Issue Position: Transportation and Infrastructure

Issue Position

Investing in critical infrastructure projects will help create thousands of good-paying jobs in Connecticut and across the United States. I support President Obama's proposal to upgrade our nation's transit, highways, and rail infrastructure and is committed to ensuring that every dollar Connecticut receives from the federal government for transportation and infrastructure funding be used to maximize job creation.

Commuter Transit

In light of recent rail related incidents along Metro North's New Haven line, I strongly believe significant investment in our rail infrastructure is vital to stopping severe service disruptions and passenger injuries and loss of life. We should not tolerate repeated breakdowns and derailments. These unfortunate incidents discourage reliance on rail, pushing more cars onto our crowded highways, and impact job growth as companies elect to locate elsewhere. I believe that the federal government must take a leading role in this area through steps like a rail trust fund and infrastructure bank. Commuters deserve a world-class passenger rail system that is both safe and reliable for all.

Another important investment of this type is the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield (NHHS) high-speed rail line that will create jobs, reduce congestion on our roads, and enhance transit-oriented development. The NHHS high speed rail line will create an estimated 4,710 construction-related jobs, over 8,000 total jobs, and save over 3.5 million gallons of fuel a year. Connecticut's strong, continued commitment to improving high-speed rail is a critical piece of our state's economic development plan. I have worked with my colleagues to advance and gain funding for this important project.

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