Transportation – Darien Answer Book

How many cars and trucks are registered in town?

According to the assessor’s office, there are nearly 17,800 passenger vehicles registered in Darien. The assessor works closely with the Department of Motor Vehicles annually establishing the average retail value using the NADA price guide as recommended by the state office of Policy and Management and the Connecticut Assessors Association. The DMV establishes values for most vehicles giving special attention to the 17-digit vehicle identification number. In situations where the VIN number isn’t easily identified, the assessor identifies and prices each car, truck or trailer using a variety of price guides and sets final assessments at 70% of value for each Oct. 1. Vehicles that are sold or replaced are assessed on a monthly pro-rated basis and are annually reconciled on what is called the supplement Motor Vehicle list.

 

How many miles of roads are there in Darien?

There are nearly 82 miles of town roads and 11 miles of state roads in Darien.

 

How can I find out about road closures?

You can check for road closures in town by logging onto municipalclosures.com/darien.

 

Who maintains and plows our roads?

Darien’s Department of Public Works (656-7346) is responsible for building and maintaining the town’s roads, streets, bridges, storm sewers, sanitary sewers and other related components. Under the direction of Robert Steeger, the department includes 30 full-time and five part-time employees.

State roads are maintained by District 3 of the Connecticut Highway Department (389-3020).

 

What are the typical speed limits in town?

The speed limit is 35 miles per hour on the Post Road and 25 miles per hour on most other roads in town.

 

What’s the fine for speeding here?

All fines for motor vehicle infractions and violations are set by the state and published in a booklet available in most public libraries, police departments, and DMV offices. It is also available online at jud.ct.gov/Publications/Infractions/infractions.pdf.

Speeding tickets for cars going over 55 miles per hour range from $123 for going one to nine mph over the posted limit to $211 for 23 mph and over the posted limit. Fines are higher for construction, utility, and school zones. Traveling unreasonably fast pertains to cars going under 56 mph. The fines in this bracket range from $103 for one to nine mph over the posted limit to $191 for 23 or more mph over the limit, again with greater penalties for construction, utility and school zones.

 

What’s the fine for passing a school bus?

Passing a standing school bus will cost you a hefty $460, and that’s for a first offense.

 

Where are the train stations?

The Darien train station is on West Avenue; the Noroton Heights station is on Noroton Avenue. Both serve the New Haven Line of Metro-North. The nearest handicap-accessible stations are in Stamford and South Norwalk. Travel time for the train into Grand Central Terminal is about an hour from Darien, a few minutes less from Noroton Heights. The fare for travel to Grand Central Terminal with tickets bought at the station is the same for either station: one-way peak, $12.25; one-way off-peak, $9.25; senior one-way, $6. Fares are significantly higher if bought on the train. A monthly commutation ticket is $264. You may also purchase tickets online at mta.info.

The Darien ticket office is open Monday through Friday from 6:10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (it’s closed from 11 to 11:20). At Noroton Heights, there is no staffed ticket office. There is a concession stand. There are two ticket machines at each station.

Train schedules are available at the stations, by calling 800-638-7646 or online at mta.info.

Amtrak trains can be boarded at Westport, Norwalk, or Stamford. For information, call 800-872-7245 or go online to amtrak.com.

 

Where can I park in town?

There are approximately 1,681 permit, metered, and voucher parking spaces available at municipal lots throughout town, and at the Darien and Noroton Heights train stations.

 

How do I get a permit to park at the train station?

Even though the town sells more permits than there are parking spaces, there is still a long waiting list for both train stations. When a spot becomes available, the next person on the list moves up. The cost is $315. There are 775 permit and voucher spaces at the Noroton Heights station and 544 spaces available for the Darien station (including municipal lots on Leroy and Grove). For information, call 656-7330.

 

Is there free municipal parking?

There is free parking in the train station parking lots on weekends and holidays, as well as in town municipal lots. Weekends are free in the Koons’ Lot, also known as the West Avenue lot.

 

How does the parking voucher system work?

Parking vouchers are for use in designated spaces at the commuter parking lots and both train stations. They are sold for $3 each or in books of 10 for $30. They may be purchased at either train station until 9, Darien Produce at 27 Tokeneke Road, Station Variety at 873 Post Road, or Leary’s Liquor Cabinet at 186 Heights Road. If you need more information, call the Town Hall receptionist at 656-7330.

 

Where can I park overnight?

Parking for up to five days at a time is allowed at the train stations. If using vouchers, you would need to display a voucher for each day.

 

What hours are the municipal parking regulations enforced?

Parking at municipal lots is enforced from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 

How do I get a handicap parking permit?

