Fairfield–Black Rock station, formerly Fairfield Metro, is a commuter rail station on the Metro-North Railroad New Haven Line, located in the town of Fairfield, Connecticut. It opened as an infill station on December 5, 2011, and was renamed in June 2024. The station has two 12-car-long side platforms serving the outer tracks of the four-track Northeast Corridor.[2]: 22 It is fully accessible.[3]
Fairfield–Black Rock | |||||||||||
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 The station in May 2012 | |||||||||||
| General information | |||||||||||
| Location | 61 Constant Comment Way Fairfield, Connecticut | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 41°09′40″N 73°14′03″W / 41.1611°N 73.2343°W | ||||||||||
| Line(s) | ConnDOT New Haven Line (Northeast Corridor) | ||||||||||
| Platforms | 2 side platforms | ||||||||||
| Tracks | 4 | ||||||||||
| Connections |  Greater Bridgeport Transit Authority: 5, 7 | ||||||||||
| Construction | |||||||||||
| Parking | 1,500 spaces | ||||||||||
| Accessible | Yes | ||||||||||
| Other information | |||||||||||
| Fare zone | 18 | ||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||
| Opened | December 5, 2011 | ||||||||||
| Passengers | |||||||||||
| 2018 | 2,215 daily boardings[1] | ||||||||||
| Services | |||||||||||
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History
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A three party agreement was approved in 2001 between the Town of Fairfield, the State of Connecticut and developer Blackrock Realty securing state, local and private funding to build the train station and adjoining open space and clean up work. In December 2009, the state announced a bond authorization for $20 million wherein the state would assume the developer's obligation for infrastructure work and continue the project.[4][5]
In April 2010, the developer's obligation for infrastructure improvements was reduced to $5.2 million with the balance being financed through the state bonds. Responsibility for construction of the 1,500-car parking lot and access road at the town's third train station on lower Black Rock Turnpike was transferred to the town as the developer's financial obligation was reduced.[6] In July 2011, an audit of the contract and the cost overruns was approved by the Fairfield Board of Finance and members of the Representative Town Meeting.[7] The project includes creation of a 10 acres (4.0 ha) open space and public park along Ash Creek between Kings Highway in Fairfield and the Black Rock neighborhood of Bridgeport.[6]
Blackrock Realty and the state originally used "Fairfield Metro", but Fairfield residents found the name bland. The town held an online survey in December 2010 to propose an alternate name.[8] Popular suggestions included Black Rock, Black Rock Turnpike, Ash Creek, and Grasmere, among others. The state had the final word in naming the station and chose to follow or disregard the town's recommendations. To meet the opening deadline of November 2011, a name had to be chosen by February 2011. The final name of Fairfield Metro was announced on March 18, 2011.[9] The station opened on December 5, 2011.[3]
On March 28, 2024, the Connecticut Department of Transportation announced plans to rename Fairfield Metro to Fairfield–Black Rock in the coming months.[10] Station signage was changed in June 2024.[11]
References
edit- ^ Metro-North 2018 Weekday Station Boardings. Metro-North Railroad Market Analysis/Fare Policy Group. April 2019. p. 6.
- ^ "Metro-North Railroad Track & Structures Department Track Charts Maintenance Program Interlocking Diagrams & Yard Diagrams 2015" (PDF). Metro-North Railroad. 2015. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
- ^ a b "Fairfield Metro Train Station Opens December 5 on the New Haven Line". mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. November 28, 2011. Archived from the original on August 21, 2016. Retrieved February 1, 2017.
- ^ Saracco, Donna O'Keefe (December 31, 2009). "Train Station gets a boost". Fairfield Minuteman.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Loh, Tim (January 20, 2010). "$20 million for Metro Center: "Bonding," not bailout, officials declare". Fairfield Citizen.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b Reilly, Genevieve (April 30, 2010). "Back on track". Fairfield Citizen. Archived from the original on July 10, 2011. Retrieved July 16, 2011.
- ^ Reilly, Genevieve (July 12, 2011). "Selectmen scrutinize Fairfield Metro contract changes". Connecticut Post. Retrieved December 12, 2011.
- ^ Grosso, Meg Learson (December 15, 2010). "Take the survey: Name our third train station". Fairfield Minuteman. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved July 16, 2011.
- ^ Reilly, Genevieve (March 18, 2011). "Town officials on board with 'Fairfield Metro' name for new railroad station". Fairfield Citizen. Archived from the original on March 22, 2012. Retrieved December 12, 2011.
- ^ "Renaming of the Fairfield Metro Station to Fairfield-Black Rock Station" (Press release). Connecticut Department of Transportation. March 28, 2024. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
- ^ "Fairfield Metro now Fairfield-Black Rock station". News 12. June 26, 2024. Archived from the original on June 26, 2024.
External links
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Media related to Fairfield–Black Rock station at Wikimedia Commons