Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy said recently that the commuter rail on the New Haven Line has reached an all-time high, topping 40.3 million passenger trips last year, based on Metro-North Railroad data.
This figure is an increase of 2 percent compared with 2014, when ridership totaled 39.6 million. This makes the New Haven Line the busiest in the U.S.
"What was already the busiest commuter rail line in the nation has only gotten busier,” Malloy said. “This is a demonstration that, if we're going to grow, we must continue to invest. Our future hinges on it. To grow businesses and attract jobs, we need to improve service and our infrastructure. The time to act is now. We need a lockbox to do it. A vote against the lockbox is a vote against improving transportation, against making our state more business-friendly and against building our capacity to attract new companies."
In recent years, Connecticut has improved and invested in the New Haven Line. The most significant of these measures was adding 405 new M-8 rail cars to its line. Crews also added new bridges, new maintenance facilities and new overhead power lines.
Commuter ridership on the New Haven Line rose 1 percent in 2015 over 2014, while non-commuting ridership increased 2.9 percent.
"It's interesting to note the increases in non-commuting passenger trips because it proves that the New Haven Line is not just for people going to and from work," Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner James Redeker said.
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