Apply at the DMV in Stamford or Norwalk. Proof of disability with form B-225 is required. Call 800-842-8222 for information, or the department of social services at 656-7328.

 

Where is the closest motor vehicle department?

The closest full-service office is in Norwalk at 540 Main Avenue. The office is open from 8 to 4:30 on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday; 8 to 7 on Thursday; and 8 to 12:30 on Saturday.

There is also a satellite office at the Stamford Government Center, 888 Washington Boulevard, Stamford, open from 8 to 4:30 on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday; and 8 to 7 on Thursday. The office offers limited services including license and registration renewals, replacement of photo licenses and lost plates, name changes, non-driver identification cards, driver test appointment applications, and handicap parking permits.

For more information, call 800-842-8222 or go to the DMV Web site at ct.gov/dmv.

 

Do I have to get my car inspected regularly?

A safety inspection is not required for passenger vehicles. Any vehicle from out of state must have an emissions test and VIN verification before being registered.

 

Is there an emissions testing program?

Yes. You will be notified by mail of your test days. Vehicles must be tested every other year. New vehicles less than four years old or more than 25 years old are exempt. If you do not have your vehicle tested, it does not pass, or has not been granter a waiver, DMV will not renew your registration. For information and testing stations, call 1-888-828-8399 or visit online at ctemissions.com.

Emissions testing stations in town are Darien Auto Center (655-8203) 1350 Post Road, and Noroton Getty (655-1971) 179 Noroton Avenue. You can find the complete roster of stations online at ctemissions.com or by calling 1-888-828-8399. The test fee is $20.

 

How soon after I move here do I need a Connecticut driver’s license?

A new state license is required within 30 days. You do not need to pass a Connecticut driver’s test if you already possess a valid driver’s license from another state.

You must re-register your car within 60 days. This requires visiting a full-service DMV branch for VIN verification. Call 800-842-8222 for details.

 

When may a learner start driving?

A student must be 16 years old to take driving lessons. For those under 18 who do not attend a state-licensed driving school or driver’s education program, a Home Training Certificate must be issued at least one month before the driver’s exam. There is a mandatory five-hour program covering safe driving practices. Call 800-842-8222 for more information. A 16- or 17-year-old driving without a learner’s permit is subject to a $158 fine.

Sixteen- and 17-year-old drivers are subject to graduated licensing. For the first six months after receiving a license, the driver may only have as passengers their parents or legal guardian, at least one of whom must have a valid license, driving instructor, or a person providing instruction who is at least 20 years old with a license at least four years old. For the second six months, the teen driver may have as passengers those mentioned above or members of the immediate family. The teen may always drive alone.

Until their 18th birthday, teen drivers may not drive between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. unless it is for a job, school, religious activities, or a medical necessity.

For information, visit ct.gov/dmv.

 

Who must wear seat belts?

Drivers and front-seat passengers, and all rear-seat passengers 4 to 16 years old, must wear seat belts when riding in a motor vehicle. Car seats are required for children younger than six or less than 60 pounds. Children must travel in rear-facing car seats until they are a year old and weigh 20 pounds.

 

May I drive and talk on my cell phone?

Connecticut bans the use of hand-held cell phones by adult drivers. It bans all cell phone use by teens — 16 and 17 years old — while driving. Also prohibited is the use of hand-held computers or other devices with a video display.

 

What rights do pedestrians have?

Pedestrians have the right of way in crosswalks. There is a crosswalk at every intersection, even if it is not marked by painted lines. Drivers must slow or stop and grant the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing at a marked or unmarked crosswalk. If the walkway is regulated with a Walk/Don’t Walk light, pedestrians must wait for the Walk sign.

 

What should I do if I see a flashing blue light on a vehicle?

Flashing blue lights may only be used by volunteer firefighters on their way to an emergency. As with police vehicles, fire trucks, or ambulances, you must yield to these vehicles.

 

What should I do if a horse and rider are on the road?

Horseback riders are protected by the rules of the road. They must ride single file near the right edge of the road. When approaching a horse on a public road, you must reduce your speed or stop, if necessary, to avoid striking, endangering, or frightening the horse. When approaching a horse being ridden or led along a road, you must drive at a reasonable speed and stay a reasonable distance. It is illegal to sound your horn when approaching or passing a horse.

 

What rights do bicyclists have on the road?

In Connecticut a bicycle has the same rights and responsibilities as a car on the road. A bicyclist may use the left lane when turning, and when a road is too narrow for cars and bikes to ride side by side, the bicyclist may ride near the center of the lane. Drivers must yield to bicyclists in a bicycle lane or on a sidewalk before turning across the bicycle lane or sidewalk. Failure to yield right-of-way to a bicyclist will result in a fine being doubled.

