Train Station Stop Would Benefit Students, Representative Says.

A state representative champions the idea of a train station being built not far from Central.  

The proposed train station would fall on the Hartford train line, which, according to CTrail’s website for the line, runs between Springfield, Massachusetts and New Haven. 

Gary Turco, a Democrat who represents the 27th district, comprising parts of Newington and New Britain, said that the idea of a station has been around for years, despite some political transitions locally.  

Turco said that there would be benefits to having the train stop, helping transport residents in the Newington area and CCSU faculty and students, who he said have been supportive of the idea, and would also provide an alternative to car travel. 

“We’re so heavily reliant on cars now that if we put this big infrastructure in making, you know, a mass transit system that’s easier to use, that is convenient to people’s lifestyles with the, you know, the amount of times the train will stop and you can get on it.” Turco said in an interview Monday. 

 Turco said that while there is support for building a train stop, there has to be more use of existing train lines and buses to make the case for investment in more public transportation services. 

 “People have to be willing to change their behaviors, so that this system that the state will invest in will work,” Turco said. 

 There is public transportation surrounding the CCSU area. The CT Fastrak bus station lies on Fenn Road, not far from CCSU, providing bus services to downtown New Britain, West Hartford and Hartford, according to CCSU’s website. The nearest train stations to the campus are in Hartford and Berlin. 

 Students can email dot.customercare@ct.gov to express support.