The bill mandated Connecticut DOT to pursue a 5% reduction from 1997 base-level peak-period vehicle miles traveled (VMT) - a cut-back of 8600 cars - along I-95, US 1, and Route 15 between the New York State border and Branford by 2002. The legislation also set goals for expanding participation in the region's mass transit systems and encouraging telecommuting and off-peak travel. A progress report released by ConnDOT in January shows the agency has shied from necessary steps and lags behind its two-year benchmarks by almost 50%.

Across the corridor, total VMT has either remained roughly equivalent to 1997 levels or increased, with a notably strong 5.8% upswing along Rt. 15. Results of direct traffic measurement at southbound I-95 in Norwalk may be grounds for optimism, tallying an impressive VMT drop of 9.1% between the peak am hours. However, agency watch-dogs are frustrated that no further analysis of shoulder hour traffic has been made to find out if drivers are shifting from peak hours or choosing an alternate route. Also disappointing, consultants for two other valuable studies - one of rail station facilities and service, another on how to better market mass transit - were only recently hired and are unlikely to finish work before the 2002 deadline.

According to ConnDOT analysis of Metro-North statistics, rail and bus commuting is up in the corridor, yet only slightly more than the system-wide annual 1.6% increase in ridership. Schedule improvements on the New Haven Line, added station parking in Bridgeport and a new Milford-Norwalk bus route may have been a factor. And "Deduct-A-Ride", Connecticut's version of the employee transit benefit program begun in late 1999, could boost transit commuting in upcoming years. To build on these gains and make up for stagnant van-pool and car-pool numbers and modest telecommuting results, ConnDOT must push for more frequent bus and train service along existing routes, better schedule integration between Shore Line East and bus feeders, and reductions in both bus and train fares.