HARTFORD, Conn. — Gov. Ned Lamont’s budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year would restore full funding for Metro-North’s New Haven Line commuter operations, the news site CT Insider reports.
The budget proposal released last week includes $284 million for rail operations, an increase of approximately 22% over the current fiscal year, which saw cuts to Connecticut funding for both the New Haven Line and the Shore Line East commuter operation between New Haven and New London, Conn. The cuts — effective in October on the New Haven Line and Dec. 18 on Shore Line East — reflected a funding shortfall resulting from the end of federal pandemic assistance and the state’s decision not to provide funding to bridge that gap [see “Connecticut finalizes commuter rail service cuts,” Trains News Wire, Oct. 23, 2023]. At the time, the New Haven Line cuts were planned as a one-year measure, while Shore Line East cuts are expected to continue.
Most of the New Haven cuts came to Friday service, which has seen the biggest ridership drop since the pandemic. There was no immediate indication whether the prior cuts would be restored or the increased funding would be used for a revised schedule.
