State law now requires ConnDOT to reduce traffic in Connecticut's southwest corridor - especially I-95 - by 5% by 2003. ConnDOT's plan for meeting the goal emphasizes increasing train and bus ridership, ridesharing, vanpooling and telecommuting.

At a hearing in March, members of the Southwest Corridor Action Council, a business-environment-planning group that coalesced to address traffic congestion, said transit elements need more resources and other initiatives need to be thought out more fully.

Especially at issue was Metro-North's proposed 4.5% fare increase, which most speakers said would run counter to the traffic reduction goal. Chris Bruhl, representing Southwest Area Commerce and Industry Association, urged the legislature to consider revenue other than the farebox in meeting the requirements of CT's contract with Metro-North.

This vein, at least, did not fall on deaf ears - on Monday, ConnDOT postponed its June decision on the Metro-North fare hike, citing an "unfinished debate" over CT's support for Metro-North.

The South Western Regional Planning Agency (SWRPA), southwestern CT's federally-designated "metropolitan planning organization," said the DOT plan needs a much stronger integrated approach to transit, especially better Metro-North/Shore Line East integration, feeder service to stations, and more station parking. Additionally, SWRPA questioned the efficacy of current carpooling and vanpooling outreach strategies, and noted ConnDOT had provided few details regarding its telecommuting goals. Moreover, Conn-DOT's plan to increase bus ridership contains no proposal to increase bus service.