To improve access to the New Haven Line and address long‑standing parking needs, the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) engaged VHB to develop a new infill commuter rail station along the heavily traveled New Haven Line (NHML) between Milford and New Haven. Located within and compatible with the City’s established Transit Oriented Development (TOD) zone, the project supports West Haven’s vision for a more walkable, transit‑focused district and strengthens opportunities for future compact, mixed‑use growth around the station area.
VHB led the entire station development process—from site selection and environmental review through conceptual, preliminary, and final design, as well as engineering support during construction. Key facility components included two 12‑car, high‑level covered platforms; a full‑service station building; at‑grade parking for 650 vehicles with infrastructure to accommodate future structured parking; an ADA‑compliant pedestrian bridge connecting the eastbound and westbound platforms; CCTV, railroad communications, passenger information display systems (PIDS), and other security systems; rerouting of overhead railroad utilities beneath the platforms; and improvements to pedestrian and vehicular site access, including accommodation for intermodal connections.
The project also required significant railroad infrastructure upgrades, including reconstruction of five miles of NHML Track 3, reinstallation of contact wire for electrification, installation of a new signal system serving all four mainline tracks, and deployment of a redundant fiber‑optic backbone—enhancements that improve corridor reliability and support long‑term TOD potential along the line.
Because construction took place within an active rail corridor shared by Metro‑North Railroad, Amtrak, and freight operators, VHB prepared detailed staging and sequencing plans that allowed 24/7 service to continue throughout construction. This careful coordination allowed for uninterrupted operations while delivering a critical regional transportation facility that now anchors West Haven’s growing TOD district.
