WATERBURY – Construction of the $35.2 million redeveloped Metro-North train station has begun, according to Gov. Ned Lamont and Connecticut Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto.
The major infrastructure project is aimed at improving accessibility, enhancing the rider experience, and reconnecting the community to the historic Union Station building.
The project, overseen by the state DOT is a central part of the Lamont administration’s effort to modernize all six stations along the Metro-North Waterbury Branch Line with more accessible and rider-focused infrastructure.
The improvements in Waterbury will include a new high-level platform, real-time arrival video displays, security features, and a new 1,600-square-foot indoor waiting area in the Union Station building.
“This is an investment in Waterbury’s long-term growth,” Lamont said Oct. 15. “For too long, the city’s train station has lacked the basic amenities riders need. This redevelopment will build on the Waterbury Branch’s ridership success and help power downtown Waterbury’s continued revitalization.”
Commissioner Eucalitto stressed the redevelopment of the historic Union Station.
“This project reopens Union Station to the public for the first time in decades, restoring access to a historic building while bringing the station into full ADA compliance,” Eucalitto said. “With modern amenities, we’re delivering the kind of 21st-century transit experience riders deserve.”
U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who was on hand at the Oct. 15 announcement, mentioned the federal funds that were used.
“The Waterbury Station is in desperate need of reconstruction and revitalization, and I am thrilled that $28.1 million in federal funding will bring the station into the 21st century,” the state’s senior senator said. “With a new platform and waiting area, as well as technology upgrades, Waterbury Station will soon deliver a greatly improved experience for the thousands of commuters who rely on it every day. I’m proud to have worked alongside the Connecticut delegation to secure this funding and will keep fighting to invest in our infrastructure.”
His junior counterpart, Sen. Chris Murphy, recalled the days when he started lobbying for the new train station.
“This is a huge moment for Waterbury,” Murphy said. “Since the days way back when I represented Waterbury in the state legislature, I’ve been working with all my friends in town to get this train station built. And now we’ve finally got the money – thanks to the hard work of the team representing Waterbury in Washington. People love the Waterbury Line, but without a modern platform and waiting room, we aren’t able to really grow ridership.
The redeveloped 350-foot platform will support four-car boarding in compliance with federal Americans with Disability Act (ADA) standards and feature ticket vending machines, real-time train arrival displays, improved lighting, and expanded waiting space for passengers.
The station’s new indoor waiting room, located inside the historic Union Station building, will include seating, restrooms, security cameras, and customer information displays, creating a modern and comfortable space for riders. Both CTDOT and Metro-North will maintain offices on a mezzanine level above, and a new elevator will connect all three floors of the facility.
During construction, CTDOT will provide substitute bus service to minimize disruption, with bus operations expected to begin in summer 2026. Construction of the indoor waiting area will start in November 2025, followed by platform work in early 2026. The new waiting area is expected to open to the public in fall 2026.
The Waterbury project is part of the Lamont administration’s broader plan to upgrade all six stations along the Waterbury Branch Line: Waterbury, Naugatuck, Beacon Falls, Seymour, Ansonia, and Derby-Shelton.
