STRATFORD — The state Department of Transportation plans to replace a three-mile stretch of track along Metro-North's New Haven line as part of a multi-billion-dollar effort to improve commuter rail service across the state.

The construction work, which is expected to kick off in the spring of 2025, will increase the maximum speed trains are able to travel between Bridgeport and Stratford from 70 mph to 90 mph, according to a press release from the transportation department.

Officials hope the upgrades will help the state reach Gov. Ned Lamont's ambitious goal of shaving 25 minutes off the time it takes to travel between New Haven and New York City by 2035.

"This unique project is aimed at improving the safety and speed of Connecticut's rail system," Haresh Dholakia, a transportation department engineer who is overseeing the project, said in a statement.

The department will hold a public information meeting about the planned upgrades at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 25 at Stratford Town Hall. The meeting, which will include an overview of the project and a Q&A session, will also be streamed online.

The project represents the first stage of "Time For CT" — a statewide program that aims to speed-up rail service, create thousands of construction jobs and help the environment by getting cars off roads. State officials have said much of the $8 billion to $10 billion needed to fund the years-long effort will come from the federal government, but will also include state money.

In Stratford, the track upgrades are expected to cost up to $385 million, according to department documents. The state has requested the federal government provide $231 million in infrastructure grants for the project, but have not yet been awarded the funding.

The project will largely consist of reconstructing the tracks to improve the railway's curvature, which in turn will allow trains to travel up to 90 mph. Crews will also upgrade an existing interlocking and build a new one to allow for high-speed track changes.

Additionally, the transportation department plans to rebuild eight aging rail bridges that pass over streets using what officials described as "accelerated construction techniques." The bridges are located at Bishop Avenue, Bruce Avenue, West Broad Street, King Street, Main Street, Longbrook Avenue and East Main Street.

Reached by phone Wednesday, Dholakia said that the construction work is not expected to cause any serious service disruptions while the upgrades are being made. He noted Metro-North is served by two tracks, which will allow crews to work on the project without halting rail traffic.

"We will construct it in stages," Dholakia said.