The 1:57 p.m. train from Bridgeport arrived about five minutes late at the Waterbury Train Station on Tuesday. The state Department of Transportation is proposing a 10-percent fare hike on Metro-North trains, along with cuts in service on the branch lines, including Waterbury. Andrew Larson / Republican-American
WATERBURY – In an effort to balance its budget, the state Department of Transportation is threatening substantial cuts to transit services, including the Waterbury branch of Metro-North Railroad.
A proposal to mitigate the agency’s budget deficit calls for a reduction of weekday off-peak service on Shore Line East, along with the Danbury, Waterbury and New Canaan branches.
In addition to the cuts, the DOT plans to raise rail fares by 10 percent in July, followed by additional 5 percent increases in 2020 and 2021.
Meanwhile, bus fares are expected to increase 25 cents in July, and transit district subsidies will be cut at least 5 percent, the DOT said.
On the Waterbury branch, the threat is especially unnerving because the DOT is spending $70 million to add signalization and passing sidings to the railroad, which runs from Waterbury to Bridgeport.
Rail advocates hope the sidings will lead to more frequent service on the single-track railroad because trains could run in each direction at the same time.
“It’s silly and short-sighted to have spent $70 million on Waterbury branch line upgrades and then not provide enough funding to continue existing service,” said Jim Gildea, chairman of the Connecticut Commuter Rail Council, who lives in Derby and uses the Waterbury branch to commute to work.
He’s taking the DOT’s threat seriously. Unless the agency finds additional revenue, he believes service cuts will occur.
“I don’t think they’d cut everything at once, but under the current scenario, unless something changes, there would be some level of reduction in service on the Waterbury line,” Gildea said.
Xavier Casimir, 18, who rides the Waterbury branch three or four times a week, said cutting train service would have devastating effects. He said many riders, including himself, have no other way to travel to cities like New Haven, Stamford and New York City.
“To see something cut that is necessary for people to get to school and work is not fair to people,” Casimir said.
Gildea urges the legislature to “aggressively pursue other sources of revenue,” such as electronic tolling and a total vehicle miles tax.
“They have to find a way to ensure critical investments and the Waterbury branch are maintained, and they have to find a way to provide adequate funding,” Gildea said.
Municipalities like Waterbury and Naugatuck have development plans that rely on their proximity to rail service.
Gildea said the benefits of the rail line extend far beyond the riders who use it.
“Every legislator from Derby to Waterbury needs to realize [the proposed cuts] are not just harming the Waterbury rail line, but killing the towns and cities they represent,” Gildea said. “This is not just a rail commuter issue; this is a livelihood issue that affects every taxpayer who lives along the corridor.”
