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New Canaan (Metro-North station)
Encyclopedia
The New Canaan Metro-North Railroad
station is the terminus of the New Canaan Branch of the New Haven Line. It is officially located at 198 Elm Street at Park Avenue in New Canaan, Connecticut
.
. No connecting buses are available other than local taxi cab services.
In 1998, the state began a 10-year lease (ending June 30, 2008) to the town for about 2.35 acres (9,510.1 m²) at both the Talmadge Hill and New Canaan stations, allowing the town to perform some maintenance, repairs and cleaning while the state retains responsibility and control over major structural renovations and repairs. Money collected for parking goes into a special fund to be used for station-related purposes with the state's approval, and the state also must approve parking-fee regulations. The town has the option of renewing the lease for another 10-year term. Part of the agreement reads:
The town's services to the two railroad stations are provided by three town agencies and a private cleaning company hired by the town:
According to a 2003 report written for the state Department of Transportation, the town didn't have a formal organization chart showing how responsibilities for its train stations were divided up, although the town appeared to be maintaining at least the New Canaan station well, and anyone with a complaint was encouraged to take it to the Office of the First Selectman.
The station is featured in the 1997 film The Ice Storm
.
The ticket office at this station was closed July 7, 2010 and tickets must be purchased from vending machines adjacent to the platforms.
The stations has commuter parking in several lots within a short walk from the station. There are 2 lots near the station that have numbered spaces for daily parking. The fee for daily parking is $5 and there is no overnight parking in the daily spots.
to the west of the tracks. The New Canaan Branch has three tracks at this location. The eastern two tracks, not adjacent to the platform, are used for train storage.
museum (reservations are often required long in advance). Park Street, a north-south road at the far eastern side of the station, where the tracks end, features the one-time home of Maxwell Perkins
who brought manuscripts of Ernest Hemingway
, F. Scott Fitzgerald
and others to his residence at 63 Park Street, half a block north of the station. Further north on Park Avenue are the First Church of Christ Scientist and the First Congregational Church of New Canaan, which played a role in the early history and founding of the community, as a plaque in front of the building relates. Across the street from that church is "God's Acre", a small park on a steeply sloping hill (at the bottom of which is a war memorial in the shape of an Irish cross). Further north, at the intersection of Park and Main streets, is the New Canaan Historical Society, where the John Rogers Studio
is located. (Further north on Main Street, which becomes Oenoke Ridge Road, less than a mile beyond the train station, is the New Canaan Nature Center
.) Turning south on Main Street, past the war monument, the New Canaan Fire Department and the New Canaan Thrift Shop are on different corners of the intersection of Main Street and Locust Avenue. New Canaan Town Hall is half a block further south on Main Street and displays restored Works Progress Administration
murals and artwork from the 1930s. Continuing down Main Street, turning right at the intersection of Main and Elm streets leads past many small businesses and restaurants, as well as the New Canaan Playhouse. Two blocks south of the intersection of Main and Elm is the New Canaan Library. Less than half a mile south of the station, along Park Street, is Mead Memorial Park, with a pond, sports fields and a snack bar.
Metro-North Railroad
The Metro-North Commuter Railroad , trading as MTA Metro-North Railroad, or, more commonly, Metro-North, is a suburban commuter rail service that is run and managed by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority , an authority of New York State. It is the busiest commuter railroad in the United...
station is the terminus of the New Canaan Branch of the New Haven Line. It is officially located at 198 Elm Street at Park Avenue in New Canaan, Connecticut
New Canaan, Connecticut
New Canaan is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, northeast of Stamford, on the Fivemile River. The population was 19,738 according to the 2010 census.The town is one of the most affluent communities in the United States...
.
Description
The station is 41.2 miles (66.3 km) away from Grand Central TerminalGrand Central Terminal
Grand Central Terminal —often incorrectly called Grand Central Station, or shortened to simply Grand Central—is a terminal station at 42nd Street and Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States...
. No connecting buses are available other than local taxi cab services.
In 1998, the state began a 10-year lease (ending June 30, 2008) to the town for about 2.35 acres (9,510.1 m²) at both the Talmadge Hill and New Canaan stations, allowing the town to perform some maintenance, repairs and cleaning while the state retains responsibility and control over major structural renovations and repairs. Money collected for parking goes into a special fund to be used for station-related purposes with the state's approval, and the state also must approve parking-fee regulations. The town has the option of renewing the lease for another 10-year term. Part of the agreement reads:
- "The state retains the sole responsibility for structural renovations and/or repairs and for maintaining and restoring all fencing bordering the tracks, canopies over the platforms, and stairways. The Town is solely responsible for all day-to-day maintenance, including, but not limited to, general structural repairs, snow removal, trash removal and security of any and all platforms, railings, stairs, shelters and ramps."
