Sign in Subscribe
The What

The What: The Future of Rail in CT; Manresa Decision; Fairfield School Facilities; and more

The What is your look around southwest Connecticut for the week of October 19.

The What: The Future of Rail in CT; Manresa Decision; Fairfield School Facilities; and more
Hope you all are enjoying this fall weather! (Photo by Kelly Prinz)

Monday, October 19

Happy Monday! October has been an incredibly busy month for us so far, and it seems to be based on all the meetings and events, it’s a busy one for a lot of people too.  

Highlights 

This section gives a brief overview of the key items in the newsletter.

  • Connecticut officials are working on the next state rail plan, which aims to lay out goals for the future and investment priorities for the state’s rail system. 
  • We thought a decision on the proposed zoning map for Manresa Wilds might come next week, but it’s (for real this time) looking like the vote might happen this Wednesday, October 21 at the Norwalk Planning and Zoning Commission. If you haven’t yet, explore the background on the plans proposed for this site, home to a decommissioned power plant. 
  • The Fairfield Board of Education is hosting a discussion related to all of its school facilities on Thursday, October 22. 
  • WestCOG is hosting a webinar on Thursday, October 22 at 6 p.m. to receive feedback on the draft updated Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan. The updates come as the region has dealt with significant flooding over the past few weeks.

Spotlight

This section features our main reporting each week.

A train pulls into the Merritt 7 train station in Norwalk (Photo by Kelly Prinz)

What does the future of rail look like in Connecticut? That’s a question state officials are looking to answer through the next edition of the Connecticut State Rail Plan. The plan, which would be finalized in 2027, provides a look inside the existing systems, goals for the future, and investment priorities for the state. 

The passenger rail systems in CT saw more than 35 million rides from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. Officials say these types of plans can help “meet demand and grow ridership by improving connectivity, resiliency, and customer satisfaction.” 

The purpose of the state rail plan is to help direct—and secure—funding for transportation projects, which officials say allows Connecticut “to maximize rail investments in the state.” 

“The State Rail Plan will determine how Connecticut’s rail system will continue to support mobility, economic activity, and the movement of goods,” the state DOT said in a statement. “The State Rail Plan will also be used to support transportation-related decisions across Connecticut and the Northeast, and it will support coordination between passenger and freight rail, which often operate on shared infrastructure in Connecticut.”

Right now, the state is gathering and reviewing public feedback to develop a draft plan, which should be available for review this winter. 

Let’s explore the state of rail in CT right now and how this plan could help guide it into the future.

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 Board of Police Commissioners will meet on Tuesday, October 20 at 6 p.m. and will review some of the questions and concerns regarding the enforcement of the city’s new parking ordinance, as well as questions around towing and enforcement. 

Stamford

Featured Meetings: The Board of Education will meet on Tuesday, October 20 at 7 p.m. and review the recommended nearly $30 million in capital projects. The Operations, Parks and Recreation Committee will meet on Thursday, October 22 at 7 p.m. to hold a public hearing on a plan to recover some of the costs for vehicles utilizing the electric chargers in the city-owned facilities. 

Norwalk

Featured Meetings: The Planning and Zoning Commission will meet at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, October 21 and review and vote on the proposed plans for the Manresa Wilds zoning map, which would outline how the site could be used. The plans call for transforming the decommissioned power plant into a public park and gathering space. On Monday, October 19, the Water Pollution Control Authority will meet at 5:30 p.m. and discuss the impacts from the September 13 storm. 

Fairfield

Featured Meetings: The Board of Education will meet on Thursday, October 22 at 7 p.m. and host a discussion surrounding its school facilities, particularly as it relates to finances and programs. In addition, the Board of Education Facilities Committee will meet on Wednesday, October 21 at 9:30 a.m. and receive a presentation on the educational specifications for work at the Jennings Elementary School. 

Greenwich

Featured Meeting: The Hamill Rink Development Committee will meet on Monday, October 19 at 6 p.m. and receive an update on how the project is progressing. 

Darien

Featured Meetings: The Board of Selectmen will meet on Monday, October 19 at 7 p.m. and receive an update from the work of the Sidewalk Committee. Also on Monday, October 17, the RTM Budget Committee will meet at 7:30 p.m. to discuss and review a $125,000 allocation for the Noroton Heights Fire Department.

Westport

Featured Meeting: The Planning and Zoning Commission will meet on Monday, October 19 at 6 p.m. and finish reviewing and potentially vote on adding lights to the fields at Wakeman B Field and PJ Romano Field. In addition, the commission will review a request to update its zoning to allow for the outdoor eating and alcohol consumption in “Food and Beverage Planned Development Districts.” The zoning text change would allow for a potential new proposal for 222 Hillspoint Road, if the regulations are updated. 

Stay in touch!

As we continue to grow and evolve, please join us! You can do that by:

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

Read next