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Transportation Commissioner Says Metro-North Cannot Be Replaced

Sean Marshall
/
Creative Commons

Connecticut's commissioner of transportation, James Redeker has cautioned legislators against attempting to replace Metro-North Railroad as the operator of the New Haven line.

Some Senate Republicans say it's time for the state to have a choice on who runs the commuter railroad.

Republican Senator Toni Boucher of Wilton and Republican Senator Tony Hwang of Fairfield have both introduced legislation that would force the state Department of Transportation to put Metro North's contract out for competitive bids.

This year marks a point in Metro North's 60-year contract with the state when Connecticut could look for changes in how the railroad is run.

But DOT Commissioner Redeker told the General Assembly's Transportation Committee Wednesday that replacing Metro-North isn't practical. He said no other company in the country has the staffing and technical skills to run the New Haven line and three branch lines, which he called the most complex and difficult to deliver service in the country.

He said the contract could be reviewed, but he urged caution, saying when changes were sought in the 1990s, the case went to arbitration and ended up costing the state millions of dollars.

Harriet Jones is Managing Editor for Connecticut Public Radio, overseeing the coverage of daily stories from our busy newsroom.

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