Flatbush Avenue station (Connecticut) explained

Flatbush Avenue
Style:CT Transit
Address:New Park and Flatbush Avenues
West Hartford, Connecticut
Owned:ConnDOT (bus station)
Amtrak (rail line)
Operator:Connecticut Transit
Line:New Haven-Springfield Line
Tracks:2
Bus Stands:2 side platforms
Bus Routes:101, 102, 121, 128
Connections:31, 37 (on New Park Avenue)
153 (on Flatbush Avenue)
Bicycle:Yes
Accessible:Yes
Opened:[1] (CTfastrak)
Opening:2022 (CTrail, planned)[2]
Mapframe:yes
Mapframe-Custom:
Shape:none
Line:none
Marker:bus
Zoom:14

Flatbush Avenue is a bus rapid transit station on the CTfastrak line, located near the intersection of Flatbush Avenue and New Park Avenue in West Hartford, Connecticut. It opened with the line on March 28, 2015. The station consists of one island platform to the side of the busway, with passing lanes to allow express buses to pass buses stopped at the station.[3] A CTrail Hartford Line commuter rail platform was planned to open in 2022 under the name West Hartford.

Railroad history

The New York and New England Railroad (and predecessor Hartford, Providence and Fishkill Railroad) operated a station named Charter Oak Park at Oakwood Street slightly to the south, serving the Charter Oak Park racing track and the Luna Park recreation area. It opened with the track in 1874, was rebuilt in 1900, and likely closed with the racetrack in 1940.[4] The New Haven Railroad had an adjacent Oakwood station on its parallel Springfield Line; it opened in 1874 and was closed in the late 1890s after the New Haven's purchase of the NY&NE rendered it redundant.[5]

Future plans

The Hartford Line commuter rail service between New Haven, Connecticut and Springfield, Massachusetts via Hartford commenced on June 16, 2018.[6] It initially connects to CTfastrak at Union Station.[7] Hartford Line stations adjacent to the CTfastrak stops at West Hartford (Flatbush Avenue) and are planned to open later.[8]

The 2012 environmental assessment for the Hartford Line included preliminary plans for four infill stations including West Hartford and Newington Junction; although they were not yet funded, this would allow future planning and construction to be expedited.[9] On January 12, 2015, the state announced that $5.75 million in funding would be made available for environmental mitigation and design at ten Hartford Line and New Haven Line stations, including design funding for Hartford Line platforms at West Hartford and Newington Junction.[10] In February 2017, the state announced an additional $50 million in funds, including money to complete design of West Hartford station.[11] Design will be completed by 2020.[12] The state aimed to construct all infill stations on the line by 2022.

Notes and References

  1. Despite Snow, Thousands of Riders, Many First-Timers, Experience CTfastrak on First Day of Service . https://web.archive.org/web/20150911222239/http://ctfastrak.com/about/news/news-releases/13-media-releases/279-03-28-15-despite-snow-thousands-of-riders-many-first-timers-experience-ctfastrak-on-first-day-of-service . 11 September 2015 . Connecticut Department of Transportation . 28 March 2015.
  2. News: Officials discuss development around rail center . Journal-Inquirer . Will . Healey . October 21, 2016 . November 25, 2016.
  3. Web site: Station Site Plans . Connecticut Department of Transportation . January 17, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150118094512/http://www.ctfastrak.com/station-siteplans . January 18, 2015 . dead .
  4. Web site: Track 12: CT Passenger Stations, C-CH . Tyler City Station . 17 January 2015.
  5. Web site: Track 12: CT Passenger Stations, O-P . Tyler City Station . 17 January 2015.
  6. Web site: Thousands Take A Free Ride On Hartford Line's Inaugural Run . Porter . Mikaela . Owens . David . Hartford Courant . June 17, 2018 . June 17, 2018.
  7. Web site: Hartford Union Station . Hartford Line . June 1, 2018.
  8. Web site: Interactive Program Map . New Haven–Hartford–Springfield Rail Program . June 1, 2018.
  9. Web site: NEW HAVEN-HARTFORD-SPRINGFIELD LINE HIGH SPEED INTERCITY PASSENGER RAIL PROJECT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT/ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT EVALUATION: Volume II Concept Design Drawings and Environmental Resource Graphics . Section 1.3: Station and Layover Site Concept Plans . 36, 37 . Connecticut Department of Transportation . CDM Smith . 26 October 2015.
  10. GOV. MALLOY, BOND COMMISSION APPROVE DESIGN OF RAIL STATIONS ON HARTFORD AND NEW HAVEN LINES . 12 January 2015 . State of Connecticut . 26 October 2015.
  11. CTDOT ANNOUNCES $50 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR NHHS RAIL PROGRAM . Connecticut Department of Transportation . February 20, 2017.
  12. New Haven-Hartford Springfield Rail Program Newsletter . Summer 2017 . Connecticut Department of Transportation . Design Continues for New Hartford Line Stations . 3 .