Fast track concept from Danbury to Grand Central awarded $1 million feasibility study

View from the 9:05 AM Metro-North train from Danbury to South Norwalk. View from the 9:05 AM Metro-North train from Danbury to South Norwalk. Photo: H John Voorhees III / Hearst Connecticut Media Photo: H John Voorhees III / Hearst Connecticut Media Image 1 of / 17 Caption Close Fast track concept from Danbury to Grand Central awarded $1 million feasibility study 1 / 17 Back to Gallery

DANBURY - An idea to reopen an overgrown commuter rail line to Southeast, N.Y., and create a fast track to Manhattan for Danbury commuters has been awarded a $1 million study grant.

The grant, awarded Thursday by the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council, is the first step in a plan to reopen the old Maybrook rail line from Danbury to Metro-North’s Harlem Line in Southeast.

The idea to cut as much as an hour off Danburians’ commute to New York City was first floated in late April, after a meeting between Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, Metro-North President Cathy Rinaldi and state DOT Commissioner Joe Giulietti.

The money for the feasibility study comes from an $800,000 federal grant, and a $200,000 contribution from from Putnam County.