THE FAST TRACK

Reopening of unused rail line from Danbury to N.Y. gains traction

DANBURY — Before the pandemic struck, one of the hottest ideas in the Hat City was reopening an unused rail line that connects to Southeast, N.Y., to create a faster commuting track to Grand Central Terminal.

Connecticut’s transportation czar and Metro-North’s president both said they were on board with the idea. The New York Metropolitan Transportation Council awarded a $1 million grant to study the idea. Former Mayor Mark Boughton ran successfully for his 10th term on the idea, taking out a highwaysized billboard overlooking Main Street.

The idea cooled as soon as the coronavirus crisis gripped the tri-state region, and Metro-North ridership plummeted by 69 percent on the Danbury line.

But this past week interest in a fast track from Danbury to New York gained traction in Hartford, when a state assemblyman from Greenwich introduced a bill asking DOT Commissioner Joseph Giulietti to study the feasibility of the fast track.

“Economic development for the entire state is important to the growth of our towns,” said state Rep. Stephen Meskers. “Anything that can raise the income levels and job growth in the greater Danbury community is going to bolster the growth of the state as a whole and reduce the tax burden in Fairfield County.”

Meskers, whose bill was referred to the state legislature’s Transportation Committee on Thursday, said he understands how important border infrastructure is between Connecticut and New York in rebuilding the local economy. It’s particularly true in Danbury, where New Yorkers looking for better home values and a break from Big Apple taxes could be attracted by a shorter commuting option to Grand Central Terminal.

Danbury Mayor Joe Cavo agrees, saying leaders cannot afford to take their eyes off post-pandemic Connecticut.

“We are eventually going to come out of this and get our ridership back,” Cavo said on Thursday.

Metro North’s leadership has recently said that while the commuter railroad could lose up 20 percent of its traditional ridership to New York City in postCOVID Connecticut, it expects gains in “intermediate” commuters, who travel shorter distances within the region.

Opening the old Maybrook line to the Southeast train station would give Danbury commuters the option of taking an express train to Manhattan in less time than the two hours it takes to get there on the New Haven line.

“This would be a boon for Danbury,” Cavo said.

H John Voorhees III / Hearst Connecticut Media A woman walks over the old commuter train line Thursday where it crosses Main Street in Danbury. Interest is building in the Connecticut legislature to reopen the old rail line from Danbury to Southeast, N.Y., to create a shortcut to Manhattan for Danbury commuters.

H John Voorhees III / Hearst Connecticut Media Interest is growing in the Connecticut legislature to reopening the old commuter rail line from Danbury to Southeast, N.Y., to create a shortcut to Manhattan for Danbury commuters. Vehicles travel West Street on Thursday under the old train line.