Metro North Train Crisis

Metro North Train Crisis
Boucher: Any disruption in this critical corridor has an immediate ripple effect: A secondary back up system should be in place during repairs.

Hartford, CT – State Senator Toni Boucher (R- Wilton), Ranking Member of the Transportation Committee of the General Assembly released the following statement today re: Metro North Train Crisis.

“The timing of this disruption while the secondary lines were out of service requires scrutiny. Since this secondary repair was planned ahead of time, another redundant system should have been in place during this repair period.

“This crisis points to a serious security risk that must be addressed immediately both at the federal and state levels. The possibility of a three week disruption on the most heavily traveled train corridor in the country is unacceptable. I-95 in Connecticut and New York will become impassible if a majority of our train riders commute by car. There must be a sense of urgency.

“There are economic repercussions that will also be felt if this situation is not rectified soon. This vital transportation corridor, which connects Boston, Hartford, and New York in both directions, must be a top priority of the state and national transportation agencies. Any long term break in service can have a ripple effect throughout the Northeast.

“Massive service disruptions due to power failures, record snow and ice or derailments like the one experienced in Bridgeport earlier this year could be a foreshadowing of what is to come if we don’t maintain our infrastructure properly. Our commuters deserve a safe and reliable transportation system.

“I look forward to hearing from federal authorities at the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on this long term infrastructure concern during hearings scheduled for October 22 and 23 in Washington, D.C. Though the hearings are focused on two incidents that occurred on Connecticut train tracks earlier this year, the proper authorities should respond in kind to this latest train crisis.”