Planning Study to Explore Feasibility of Commuter Train from Southeast, NY to Danbury, CT

Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell has secured $1 million from the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC) to study the feasibility of restoring passenger train service along a 13.5 mile stretch of a rail line from the Southeast, NY train station to Danbury, CT.
Reconnecting the old Beacon Line could relieve traffic congestion on the I-84/684 corridor, reduce air pollution and shorten the ride to New York City for many residents, said Odell, who sat as co-chair of NYMTC for 2016 and 2017.
“As leaders, we recognize that we have the responsibility to do our part for climate-smart initiatives, and partnerships give us the opportunity to implement change,” she said. “Mobility for everyone, from millennials to seniors, is a priority for strong economic growth.”
Putnam County and Metro-North Railroad requested the $1 million in matched funding earlier this year from NYMTC, through the Unified Planning Work Program. The Resolution in connection with this project was adopted this month by the Executive Council, NYMTC. Putnam County will assist Metro-North with the conduct of the study, which will look at economic, environmental and operational impacts of running trains along the Southeast-Danbury corridor.
The line, which runs from Beacon, NY to Danbury is mostly inactive. Metro-North uses the line’s 41 miles of track in New York State to move equipment and for maintenance operations. The Housatonic Railroad owns the Connecticut portion of the line.
The study is expected to take up to two years.