The What

The What: This Week in Southwest Connecticut

The What is your look around southwest Connecticut for the week of September 25.

Happy last week of September! (Photo by Kelly Prinz)

Monday, September 25

Happy Monday! This week we’re highlighting climate resilience-related grants for Stamford and Norwalk as well as looking at the proposed cuts to Metro North service.

Starting with Metro North, commuters could see impacts to train service on the Metro North with slightly reduced service and higher fares, according to a new proposal from Connecticut’s Department of Transportation.

State officials said in a statement that “rail service changes are being proposed to reflect post COVID-19 weekday ridership levels and travel patterns.”

The cuts for southwest Connecticut would include:

A reduction of two trains—from 239 to 237—on Monday through Thursday service on the New Haven Line
A reduction of eight trains—from 241 to 233—on Friday service on the New Haven Line
A reduction of two trains—from 28 to 26—on all weekdays on the Danbury Line
A reduction of two trains—from 41 to 39—on all weekdays on the New Canaan Line

These cuts and fare increases send a conflicting message from state officials who have been emphasizing transit-oriented development around train stations in the region, including proposed development around the Merritt 7 station in Norwalk. It also comes at a time when government officials have been touting infrastructure improvements, such as the Walk Bridge project, which connects the Northeast Corridor in Norwalk.

Learn more about the proposed cuts or check out our video.

Stamford and Norwalk received more than $1.5 million in state grant funding for planning and project development grants related to climate resilience. The funding will go towards a citywide flood resilience plan in Norwalk, neighborhood-level plans for the Downtown, West Side, and Waterside neighborhoods in Stamford, work in the Cummings Pond watershed in Stamford, and mitigation efforts in the Toilsome Brook watershed in Stamford.

“As a coastal city, Stamford is acutely aware of the impacts of climate change, and my administration is committed to creating a more resilient and sustainable community now and in the future, which is why I signed an executive order on climate change earlier this year,” Stamford Mayor Caroline Simmons said. “The funding for these three projects helps further these goals and I’m grateful for the state’s partnership and focus on supporting municipalities across Connecticut as we work to become a more green and resilient state.”

Learn more about the climate change-related grants or check out our video on them.

Let’s see what else is happening this week.

Stamford

The Legislative and Rules Committee of the Board of Representatives will meet on Thursday, Sept. 28 at 7 p.m. and hold a public hearing on a tax abatement agreement that includes the city, the Housing Authority, and Oak Park 1 Limited Partnership which would facilitate the development of 61 below-market rate housing units at Ursula Place in Stamford.

The Fiscal Committee will meet on Wednesday, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. and review plans to fund a South End Transportation Improvement Plan, which would include adding a raised crosswalk, raised intersection, and several bump outs to Pacific Street.