Governor’s
Recovery Working Group Supports Danbury Branch Line
& Train Station Projects
Senator Toni Boucher (R-26) expressed her gratitude
to Governor M. Jodi Rell’s Recovery Working Group
for supporting the use of federal stimulus funds to
upgrade the signal system on the Danbury Branch Line
and make improvements to several train station depots
in Fairfield County.
The working group recently approved spending $30 million
in federal stimulus funds for the Danbury Branch Line
Centralized Train Control and Signalization Project
“Most people are surprised and incredulous when
they learn that a train engineer must manually plus
a switch to allow trains to pass each other on the Norwalk
to Danbury Brach train line. By all accounts this is
very old if not 18th century technology. Installing
a centralized train control and automatic signal system
is vital to our long time ongoing efforts to transform
the Danbury Branch into the well-functioning train line
commuters need. Investing federal stimulus funds will
allow the state to move forward with this important
project,” said Senator Boucher.
“I have been working on this project for many
years now, going back more than a decade when the state
actually recommended shutting this train line down.
It took a great deal of effort to save it and keep it
functioning. Fortunately, we have come a long way since
then. Over 12 years of constant advocacy has not been
in vain. Today, we are extremely fortunate to have a
Governor and a transportation commissioner, Joseph Marie,
who understand the need for a quality train system for
the economic vitality of a region of our state, an area
that contributes a lion share of revenues to our budget.
I am very grateful that they have finally brought this
project to fruition. They know that this project must
be done now to increase capacity and flexibility that
will pave the way for future improvements, including
the electrification of this major transportation artery.
Now financial help from the federal government will
help to pay for this important project,” added
Senator Boucher.
“I am sure there will be a collective sigh of
relief when this project is completed from frustrated
commuters and regional leaders. We have waited a long
time for this to happen, said Senator Boucher.
The working group also approved spending federal stimulus
funds to make capital improvements at Metro North train
stations, including several in Fairfield County:
• Westport - $571,724
• Greens Farms - $332,164
• Bethel - $53,700
• West Redding - $48,500
• Branchville - $58,872
• Cannondale - $76,320
• Wilton - $56,820
• New Canaan- $22,800
• Talmadge Hill - $54,800
“I am delighted that we will be spending some
of the state’s share of federal stimulus funding
to make improvements to our train stations. It is in
our best interests to invest in projects like these
that encourage commuters to use mass transportation
whenever possible, relieving traffic congestion on our
highways,” said Senator Boucher.
Governor Rell established her working group made up
of state and local officials and legislators to identify
projects that qualify for federal stimulus funds.
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