Construction On Valley Train Stations, Platforms To Begin This Fall

THE VALLEY – The Connecticut Department of Transportation (DOT) plans to begin construction on $106 million worth of train station improvements throughout the Valley this fall, including a major renovation of the Derby-Shelton station.

The improvements will also expand the Ansonia and Seymour waiting platforms, while bringing them into compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA).

Two other stops along the Waterbury Branch Line – Waterbury and Beacon Falls – will also see improvements. The Naugatuck stop is being improved as part of a separate project.

Transportation officials expect construction to reach ​“substantial completion” by fall of 2027. While construction is ongoing, rail service will be replaced by buses – similar to what happened last year, when the August floods made the line inaccessible.

Before the floods last year, the Waterbury line was carrying up to 25,000 riders each month. That’s about 20 percent above pre-pandemic levels, according to ridership data provided by the DOT. 

Many of the improvements are aimed at improving accessibility at stations along the lines. State DOT spokesman Josh Morgan said most of the stations are currently impossible to board at for people with some disabilities.

“Other than Waterbury, all the current stations have low level platforms which require using stairs to board the train,” Morgan wrote in an email to The Valley Indy. ​“People with disabilities or mobility devices who cannot use stairs need to board at Waterbury Station.

Derby-Shelton Is The Big Winner

The largest renovation project will be to the Derby-Shelton station, where an estimated $32 million in improvements is budgeted.

State officials previously announced plans to rehab the station during a press conference in 2021.

The station building will have an indoor waiting area; space for retailers; multiple restrooms; and an office for police. Outside the building, parking will be expanded, including the addition of electric vehicle chargers and handicap spots; the waiting platform will be expanded and raised; and bicycle racks will be added. Lighting improvements are also planned around the station.

Many of the improvements aim to better connect the station to Route 34, Route 8, and the Derby-Shelton bridge. The station renovation is the capstone for a slate of projects which have been transforming Derby’s downtown landscape.

Last year, state and local officials announced the completion of a $12 million, three-year-long rehab of the Derby-Shelton bridge. Work is also continuing on the $18.7 million Route 34 widening project along Derby’s Main Street. Sidewalks and bike paths, part of the rehabilitated bridge, will be extended through Route 34 and to the train station as part of the project.

On one side of the Housatonic, the last 20 years have seen several hundred market rate housing units constructed in downtown Shelton, along with steady commercial growth. On the other, Derby is seeing some major economic development of its own; 90 apartments recently went up on Minerva Street at Cedar Village, and about 100 more are currently being constructed as part of ​“Trolley Pointe” on Main Street. Both projects are walking distance from the train station.

DOT officials have branded the Derby-Shelton station as the ​“Derby-Shelton multi-modal hub.” The hope is that, when all is said and done, the station will be a center for train service; local bus service; and inter-city bus service.

Ansonia, Seymour Platforms To Be Revamped

The project also includes replacing, raising, and expanding the platforms in Ansonia and Seymour.

The current Ansonia platform is on West Main Street, behind 158 Main St. The Seymour platform on Main Street has a small, unheated building and sits just off of Route 67.

Stairs and ADA ramps will be added to both stations, with roofs covering the entire platforms. Both stations will receive additional parking, including electric vehicle chargers and handicap spots; both will have additional landscaping done around the platforms; and both will have new ticket vending machines installed.

In Ansonia, the project also connects to economic redevelopment efforts – the platform is walking distance from about 200 partially constructed apartments on Main & East Main Streets, and the neighboring SHW site is in the process of being demolished and redeveloped.

In Seymour, the platform is across the street from a strip of local businesses, and walking distance from the 72-unit Fallview apartment complex on DeForest Street.

Where’s The Money Coming From?

The money for the projects comes from state and federal funds.

Most of the money comes from federal grants. Funding for the projects in Ansonia, Seymour, and Beacon Falls primarily comes from a $29.6 million federal DOT grant. A $12.6 million federal grant for the Derby-Shelton station renovation is being matched by a $12 million state contribution.

Morgan said that the remaining federal investment will come from recurring funds given to the state. In total, the state DOT expects 80 percent of the funding – or about $85 million – to come from the federal government, with the remaining money coming from the state.

The Valley Indy asked whether funding could be affected by early moves from President Donald Trump’s administration, which have included threats to block state transportation dollars based on a range of state policies. 

Morgan said it’s too early to tell.

“As is customary with any change of administration, federal discretionary grants and spending get reviewed,” Morgan wrote. ​“We are awaiting guidance from the federal government and instruction from the US (Department of Transportation).”

Click this link to view a presentation from the state DOT showing a summary of the project with site plans.