Rally on Jan. 31 a chance to ‘get excited about rails’

NORTH CANAAN — Fast on the heels of a promise from Hartford to come up with and fund a plan for improved transportation across the state, proponents for reviving passenger train service here are making a final, big push.

A Rally for the Rails is planned for Saturday, Jan. 31, noon to 1 p.m. at Canaan Union Station, where organizers with the Restore Our Railways group hope to draw a big crowd and lots of attention for their support for re-establishing passenger service to the Housatonic Railroad line.

There will be a selection of speakers who have been deeply involved in the process, and a last chance to sign an online petition (at www.moveon.org) before it is sent to the governor’s office. It currently has just over 3,200 signatures. The goal is 4,000.

Invited is Gov. Dannel Malloy (it was not known at press time if he plans to attend), who announced in his Jan. 7 State of the State address that he is seeking to establish a “collective vision” for the next 30 years to ease unacceptable traffic congestion across the state. He also called for legislation that prevents the state’s Special Transportation Fund from being raided for other purposes, and promised to veto any proposed new transportation funding sources until a bill is passed.  

Early last week, state Rep. Cecilia Buck-Taylor (R-67) introduced a proposal for legislation for an expansion of commuter rail lines from New Milford, which she represents, to Kent. 

On Jan. 23, Rep. Roberta Willis (D-64) introduced a bill for the restoration of the Housatonic rail line (see story this page). 

All of this is part of a much-debated effort to establish passenger rail service between New York City and Pittsfield, Mass.

An upgrade to the single rail line from Danbury north to the border is estimated to cost about $113 million. Even if it does not result in passenger service, all can agree that safety is a goal. Some of the track is now more than a century old. Housatonic Railroad Company, based in North Canaan, has leased the railroad right-of-way from the state for more than three decades, and has continually worked on upgrades. 

Todd Shearer, who mounted the Restore Our Rails effort with area residents Jayne Fagan-Cosentino and Brian Scimeca, said Malloy also spoke of focusing on projects in each region and connecting all of the state.

“That means he has to do some work in the Northwest Corner. At least that’s our read of his statement,” Shearer said. “This is the closest we’ve been to having passenger service again  since 1972.”

The Jan. 31 rally will be held outdoors, whatever the weather. Early predictions show it will be sunny but very cold. 

“It’s only an hour. Dress warm, bring the kids, get excited about the train and it will be a good day no matter what,” Shearer said.