The proposed bill, Substitute Bill No. 7059, mandates the Commissioner of Transportation to conduct a feasibility study on two key aspects concerning the Danbury branch line of the Metro-North Commuter Railroad. Specifically, the study will evaluate the potential for operating hybrid trains on this line and the possibility of extending the line to include the town of New Milford. The Commissioner is required to submit the findings and recommendations of this study to the relevant joint standing committee by February 1, 2026.

Additionally, the bill establishes a Connecticut Public Transportation Council, which will consist of fifteen members who are regular users of various state-funded transportation services. The bill repeals the existing Section 13b-212b and replaces it with new provisions that outline the appointment process for council members, their terms, and operational guidelines. Notable insertions include the council's responsibility to prepare and submit its budgetary requests to the Department of Transportation, as well as the requirement for the Department to create a dedicated web page for the council to share information such as meeting schedules and reports. The effective dates for these changes are set for immediate passage and July 1, 2025, respectively.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill:
TRA Joint Favorable Substitute:
File No. 404:
APP Joint Favorable: