Wilton commuters who use Metro North's Danbury line were stunned Tuesday that Gov. Dannel Malloy is even considering cutting train service along the line.
"Oh my God, no!" said Maria Riera of Catalupa Road. "We moved to Wilton just two months ago because it had a local train station that we use every day. This is terrible. I can't believe they are even considering it. With all the taxes we pay, that would be a major inconvenience. If we knew this could happen we probably wouldn't have moved here."
Cutting train service is included in more than $545 million in potential budget cuts proposed Tuesday. The cuts could include eliminating some branch rail services to save about $22 million. The proposal, known as "Plan B," includes possible elimination of train service from Danbury to South Norwalk.
Some commuters pointed out the waste of closing a train station that has recently undergone extensive renovations and improvements.
At the town's Cannondale station up the road some commuters waiting for a ride home were equally stunned.
"No, it can't be,' said Debbie Frangione of Stamford, who uses the train every day to get to her job at The Greens, where she works as a private nurse. "If they stopped or cut back on service I don't how I would get to work."
However, a spokesman for the governor said nothing has been decided.
"It's in the framework of options, said Malloys press secretary, Juliet Manalan, so it's not a foregone conclusion. Basically, the governor is hoping not to have to go down the road of [Plan B]. The unions are still talking with the governor about concessions, but the governor is preparing in case there is not an outcome there that is workable."
What would you do for alternate transportation if the Wilton train stations closed? Leave comment below.
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