WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, released the following statement regarding legislation passed by the House of Representatives on March 4th that would study the creation of high-speed rail service from Washington to Boston that bypasses Connecticut.

“I’m a strong supporter of expanding high-speed rail service on the East Coast, but I cannot and will not support any efforts that seek to abandon the existing Northeast Corridor rail line – and the hundreds of thousands of Connecticut residents that rely on it every year. The existing Corridor needs upwards of $50 billion in investment over the next 20 years just to keep up with projected demand. I sit on the Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, which decides where federal Amtrak funds can be spent. I will fight any attempts to rob Peter to pay Paul by investing in new rail service that forsakes the New Haven Line – and the countless jobs it helps support.”