Housatonic Railroad, Newtown Reach Agreement To Advance Pootatuck River Restoration

NEWTOWN, CT — The Town of Newtown and Housatonic Railroad Company have reached an agreement in principle that will allow long-awaited restoration work to begin on the Pootatuck River, officials announced Tuesday.

The understanding, subject to final design and engineering, clears the way for both parties to move forward with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) restoration plan.

“This is a big win for the Town of Newtown because it gets the town on track to get the Pootatuck River flowing again and dramatically reduces the risk of flooding,” First Selectman Jeff Capeci said. “Our residents and businesses alike can live without the fear of losing their most valuable possessions or their ability to operate.”

Ed Rodriguez, executive vice president and general counsel of Housatonic Railroad, said the company supports the first phase of reconstruction, which will restore the riverbed and water flow without increasing the cost or delaying full restoration of the rail line.

Under the agreement:

• The river channel will be widened from 25 feet to 30 feet.
• Excavated embankment material will be stored locally for future rail reconstruction work, reducing costs by eliminating trucking.
• A new access road will be built, and sections of track will be removed as part of the project budget.

The project aims to restore the Pootatuck River, which has been disrupted by erosion and washouts affecting both flood management and freight rail operations. Capeci said the progress also marks a step toward improving water security, noting that the Aquarion Water Company currently depends on the town-owned Fairfield Hills Water System for backup supply during droughts or large fires.

Moving forward with the NRCS plan will improve flood resilience and strengthen the town’s water infrastructure, Capeci said. Construction is expected to begin in the spring and finish by the end of June.