Reverse Commuting to Connecticut (White Plains, Milford: renting, home, transfer to)

[BobProbert95]

There is a chance that either my wife or myself could get a job in Danbury, CT or Westport, CT. Either way, my wife who is from Queens, would like to live in the Bronx. My question is, what is the reverse commute like to either of these two cities and might we be best off living in CT? The mileage is not bad but the commute could be I am very sure on that one!

Thoughts?

[rlrl]

Assuming it's by car, Westport is about 35 miles from the tip of the Bronx, Danbury considerably more that that (at least 50)

By train you're limited to the New Haven line of the commuter trains and would be very time consuming due to the need to transfer

[reason180]

By train to Danbury:

You can take the Harlem line of Metro-NOrth to Brewster. From there you can transfer to the Danbury-Brewster shuttle which will bring you to Danbury. I think it brings you close to the corporate park.

www.hartct.org/brewster_schedule_06.pdf

You might consider moving to CT for cheaper housing and slightly less taxes than NYC.

[BobProbert95]

How's the traffic going in the reverse if we were to drive? Would most people be coming into the city when we would be going out hence less traffic or would we face major difficulties either way?

[rlrl]

You may face traffic in or approaching the Ct cities like Stamford and Danbury depending on what route you take

[Viralmd]

The drive in at the end of the day can be a real bear, unbelievably. I go to Connecticut fairly frequently, renting a car, for business and coming home can be a nightmare.

[bluejay1]

Originally Posted by rlrl

You may face traffic in or approaching the Ct cities like Stamford and Danbury depending on what route you take

Can you be specific about what routes & times are worse/better?

I have to commute from Brooklyn to West Haven, CT early a few times and want to know the best time to avoid traffic, for anyone familiar with this route.

[rlrl]

that's like an 80 mile ride. You could take the Hutch from the Whitestone Bridge into the Merritt to exit 53 into the I 95 connector up near milford and W Haven. Probably a bit more pleasant than taking I 95 from the Whitestone Bridge area

You will hit traffic around White Plains on the Hutch, Stamford, Bridgeport on the merritt and when you get on I 95 in W Haven you will probably have to deal with New haven traffic

But it would be worse if you took 95 straight because 95 goes right thru Stamford, Bpt

It wouldn't pay to take more inland routes such as 684 to 84 because 84 goes thru Waterbury which is too far up from W Haven

However there is a little shortcut you could do.

YOu could take the hutch into 684 when you get up to around White Plains and 287. You take 684 into 84 east toward Danbury. You take the exit for New Haven off I 84 (Conn rte 34) and follow route 34 until you hit I 95 in New haven. You then take 95 south into W haven

Who knows if it would really be worth it though

[MikefromCT]

Originally Posted by rlrl

that's like an 80 mile ride. You could take the Hutch from the Whitestone Bridge into the Merritt to exit 53 into the I 95 connector up near milford and W Haven. Probably a bit more pleasant than taking I 95 from the Whitestone Bridge area

That would be my suggestion as well. My father commutes once a week from central CT to NE Jersey and he always takes the Merritt/Hutch (to 287). Traffic is heavy on both 95 and the Merritt, but to a degree it's less hectic on the Merritt. And in Milford (exit 53, I believe?) you can pick up I95 which would get you to Westhaven. Again, either highway will be busy but at least the Merritt is scenic (especially this time of year) and there's no trucks on it which reduces the risk of rollovers and gridlock - which I95 in lower CT is notorious for. Good luck!

[bmwguydc]

I agree that the Merritt is preferable in Fairfield County, since the traffic does not stop so much as slows, whereas I-95 can be a parking lot between the NYS line and Norwalk, without an accident or other unusual delay.