Keep on track

With the recent -- and welcome -- focus on improving passenger rail service in Western Connecticut, the move to extend the Danbury line to New Milford must get on the fast track.

Support in many sectors is evident for the restoration of passenger service to town after a nearly 40-year hiatus.

The restoration makes sense -- for the Greater New Milford area and the region -- in several ways.

It would benefit the town's economy directly by prompting more activity downtown. And indirectly, ease of commuting to points south would make the town even more desirable as a place in which to live, thus increasing housing values.

The region would benefit from the reduction in the number of vehicles on the highways, less traffic congestion and decreased environmental pollution.

Daily boardings of 336 passengers at a New Milford station are projected in a Danbury Branch Line Commuter Rail Service report by the Housatonic Valley Council of Elected Officials. That would be more boardings than at any other station on the now Danbury-to-South Norwalk line.

Extending passenger service through Brookfield to New Milford would be estimated to boost overall ridership on the branch line by 36.5 percent. More riders would justify more services -- such as more frequent trains -- for all.

And the 14-mile extension would not be all that difficult.

Freight service already exists between Danbury and New Milford. Tracks would have to be improved to meet passenger service requirements, but the line already exists and there would be no need to acquire land and start at the beginning with a track bed.

State Department of Transportation officials projected four years ago it would cost between $30 million and $36 million to extend the Danbury line to New Milford, plus another $11 million for new trains. The cost is undoubtedly higher now, but not prohibitive considering the long-term benefits.

The DOT is studying the feasibility of extending the branch line to New Milford, and a draft report is expected this year.

Support for improved passenger rail service in the Greater Danbury area is growing.

Last week, U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy, D-5th, was joined by U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, D-4th, in riding the rails from Danbury to Norwalk with regional and local officials to highlight the need for better service.

With the $52 million in signal upgrades along the Metro-North Danbury branch line to be completed next year -- $30 million of which is federal stimulus money -- commuter service will be improved and faster.

Elected officials in New Milford, Brookfield and the region should show their firm and continued support now for extending the Danbury branch line and restoring passenger rail service north of the city.