Navigating Meriden: A Guide to the "Crossroads of Connecticut"

The long-held nickname of Meriden, the "Crossroads of Connecticut," is a fitting description of its strategic and central location. Situated halfway between New Haven and Hartford, the city is a critical hub for both road and rail, offering a robust network of transportation options for commuters and residents traveling locally, regionally, or to major metropolitan areas like New York City.

Public Transportation: Rail and Bus

At the heart of Meriden's transit system is the Meriden Transit Center, a modern hub for both train and bus services.

Train Service: Meriden is a key station on the CTrail Hartford Line, which is the city's primary rail connection. This service offers frequent, reliable travel north and south.

• CTrail: Provides daily commuter service connecting Meriden to Hartford, Springfield, MA, and New Haven. At New Haven's Union Station, passengers can seamlessly transfer to the Metro-North Railroad for service to Bridgeport, Stamford, and New York City (Grand Central Terminal).
• Amtrak: The Meriden station is also served by several Amtrak routes, including the Northeast Regional, Valley Flyer, and Vermonter, offering connections to cities like Boston, Washington, D.C., and Vermont.

Bus Service: Local and regional bus service is managed by CTtransit, offering a comprehensive network of routes from the Meriden Transit Center.

• Local Meriden Routes: Several routes (including the 561, 563, 564, 565, and 566) provide service to the city's neighborhoods, medical centers, and shopping areas.
• Regional Routes: CTtransit also connects Meriden to surrounding cities, including New Britain (Route 511), New Haven (Route 215), and Wallingford (Route 567).
• Express & Connecting Service: A weekday express bus (Route 940) connects Meriden to Waterbury, and the M-Link service by Middletown Area Transit (MAT) connects Meriden to Middletown.

Major Highways and Roadways

For those traveling by car, Meriden's location is its greatest asset. The city is built at the junction of several major interstates and parkways.

• Interstate 91 (I-91): This is the region's main north-south highway, passing directly through Meriden and offering a direct route to Hartford, Springfield, and New Haven.
• Interstate 691 (I-691): This major east-west connector bisects Meriden. It begins at I-91 and travels west, connecting Meriden to I-84 in Waterbury, which provides access to Danbury and New York.
• Route 15 (Wilbur Cross Parkway / Berlin Turnpike): This historic parkway (which prohibits trucks and large vehicles) runs parallel to I-91, offering a scenic north-south alternative. North of Meriden, it becomes the Berlin Turnpike, a major commercial and retail corridor.
• U.S. Route 5: Also known as Broad Street, this is the primary north-south surface road through the center of Meriden, serving as a major local business artery.

Airport Accessibility

While Meriden has a small municipal airport (Meriden-Markham) for general aviation, residents have convenient access to two major regional airports for commercial travel.

• Bradley International Airport (BDL): Located in Windsor Locks (about 30 miles north), this is the region's primary international airport, serving dozens of domestic and international destinations.
• Tweed-New Haven Regional Airport (HVN): Located about 20 miles south, Tweed is a smaller, convenient airport that has been expanding its service with a growing list of destinations, primarily along the East Coast.