CTDOT Outlines $15.7 Billion Plan for Rail, Infrastructure to 2030

Connecticut DOT outlines $15.7 billion multi-modal capital plan for FY 2026-2030, funding CTrail rail and state roads.

February 23, 2026 6:25 am | Last Update: February 23, 2026 6:28 am

📉 Market Brief:

Event: Connecticut DOT publishes five-year, multi-modal transportation capital plan.
Key Data: $15.7 billion total budget for fiscal years 2026-2030.
Impact: Funding allocated for CTrail passenger-rail network and state infrastructure.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) has published its capital plan for fiscal years 2026 through 2030, outlining $15.7 billion in planned expenditures. The program directs funds toward improvements for the state-operated CTrail passenger-rail network alongside investments in other transportation assets, including roads and bridges. For the initial fiscal year of 2026, CTDOT anticipates deploying $3.78 billion in capital sourced from both federal and state accounts.

According to a press release, the plan’s objectives include infrastructure modernization and safety enhancements. “With this plan, we’re rebuilding roads and bridges, modernizing public transportation, and making it easier and safer to travel in Connecticut,” stated CTDOT Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto. He added that the “long-term investments will improve safety, better connect our towns and cities, and help our state economy thrive.”

The plan identifies major passenger-rail projects as key components that are currently underway and will receive continued financing. The announcement did not provide a granular breakdown of the specific CTrail projects or their individual budget allocations. The capital is intended to support ongoing work within the CTrail system, which includes the Hartford Line, Shore Line East, and the New Canaan, Danbury, and Waterbury branch lines of the Metro-North Railroad.

Metric	Value
Total Capital Plan Value	$15.7 Billion
Applicable Timeframe	Fiscal Years 2026-2030
Anticipated FY 2026 Spending	$3.78 Billion
Primary Rail Recipient	CTrail Passenger Network
Funding Sources	Federal and State Capital

This state-level funding announcement occurs as movement is detected on larger, multi-state rail infrastructure projects in the Northeast. Work on the Gateway Hudson Tunnel project has resumed following a court order compelling the release of previously withheld federal funds. The Trump administration had frozen the funding, creating a multi-year delay for the critical infrastructure link between New Jersey and New York.

Verification data indicates a partial release of these funds, although reporting contains discrepancies on the exact amount. One source specified a $30 million payment was disbursed to the Gateway Development Commission, while another reported a figure closer to $130 million. The disparity may reflect a phased release schedule or different accounting of the court-ordered action. More than $200 million in funding for the project remains in dispute from the prior administration’s freeze. The total estimated cost for the Gateway program, which includes the new tunnel construction and rehabilitation of the existing North River Tunnels, is approximately $16 billion.

The CTDOT capital plan represents a direct state-level commitment to its transportation network. Concurrently, the developments with the Gateway project funding illustrate the complex federal and legal factors influencing major regional rail infrastructure in the Northeast Corridor, which CTrail services connect into.