The What: Metro North Fares to Increase; Fourth of July Celebrations; and more
The What is your look around southwest Connecticut for the week of June 29.
Monday, June 29
Happy Monday! It’s a light week with everyone getting ready for the Fourth of July this weekend. We’re focusing on two main things—a fare increase for Metro-North riders and celebrations for July 4th/America 250. Let’s dive in.
Highlights
This section gives a brief overview of the key items in the newsletter.
- For train riders across lower Fairfield County, ticket prices are going up starting on July 1. See what this means for you or check out our video discussing the hike.
- Get ready to celebrate! Stamford, Norwalk, Fairfield, Greenwich, and Westport all have fireworks, special events, and more taking place this week for the Fourth of July/the America 250th celebration. Click on each community to see what’s happening in that city or town.
Spotlight
This section features our main reporting each week.
Heads up commuters! For train riders across lower Fairfield County, ticket prices are going up starting on July 1. Riders will see a 5% increase in their tickets.
The increases stem from the 2026-2027 state budget, which included a two-part fare hike that officials said would “avoid reductions to service levels.”
Ticket prices went up 5% on September 1, 2025 and now will be increasing another 5% in July.
“These fare increases will help maintain existing rail service levels by keeping the same number of trains on the schedule for our customers,” Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto said in a statement.
Our article includes a table breaking down all the fare increases for our region, or you can watch our video to learn more about the hikes.
@coastalconnecticuttimes For all our #metronorth riders out there, fares are going up 5% starting on July 1. We’ll have more in our newsletter out Monday, but let us know in the comments, how does this increase affect you? #connecticut #fairfieldcounty
♬ original sound - Coastal Connecticut Times
This Week at a Glance
This section includes a list of meetings, events, and programming happening around southwest Connecticut each week.
Bridgeport
Featured Meeting: The Planning and Zoning Commission will meet on Monday, June 29 at 6:15 p.m. and review multiple items including a proposal for a 12-month moratorium on new smoke shops and an application to operate a “small-scale, educational urban farm” on Deforest Avenue.
- Monday, June 29: Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency at 6 p.m. | Planning and Zoning Commission at 6:15 p.m.
- Thursday, July 2: Miscellaneous Matters at 6 p.m.
Stamford
Featured Meeting: No published meetings. See Stamford’s planned celebrations for the Fourth of July and America 250.
Norwalk
Featured Meeting: The Planning and Zoning Commission will meet on Wednesday, July 1 at 6 p.m. to review multiple items, including a request from Shangri-La CT, a cannabis retailer, to expand its hours on Monday through Saturday. See Norwalk’s planned celebrations for the Fourth of July and America 250.
- Wednesday, July 1: Planning and Zoning Commission at 6 p.m. | Land Use & Building Management Committee at 7 p.m. | Fair Rent Commission at 7:30 p.m.
Fairfield
Featured Meeting: See Fairfield’s planned celebrations for the Fourth of July and America 250.
- Tuesday, June 30: Dwight School Building Committee at 2 p.m.
- Thursday, July 2: Zoning Board of Appeals at 2 p.m.
- Friday, July 3: Sustainable Fairfield Food and Waste Subcommittee at 8 a.m.
Greenwich
Featured Meeting: See Greenwich’s planned celebrations for the Fourth of July and America 250.
- Monday, June 29: Board of Health at 6:30 p.m. | Nathaniel Witherell Board of Directors at 5:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, June 30: Cultural Arts Advisory Committee at 2 p.m. | FS AI Task Force at 3 p.m.
Darien
Featured Meeting: The Board of Selectmen will meet on Monday, June 29 at 7 p.m. and review multiple items including hearing an annual report from the Advisory Commission on Coastal Waters, taking an inventory of charter and ordinance updates, and discussing the agreement with Post 53 that was made during the budget cycle.
- Monday, June 29: Board of Selectmen at 7 p.m.
- Thursday, July 2: Zoning Board of Appeals at 7:30 p.m.
Westport
Featured Meetings: The Board of Finance will meet on Wednesday, July 1 at 7:30 p.m. to vote on spending an additional $437,690 for the Compo Marina Pier Protection, which officials said is “due to a change in Eversource’s Flood Protection requirements.” Also this week, the RTM Planning & Zoning and RTM Transit Committees will meet on Tuesday, June 30 at 7 p.m. to review a request to join the Connecticut Municipal Development Authority (CMDA), a quasi-public agency and to discuss the 2027 master plan. See Westport’s planned celebrations for the Fourth of July and America 250.
- Monday, June 29: Civilian Public Safety Departments Review Board at 10 a.m. | Planning and Zoning Commission at 6 p.m.
- Tuesday, June 30: Long Lots Building Committee at 6 p.m. | RTM Planning & Zoning and RTM Transit Committees at 7 p.m.
- Wednesday, July 1: Board of Finance at 7:30 p.m.
Stay in touch!
As we continue to grow and evolve, please join us! You can do that by:
- Sharing this weekly newsletter with a friend!
- Following us on YouTube, Instagram, or TikTok.
- Sharing our site with your friends, family, coworkers, and more.
- Reaching out to say hi or send in story tips at coastalconnecticuttimes@gmail.com.
Please note: All of these agendas and information here are current as of Sunday night. Meeting times and agendas may get adjusted throughout the week.
Have a great week,
Kelly Prinz
Founder, Reporter at Coastal Connecticut Times
