The What: This Week in Southwest Connecticut

Tuesday, January 2

Happy 2024! We’re officially back after taking a few weeks to rest, regroup, and spend some time with family and friends around the holidays. 

To kick off the new year, we have the next piece in our All Aboard: In and Around Train Stations series, featuring the busiest station in Connecticut—Stamford. Mayor Caroline Simmons described the Stamford Transportation Center as the “gateway to Connecticut” and the “second busiest train station after Grand Central” on the Northeast Corridor—that’s how Stamford Mayor Caroline Simmons

It’s a major stop on Metro North’s New Haven line, offering both express and local service to and from Grand Central station. The Stamford center is also the only Amtrak stop in southwest Connecticut, and underneath the tracks, it’s the city’s hub for CTtransit buses, as well as an intercity bus station.

The station had the most monthly tickets sold in 2023, according to the MTA, and ridership has been returning to the pre-COVID-19 level of more than 28,000 daily riders. 

That’s why the state and city have been investing—not just in the center itself, but in the area around it. Millions of dollars in local, state, and federal funding have been invested in local roads, infrastructure upgrades, and economic development projects around the station, and in 2022, the city rezoned the area around the station, which officials said they hoped would spur development in the area. 

Read about the work being done in and around the Stamford Transportation Center or watch our video to learn more. 

Let’s see what else is happening around the region this week. 

Stamford

The Board of Representatives will meet on Tuesday, January 2 at 8 p.m. and vote on numerous issues, including a replacement for Representative Bradley Bewkes who resigned unexpectedly; as well as on accepting a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency for a food waste collection project and funding for an update to the city’s affordable housing plan.

Also on Tuesday, January 2, the Vision Zero Task Force will meet at 9:30 a.m. and get more information about two fatal crashes that occurred in the city over the past few weeks, including one on West Main Street and one on High Ridge Road.

Other meetings this week include:

• Wednesday, January 3: Harbor Management Commission Application Review Committee at 5:30 p.m.
• Thursday, January 4: Environmental Protection Board at 7:30 p.m. 

Norwalk

The Land Use and Building Management Committee of the Common Council will meet on Wednesday, January 3 at 7 p.m. and vote on an agreement that would allow the city to access $1.75 million in grant funding for the community center at 98 South Main Street. Learn more about the community center and its history. The committee will also receive an update on acquiring properties close to the site for the new South Norwalk school. 

Other meetings this week include: 

• Tuesday, January 2: Public Works Committee of the Common Council at 7 p.m. 
• Wednesday, January 3: Planning and Zoning Commission at 6 p.m. | Bike/Walk Commission at 6:30 p.m. | Fair Rent Commission at 7:30 p.m.
• Thursday, January 4: Mayor’s Water Quality Committee at 6 p.m. | Economic and Community Development Committee of the Common Council at 7 p.m. | Shellfish Commission at 7:15 p.m.

Fairfield

The Board of Selectmen will meet on Wednesday, January 3 at 4 p.m. and receive an update on the work taking place at Penfield Pavilion, which includes voting on an additional $1.3 million to support the remediation taking place there. Learn more about the work taking place at the site. 

Other meetings this week include: 

• Tuesday, January 2: RTM Workshop at 7 p.m. 
• Wednesday, January 3: Inland Wetlands Agency at 7 p.m.
• Thursday, January 4: Zoning Board of Appeals at 3 p.m. 

Greenwich

On Thursday, January 4, the Conservation Commission will meet at 7 p.m. and receive updates on Greenwich Point restoration efforts and the Sustainability and Climate Resiliency plan. Learn more about the work that’s gone into that plan. 

Other meetings this week include:

• Thursday, January 5: Budget Overview Committee at 7 p.m.

Darien

The Representative Town Meeting Park & Recreation Committee will meet at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 3 and review plans for the 2024-2025 operating budget, capital improvements, and six-year capital plan. 

Other meetings this week include: 

• Tuesday, January 2: Sewer Commission at 4:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, January 3: Environmental Protection Commission at 7:30 p.m.

Westport

The Representative Town Meeting will meet on Tuesday, January 2 at 7:30 p.m. and vote on an appropriation for $250,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for additional Post Road bus shelters.

On Wednesday, January 3, the Board of Finance will meet at 7:30 p.m. and vote on appropriating $205,249 for a comprehensive beach resiliency planning study.

Other meetings this week include:

• Tuesday, January 2: RTM Health and Human Services Committee and RTM Finance Committee at 7 p.m.
• Thursday, January 4: TEAM Westport at 10 a.m. | Sherwood Mill Pond Committee at 5 p.m. 
• Friday, January 5: Board of Education Work Session at 8:30 a.m.
• Saturday, January 6: Board of Education at 8:30 a.m.

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.

Thank you for reading! 

If you are interested in being a part of our reporting or just want to share your thoughts, please reach out at coastalconnecticuttimes@gmail.com. 

Have a great week,

Kelly Prinz

Founder, Reporter at Coastal Connecticut Times