities for housing, businesses, and private investment in Thompsonville.”

“We are closing a critical gap in the Hartford Line by bringing passenger rail and local bus service together, while upgrading tracks and signals to improve rail service and keep freight moving across the region,” added Garrett Eucalitto, Connecticut DOT’s commissioner and immediate past president of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

The agency said the new, fully accessible station will feature a 350-foot-long, high-level boarding platform, a mostly enclosed waiting area, covered seating, canopies, wind screens, and an electric snow-melting system for the platform, ramps, and stairs. Approximately 80 parking spaces will be provided, including electric vehicle charging infrastructure serving approximately 15 spaces, and a dedicated bus area accommodating two full-size buses and connecting passengers with Enfield’s Magic Carpet bus service.

Beyond the station, the project also includes the replacement of the railroad bridge over Main Street, roadway improvements to increase clearance beneath the bridge, new sidewalks, streetscape improvements, and pedestrian connections to surrounding neighborhoods.

By connecting passenger rail with local bus service, surrounding neighborhoods, and existing and planned development, Connecticut DOT said the station will help attract new housing, businesses, and private investment.

The project has also been designed in coordination with the surrounding Bigelow-Hartford Carpet Mills Historic District, the agency added; preserving the area’s historic character while supporting its future growth.