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Malloy's Bid To Improve Highways, Trains Gets Mixed Reviews

NORWALK, Conn. -- It was the talk of the town as Gov. Dannel Malloy proposed historic improvements in the state's transportation system: widening I-95 from Bridgeport to Greenwich and I-84 in Danbury, completing the Merritt Parkway-Route 7 interchange in Norwalk, and overhauling Metro-North to allow for “subway-like frequency.”

Construction workers shut down two lanes of traffic on Route 7 in Norwalk on Wednesday, while fixing potholes on the three-lane highway.

Construction workers shut down two lanes of traffic on Route 7 in Norwalk on Wednesday, while fixing potholes on the three-lane highway.

Photo Credit: Salvatore Trifilio

Malloy announced the Let’s Go Connecticut project Wednesday as part of his biennial budget proposal to relieve congestion on Connecticut highways.

“I think [Malloy’s] plans are very, very important,” said Winifred Chesley of Wilton, who has lived in Fairfield County for 60 years. “As this area grows more and more, it’s going to be worse and worse traveling. And traveling is no fun now in this area, especially during rush hour.”

Cherline Dunkin, a Norwalk resident who was shopping in the Rainbow Plaza on Main Street, agreed, emphasizing that travel in the area is “terrible.” Malloy’s plans to widen highways and increase the capacity and frequency of Metro-North trains “wouldn’t be a bad idea,” Dunkin said, but wants to know how it will be paid for.

Chesley said the state will find a way to pay for the project and said she was “absolutely” ready for a tax increase if it meant improvements in statewide transportation.

Masud Rahman, a Norwalk resident for more than 25 years, said it's more important to fix the highways than railroads and believes the New Haven Line overhaul should be axed because “it’s too much money.”

“The traffic is a lot,” Rahman said. “I used to live in Stamford. It should take only about 10 to 12 minutes to get from Norwalk to Stamford. But in rush hour traffic I have to wait an extra 20 minutes, a half-hour, in traffic.”

Rahman, who manages his family’s Rainbow News and Variety store on Main Street, said he fears the state might reinstate tolls on I-95 to pay for the project.

“If he puts a toll booth [near Norwalk] it’s going to make more of a mess,” he said. “Local people already get off the highway to take Route 1 in an attempt to avoid traffic. If a toll is put here, even more people will try to avoid the toll and cause more traffic.”

And while Dunkin agreed that tolls would do more harm than good, Chesley believes they may be necessary.

“As long as it goes to improves the transportation, than yes. But if it goes in someone’s pocket, than no,” Chesley said. “I’m all for it, and I am for the tolls.”

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