The time-1 project in its totality will be let for construction in three phases (contract a, contract b, and contract c)

The Federal Railroad Administration awarded the Department of Transportation Connecticut $215 million on January 1, 2026, under the Congressionally Directed Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program to fund a portion of Contract A for the TIME-1 Project, a phased rail infrastructure upgrade program.

The award finances construction of approximately 141 catenary pole foundations, three new crossovers at CP-257, replacement of the Longbrook Avenue Bridge, and installation of approximately 88 catenary structures including approximately 41 catenary pole foundations. These improvements enhance track, station, bridge, and other critical infrastructure to expedite travel for intercity and commuter rail passengers and freight operations. The work reduces track outages, minimizes construction-period delays, and improves operating flexibility and reliability. Public safety improvements include increased vertical clearance on bridges to reduce vehicular strikes and raising track to Class 6 inspection and maintenance standards to reduce infrastructure failure risk.

The remaining scope elements of Contract A will be funded through a separate FY 2023 Congressional directed grant. The TIME-1 Project is structured for construction across three contract packages (A, B, and C), of which this award addresses only a portion of the first package.

Performance occurs in Connecticut with a completion date of January 31, 2031. The Department of Transportation Connecticut, the state DOT, is the recipient and acts as the prime awardee responsible for project delivery.

This project funds only a portion of the first construction contract package (contract a) for the time-1 project. This project will fund the construction of approximately 141 catenary pole foundations. This project will fund the construction of the addition of three (3) new cross-overs to CP-257 the replacement of the longbrook avenue bridge and installation of approximately eighty-eight (88) catenary structures including approximately forty-one (41) catenary pole foundations. The remaining scope elements of contract a for the time-1 project will be funded by the fiscal year (FY) 2023 congressionally directed consolidated rail infrastructure and safety improvements program grant. The project will expedite travel for intercity and commuter rail passengers and freight operations by enhancing track, station, bridge, and other critical infrastructure. These improvements will reduce track outages, cause fewer delays during construction periods, and improve operating flexibility and reliability. Public safety will also be improved through two main pathways: increasing the height of vertical clearance bridges will reduce vehicular bridge strikes and raising the track to a higher inspection and maintenance standard required of class 6 track will reduce the likelihood of infrastructure failure.