A day after holding his first hearing as chair of a Senate panel on surface transportation, Senator Richard Blumenthal this morning will lay out his rail safety priorities. The Connecticut Democrat already says he plans to draw up legislation mandating that regulators better emphasize improved safety and reliability for commuter and freight rail. 

This comes as Metro North is under scrutiny for a series of mishaps, accidents and mechanical failures. 

Motorists, not just rail riders, are expressing safety concerns over signal issues at intersections along the Danbury Branch.