 

Will any auto service come to my house?

The AAA Connecticut Motor Club will come to a house and tow a car or make minor repairs and slight adjustments, if that’s all that’s needed to get it started. One must be an AAA member to receive this service. Call 800-228-1055 for more information. Many service stations will provide roadside service and jump-start a car if it’s stuck during business hours; some provide 24-hour service.

 

Where is the nearest AAA office?

AAA Connecticut Motor Club has an office at 20 Saugatuck Avenue in Westport (226-0681) and at 623 Newfield Avenue in Stamford (765-4222). For emergency road service, call 800-222-4357.

 

Is there a carpooling clearing agency here?

Metropool Inc. in Stamford provides commuter ride-sharing programs to corporations and individuals, as well as van-pooling. There is also a free matching service to commuters wishing to carpool. For details, call 1-800-346-3743 or visit its Web site at metropool.com.

 

Where can I get rid of an old car?

Some charity groups accept old cars as charitable contributions. These include the American Diabetes Association (888-212-9990), the American Lung Association (800-LUNG-USA), the American Red Cross (1-877-723-6667), Boys and Girls Clubs in Connecticut (800-246-0493), Mothers Against Drunk Driving (203-386-0049), and Big Brothers Big Sisters in Connecticut (800-859-6526). Some auto wreckers will pick up an old car and take it away for free. Fire departments sometimes use old cars for training.

 

Where can I get a limo?

There are Regency Limousine (655-6369/regencylimousine.com) and Kerry Limousine (975-7400/kerrylimousine.com). Lloyd’s Taxi of Darien (656-3621/lloydstaxi.com) offers limo service.

 

What public transportation is available?

Connecticut Transit (327-7433) has two routes that serve Darien. Route 41 links Darien with Stamford and Norwalk; Route 42 links Darien with Stamford. For fares and route maps, visit cttransit.com online.

 

Where is the nearest bus station?

Connecticut Limo, which picks up and drops off on the eastbound side of the Norwalk Train Station, 24 Monroe Street,  (800-472-LIMO/ctlimo.com) has buses to the major airports.

Peter Pan and Greyhound bus lines use the Stamford terminal at 30 Station Place. Call 343-999 or 327-7622.

 

Is there a taxi service?

Call Eveready at 655-0016, Darien Taxi at 984-1616, or Lloyd’s Taxi of Darien  at 656-3621/lloydstaxi.com. Cabs meet most trains.

 

Where can I get gasoline at 3 in the morning?

Both the BP station and Mobil on I-95 are open late. The Noroton Heights Texaco (656-0405) at 164 Noroton Avenue, is open until midnight.

 

Where can I get a tow late at night or on Sunday?

You may call Lone Star Repair Service, 469 Boston Post Road, at 655-7765, which offers 24-hour towing service.

 

What airports are nearby?

Westchester Airport, about a half-hour’s drive from Darien, is used by Air Canada, AirTran Airways, American, Continental, Delta, jetBlue, Northwest, United, and U.S. Airways. The airport code is HPN. The phone number is 914-285-4850. The Web site is westchestergov.com/airport.

La Guardia (718-533-3400) in Queens, N.Y., serves 21 airlines. The airport code is LGA. The Web site is panynj.gov/CommutingTravel/airports/html/laguardia.html.

Most international flights originate from John F. Kennedy International (718-244-4444), a bout an hour and a half away in Queens. The Web site is panynj.gov/CommutingTravel/airports/html/kennedy.html. The airport code is JFK.

Bradley International Airport (860-292-2000/888-624-1533) is New England’s second-largest airport after Logan in Boston. It is in Windsor Locks, 12 miles north of Hartford, about an hour and 15 minutes away. Bradley serves 15 airlines including Air Canada Jazz, America West, American, American Eagle, Continental, Continental Express, Delta, Frontier Airlines, Midwest Connect, Northwest/KLM, Southwest, United Airlines, United Express, and U.S. Airways, and U.S. Airways Express. The airport code is BDL. For more information, check the Web site at bradleyairport.com.

Tweed New Haven Airport (203-466-8833/flytweed.com) serves USAirways to Philadelphia. The airport code is HVN.

Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Airport (203-576-7498) serves the Bridgeport area. It offers charters, flight training, and private plane services, as well as helicopter service to New York (see below). The airport code is BDR.

 

Is there helicopter service to New York City?

Yes, US Helicopter Corporation offers a 20-minute helicopter ride from Sikorsky Airport to the Downtown Manhattan Heliport with continuing service to JFK International Airport or Newark Liberty Airport (40 minutes gate to gate). For schedule and ticket information, visit flyush.com.

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