Expanding Interstate 84 from the New York state border all the way through Newtown and bringing Metro North rail service into New Milford and beyond were two of the big items discussed recently with State Department of Transportation Commissioner James Redecker.  He attended the Western Connecticut Council of Governments meeting Thursday to talk with area mayors and first selectmen.

Redecker talked about Governor Malloy's proposed $100 billion, 30-year transportation infrastructure improvement plan.  There was some pushback from some chief elected officials to border tolls as a way to fund part of the plan, though others backed the idea.

A Branchville Transit Oriented Development study was also discussed during the WCCOG meeting.