July 01, 2010

Gubernatorial candidate Ned Lamont talks transit at Danbury train station

By Dirk Perrefort  |  Danbury News Times  |  Link to article

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ned Lamont -- in town for a campaign stop at the train station -- said he supports efforts to extend the Danbury rail line branch to New Milford and electrify the line.

Lamont touted his transportation plan for the state, which he unveiled this week.

The Greenwich businessman, who is hoping to win the Democratic nomination during a primary in August, said the state has to stop studying infrastructure improvements and put a strategy into place.

"Transportation is so important to get jobs and our economy back in gear," Lamont said while standing on the train station platform flanked by local and state officials, including Democrat Ridgefield First Selectman Rudy Marconi, a former gubernatorial candidate, and state Rep. Jason Bartlett, D-Bethel, who both support Lamont.

"Connecticut is the gateway to New England," Lamont said. "That's a great strategic advantage that's become a disadvantage because we've allowed our transportation infrastructure to deteriorate."

He added that the state has spent decades studying improvements to the Danbury line and it's about time to put something in place.

"I will put that on the fast track," he said, adding that electrifying the line will improve service.

Lamont's plan calls for increasing parking at the state's train stations, providing wireless Internet service on trains, increasing the frequency on branch lines including Danbury and Waterbury and creating a regional transportation authority that brings other states to the table.

Lamont said the state also has to go after more federal money for transportation improvements. Creating a regional authority, he said, would provide the "political clout" to bring more federal dollars into the region for projects like a freight tunnel across the lower Hudson River that would put more products on the rails and take trucks off state highways.