The town's services to the two railroad stations are provided by three town agencies and a private cleaning company hired by the town:
- The town Public Works Department, which reports directly to the first selectman (the elected, chief executive officer of the town government);
- The town police department, which does not report formally to the first selectman;
- The town Department of Parking Operations, which reports directly to the town Parking Commission
- A private company hired for "housekeeping" and cleaning, which reports directly to the first selectman.
According to a 2003 report written for the state Department of Transportation, the town didn't have a formal organization chart showing how responsibilities for its train stations were divided up, although the town appeared to be maintaining at least the New Canaan station well, and anyone with a complaint was encouraged to take it to the Office of the First Selectman.
The station is featured in the 1997 film The Ice Storm
The Ice Storm (film)
The Ice Storm is a 1997 drama film directed by Ang Lee, based on the 1994 novel of the same name by Rick Moody.The film features an ensemble cast of Kevin Kline, Joan Allen, Tobey Maguire, Christina Ricci, Elijah Wood, and Sigourney Weaver...
.
The ticket office at this station was closed July 7, 2010 and tickets must be purchased from vending machines adjacent to the platforms.
The stations has commuter parking in several lots within a short walk from the station. There are 2 lots near the station that have numbered spaces for daily parking. The fee for daily parking is $5 and there is no overnight parking in the daily spots.
Platform and track configuration
This station has one five-car-long high-level side platformSide platform
A Side platform is a platform positioned to the side of a pair of tracks at a railway station, a tram stop or a transitway. A pair of side platforms are often provided on a dual track line with a single side platform being sufficient for a single track line...
to the west of the tracks. The New Canaan Branch has three tracks at this location. The eastern two tracks, not adjacent to the platform, are used for train storage.
Within walking distance
The train station is bordered by Elm Street on the north (the same side as the station house), Park Street on the east and Pine Street on the south. All of downtown New Canaan, a bustling little business district, is well within a mile of the train station. Across Elm Street from the station, to the north, are offices and the visitor transportation area for Philip Johnson's Glass HouseGlass House
The Glass House or Johnson house, built in 1949 in New Canaan, Connecticut, was designed by Philip Johnson as his own residence and is a masterpiece in the use of glass. It was an important and influential project for Johnson and for modern architecture. The building is an essay in minimal...
museum (reservations are often required long in advance). Park Street, a north-south road at the far eastern side of the station, where the tracks end, features the one-time home of Maxwell Perkins
Maxwell Perkins
William Maxwell Evarts Perkins , was the editor for Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Thomas Wolfe. He has been described as the most famous literary editor.-Career:...
who brought manuscripts of Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Miller Hemingway was an American author and journalist. His economic and understated style had a strong influence on 20th-century fiction, while his life of adventure and his public image influenced later generations. Hemingway produced most of his work between the mid-1920s and the...
, F. Scott Fitzgerald
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald was an American author of novels and short stories, whose works are the paradigm writings of the Jazz Age, a term he coined himself. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century. Fitzgerald is considered a member of the "Lost...
and others to his residence at 63 Park Street, half a block north of the station. Further north on Park Avenue are the First Church of Christ Scientist and the First Congregational Church of New Canaan, which played a role in the early history and founding of the community, as a plaque in front of the building relates. Across the street from that church is "God's Acre", a small park on a steeply sloping hill (at the bottom of which is a war memorial in the shape of an Irish cross). Further north, at the intersection of Park and Main streets, is the New Canaan Historical Society, where the John Rogers Studio
John Rogers Studio
The John Rogers Studio and Museum is the preserved studio in New Canaan, Connecticut, of sculptor John Rogers, a popular American artist called "the people's sculptor" in the latter 19th century. Run as a museum by the New Canaan Historical Society, the studio houses a collection of "Rogers...
is located. (Further north on Main Street, which becomes Oenoke Ridge Road, less than a mile beyond the train station, is the New Canaan Nature Center
New Canaan Nature Center
The New Canaan Nature Center is a botanical garden, arboretum and nature preserve located at 144 Oenoke Ridge, Route 124, about north of the center of New Canaan, Connecticut....
.) Turning south on Main Street, past the war monument, the New Canaan Fire Department and the New Canaan Thrift Shop are on different corners of the intersection of Main Street and Locust Avenue. New Canaan Town Hall is half a block further south on Main Street and displays restored Works Progress Administration
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
murals and artwork from the 1930s. Continuing down Main Street, turning right at the intersection of Main and Elm streets leads past many small businesses and restaurants, as well as the New Canaan Playhouse. Two blocks south of the intersection of Main and Elm is the New Canaan Library. Less than half a mile south of the station, along Park Street, is Mead Memorial Park, with a pond, sports fields and a snack bar.
External links
- Metro North Railroad - New Canaan
- List of upcoming train arrival and departure times from MTA
- http://www.ct.gov/dotinfo/lib/dotinfo/ctgov/stations/newcanaan_stationreport.pdf Individual Station Report, July 2003, by Urbitran for Connecticut Department of Transportation
- New Canaan Station - The Subway Nut
- Station House from Google Maps Street View
- Station from Park Avenue from Google Maps Street View