Perhaps the best part about being a Westporter is knowing that, when you come home from work, you're in Westport. However, in this mobile society, it's also nice to know that, wherever your commute may take you, you're in a convenient location to get there.
Commuter train 
For many Westport residents, their weekday daily commute takes them to
jobs in "the city", also known as Manhattan, to the uniformed. For the vast majority, that means catching a Metro-North train, for the hour ride to Grand Central Station. There are two Metro-North stations in Westport; the primary Westport station and the historic Greens Farms station. For most of Westport, that means the station is no more than a ten minute drive away. Railroad parking stickers are in great demand and there is currently a multi-year wait. Without a sticker, designated parking spaces are available for $4/day. Both stations are also served by the commuter shuttle minibus service, which runs through much of the town.
Highways 
Not all commuters are heading to the big apple. Their destinations, for example, may take them to one of the corporate offices in Stamford or White Plains and their means of transportation is more likely car, instead of train. For the driving commuter, Westport offers two major highways. Traversing the southern portion of the town is the Connecticut Turnpike (I95.) This road is part of the Interstate 95 highway system that parallels the Atlantic Ocean, from Maine to Florida. Further north is the Merritt Parkway (Route 15.) This scenic parkway, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, runs from the New York/Connecticut border, in Greenwich, where it joins the Hutchinson River Parkway, to the Stratford/Milford line, where it joins the Wilbur Cross Parkway. The Merritt is a four lane, limited access highway.
Amtrak 
With the area serving so many corporate executives, their business meeting commute may take them further afield than their daily routine. If meetings are in any of the major northeast cities, one choice is to drive, but another option is the train. The commuter tracks of Metro-North are part of the larger Northeast Corridor rail system of Amtrak. Taking Metro-North a short ride to Stamford, one can connect with the Acela Express, the country's only true high speed train, traveling between Boston and Washington DC, with stops in New York , Philadelphia and Baltimore. Departing from Stamford, the trip to D.C. is just under 4 hours. Other cities are served by the traditional Amtrak service.
Airports 
Since not all business is regional, air transportation is sometimes the only answer. Westport is in easy commuting distance to five major airports, four of which service international flights. Although Bradley International, just outside Hartford, CT is the farthest, at approximately an hour and a half drive away, it is sometimes chosen for its easy access and less crowded flights. JFK and LaGuardia, in Queens, NY are an hour's drive and Newark International, in New Jersey takes about an hour and twenty minutes. With more limited routes, Westchester County Airport is a convenient choice. Only a half hour from Westport, it offers flights to 10 major cities, including Boston, Philadelphia and Ft. Lauderdale.
Non-Commuters
Happily, these transportation choices also present convenient options for the non-commuter. Catch a Metro-North train for a day of shopping in the city or an evening at a Broadway show. Hop on I-95 for a day trip to explore a re-created 19th century seaport village in Mystic CT or to snag a bargain at Clinton Crossing Premium Outlets. Or, if you just need some rest and relaxation, head to the airport and grab a flight to somewhere with a soft sand beach.
Copyright © 2008 Marilyn Katz, WestportCTProperties, All Rights Reserved... WESTPORT, CONNECTICUT - An Easy Commute
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