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Next stop, Fairfield Metro. Or should it be Black Rock? How about Ash Creek? Fairfield's third train station is still about a year away from opening. But First Selectman Kenneth Flatto launched an online survey Monday asking residents for their thoughts on the new train station's name.
"The hope for this survey is to really get a good opinion of as much of the public as possible," Flatto said.
The Connecticut Department of Transportation has the final say in the station's name. Currently, it plans to use private developer Black Rock Realty LLC's suggestion of Fairfield Metro to connect it with the office and retail park being built around the station. But at Flatto's insistence, the state agreed to take the matter to the people.
The survey asks responders whether they would like to see the name changed and offers possible suggestions. The choices are: Ash Creek, Black Rock, Black Rock Turnpike, Commerce Drive, Grasmere and Metro Center, as well as versions of each, including "Fairfield." Write-ins are also possible.
"One of the things the state managers emphasized to me is that they want to see if there's a consensus," Flatto said. "If, for arguments sake, there were five names that people liked, and 20 percent liked each of the names, they may very well go with the name they have planned. If there's no clear majority, what's the point?"
Whatever the name, the train station is due to open between October and December 2011. Metro-North Railroad officials have said service to the station will start as soon as construction is finished. Commuters with parking permits at the Fairfield center or Southport stations will receive notices in the summer from the Fairfield Parking Authority to find out whether they are interested in switching to permits for the new station.
Which name do you like? Express your opinions in the comments below or on our Facebook page before you fill out the town's survey.
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