Support for rail line is on track

PITTSFIELD -- Public support for rail service from Pittsfield to New York is gaining steam, according to a survey of potential riders who expressed strong interest in the idea.

For Berkshire County residents, this survey could be a positive step forward to installing rail service to New York, via a connection to the Metro North train line in Danbury, Conn. The total trip, the report said, would take approximately four hours.

The Housatonic Railroad Co. released details from its survey this week, stating that if the proposed railway was completed, there would be an estimated "two million one-way riders a year" along the route, according to president John Hanlon.

The survey, which was sent out in June, showed that one in four residents of Berkshire County and northwestern Connecticut were "highly interested" in the proposed train line. Most respondents said they'd ride it the most during the spring and summer.

"Today, Litchfield and Berkshire County residents and visitors are limited to the use of the automobile," Hanlon said in a statement. "Rail transport for both freight and passengers is an energy efficient, environmentally friendly solution for our region's transportation needs."

According to Housatonic Railroad's report, the company's next step is creating a cost model to determine how much the project would cost. Hanlon previously estimated to The Eagle that the project could cost between $110 million and $120

Both Hanlon and state Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli, D-Lenox, agreed that it would likely require both public and private funds to make the proposed renovations to train line a reality.

"We've all got to participate in this because we'll all benefit," Pignatelli said. "If we can do a multiplier effect, if we invest so much money we'll get so much in return, I think taxpayers will be happy to see their tax dollars going into something that will have a huge upside in return."

Pignatelli stressed that even if the train was completed, residents should not expect high-speed service.

"We're not going to get to New York in two hours, that's not going to happen," Pignatelli said. "But I could actually see people commuting to New York for work, and I could even see people commuting from New York to the Berkshires."

According to the survey, New York City residents said they would likely travel to Connecticut and the Berkshires for outdoor and cultural activities. Amenities called for in the survey included WiFi internet access on the train, as well as rental car services in the Berkshires and Connecticut for inbound passengers.

The real issue, Pignatelli continued, was establishing the costs for the project early on. "Whatever the amount of money is, we have to nail that down," he said. "We've got to do it right."