All aboard!

Metro-North and state leaders broke ground on a new train station in Naugatuck on Friday – and even more improvements are coming to the rest of the Waterbury Branch.

Naugatuck Valley leaders think it could revitalize the area, but federal funding cuts could jeopardize the projects.

If you drive a car, you’re carrying a piece of Naugatuck history with you. Charles Goodyear invented the vulcanization process for tires in the “Rubber City” in 1844.

Uniroyal Tire dominated Naugatuck’s economy for generations. But since the factories closed, the city has struggled.

“All the buildings to our right and our left, all the way down the river, were Uniroyal buildings,” said Mayor Pete Hess. “And they were here until the 80s, and they left.”

Hess hopes a massive new train station will change that.

Metro-North and the Connecticut Department of Transportation broke ground on the $33 million project on Friday morning. The new platform will feature a snow melt system, an elevator and stair tower and real-time arrival displays.

The station will also connect to 180 new apartments, the Naugatuck River Greenway and the city’s downtown area.

“We’re building more than just a station. It’s really about creating opportunities,” said Justin Vonashek, the new president of Metro-North.

And this isn’t the only upgrade to the long-neglected Waterbury Branch. The Derby-Shelton station is also getting replaced, Waterbury will get a new waiting area and all six stops are seeing accessibility improvements.

But developments like this could be in jeopardy.

The federal government is paying for 80% of it, as well as a long list of other transportation projects across the state – including new exit lanes on Interstate 95 in Stamford. But Congress and the Trump administration are making deep spending cuts, including clawing back $9 billion that were already allocated.

“Donald Trump has made it pretty clear that he wants to start canceling programs,” said Sen. Chris Murphy. “So yes, I’m very worried that some of these projects are going to be interrupted.”

Critics argue that the Waterbury Branch is a waste of money. Although ridership is above 2019 levels, it remains Metro-North’s least-used rail line.

Still, Gov. Ned Lamont believes that federal funding is safe.

“I think they’re committed on the transportation money,” he said. “I’ve heard that from [state transportation commissioner] Garrett Eucalitto; he has very good relationships there. So far, everything that’s been promised, we’re getting on transportation and even on rail.”

For now, CT DOT is not planning extra service on the Waterbury Branch. Metro-North fares are scheduled to go up 10% over the next year.