During a budget presentation to the Danbury City Council this week, Mayor Mark Boughton unveiled some new initiatives for the coming fiscal year.  He wants to bring a bike sharing program to the Main Street corridor.  If implemented, people would be able to rent a bike, similar to the Citibike program in New York City. 

Boughton also announced plans to connect the Danbury train station to the Southeast train station so people can do direct to New York, cutting an hour off the trip.  Riders will be able to avoid having to go down to Stamford or switch at South Norwalk. 

He envisions both a shuttle train to connect to existing Harlem line timetables and direct service using the same tracks as the Harlem line trains.

He called the plan transformative for downtown and believes it will lead to a robust CityCenter.  Boughton noted that 1,200 people a day take HART shuttles or park at Southeast and this will get drivers off I-84, easing congestion. The MTA is working with the City and state to partially fund a study on using the old Maybrook line behind the mall. 

The track is owned by freight operator Housatonic Railroad, not the state.

The Maybrook line began in 1871, 30 miles west of Poughkeepsie and went to Hartford. In 1892, a connection was built allowing through service from Danbury to Maybrook.  Passenger service was provided on and off until it was turned into a freight line.  In 1993, the track was sold to Maybrook Properties and most freight service ended.

Boughton says this is no longer a pipe dream with positive feedback finally coming form the MTA.  He added that this plan would require $50 million to $70 million in funding and will take time with all of the needed upgrades. 

Boughton is also proposing more police patrols downtown between Memorial Day and Labor Day and included funds in the budget to finish the long-delayed animal shelter project.