The ferry terminal would serve as a base for high-speed service to and from the NYC financial district and LaGuardia airport, while the rail station is intended as a mainly intra-city transit addition. The proposal places a new station at East Main Street, halfway between the Stamford and Glenbrook stations, where residents of the northern suburbs could catch the train into the city.

The report continues debate over solutions to I-95 congestion by stating that local traffic now on I-95 would divert to Route 1 if bottlenecks on the latter are removed. The study suggests widening two segments of Route 1 where the road narrows to two lanes.

In addition to redirecting local traffic, widening could attract some regional traffic to Route 1. A plan by the Connecticut DOT to close seven entrance ramps to I-95, three in the Stamford region would also draw traffic to the smaller roadway. Although a truly comparative study has yet to be done, the Southwest Corridor Study Update 1998 found removal of six ramps in the area would increase traffic on Route 1 by almost 12%.

The report also promotes smaller mass transit and bicycle and pedestrian facility improvements:


• Establishment of new bus routes on Route 1 and the city's south side to serve and meet connecting trains.

• Installation of bicycle racks on all CTTransit buses.

• For bus riders, more info kiosks and shelters as well as a city-wide automatic vehicle locator system.

• Extension of the on-street bicycle network.

• Installation of bicycle racks and lockers at the Stamford train station as well as improved pedestrian access to the North State Street entrance.

Providing sidewalks and slowing downtown traffic is an important challenge for Stamford. In 1998, Stamford alone saw more than 10% of Connecticut's pedestrian fatalities.