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Riders experienced 10- to 15-minute delays Friday morning "as a result of repairs from downed overhead wires near Westport," an alert on Metro-North's website said.

Metro-North officials have not responded to questions about the incident.

An Amtrak spokesperson said Friday afternoon that only two of the four tracks were in service, and that there were "residual" delays in the area.

Photos posted to social media and video from the scene painted a chaotic picture Thursday night after around 1,100 people on three trains became stuck.

Video of a stranded Metro-North train showed some of the emergency exit windows appeared to have been popped open to allow air inside. The incident occurred on what was a record-hot day in early June. The temperature rose to 87 degrees at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Bridgeport, about 6 miles north of Fairfield where the trains became stuck on the tracks, according to the National Weather Service.

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On X, multiple accounts showed large crowds of people gathered at the Green's Farms station in Westport, and at the South Norwalk station in Norwalk. Several passengers tagged Metro-North and demanded fare refunds, or claimed communication from the railroad had been slow.

By Friday morning, Metro-North said six trains on the New Haven Line were canceled, most of them scheduled to depart from New Haven bound for Grand Central Terminal.

Amtrak did not appear to have additional cancellations Friday morning after the rail service also cancelled some trains Thursday night due to the downed wires. Amtrak's website showed several trains listed on time between New Haven and Penn Station as of Friday morning.

Metro-North, Amtrak and a local fire official said a power issue temporarily trapped the more than 1,000 train riders Thursday night. Some passengers were stuck onboard for nearly three hours before they were allowed off, officials said.

New Haven Line service between Green’s Farms and Bridgeport was suspended because of a power issue in Westport, Metro-North Railroad officials said in a post on X at approximately 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Amtrak officials posted on X around the same time that its service has been suspended between New Haven and New York due to downed power lines.

Fairfield Fire Lt. Robert Smith said Thursday night that about 1,100 people were initially stuck on two Metro-North and an Amtrak train between the Southport and Fairfield stations.

“There’s no power on any of the trains right now. We have some fans the fire department brought in, so we’re trying to push some fresh air through the trains.” Smith said soon after the trains were stopped. “But, I would say its probably very warm on those trains.”

All passengers were eventually evacuated from the three stopped trains.

"MTA power crews will be working throughout the night to restore power to the corridor," the Fairfield Fire Department said in a Facebook post. "There is currently no timeframe for complete restoration. There could be delays for the morning commute so please check the status on MTA.Info before leaving home."

In removing the stranded passengers, officials had to make sure the downed wires and tracks were grounded properly so that no riders were hurt as they moved from train to train, Smith said.

One of the Metro-North trains, containing 350 people, was emptied and those passengers were taken to Green’s Farms station, Smith said at 8 p.m. Thursday.

It's not clear what caused the power lines to fall, Smith said, and Metro-North will determine the cause.

Earlier this month, the owner of Mongers Market announced that the Bridgeport warehouse that houses a variety of antique and vintage vendors would close at the end of June.

However, Mongers Market may not be leaving Bridgeport so soon.

In a pivot from its announcement at the beginning of the month, Mongers Market will reopen after "necessary repairs and building renovations" are made, according to a post Thursday on Mongers Marker's Facebook page. According to the post, Mongers Market has closed while a reopening date will be announced in the future.

"We have closed to make necessary repairs and building renovations, but don’t worry — the grit doesn’t quit," the business' Facebook post reads. "While the lights are out, us Mongers are still out there, hunting and curating across thousands of square miles. Maybe even sneaking in a little well-earned downtime."

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Westfarms mall is adding two stores and a smoothie shop this summer

"Until then, have a great summer and stay gritty," the post continues.

Ownership was not immediately available for comment.

Open only on Sundays, Mongers Market, which opened in 2018, features approximately 90 vendors across the 127,000-square-foot warehouse. Mongers Market has become a place for fans of vintage and antique goods to flock to, where customers can find everything from vintage clothing and furniture to industrial salvage and art.

John Hiden, who owns Mongers Market, told CT Insider earlier this month that issues with accommodating cars and issues with old equipment were among the reasons why he initially planned to close the business. He said he had hoped that "someone will step up to either buy the building (or) lease the building and continue some multi-dealer or multi-vendor operation."

Bridgeport, CT (June 5, 2025) – Emergency responders were quick to the scene, providing care to the injured victim after a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle at the intersection of Howard Ave and Railroad Ave on Wednesday afternoon. The incident occurred around 2:45 p.m., involving a student who may have been riding a bicycle at the time of the collision, according to an eyewitness report that has not yet been officially confirmed.

Bridgeport Fire and Rescue, along with local EMS teams, arrived at the scene and rendered medical aid to the injured individual. Details about the student’s condition have not been made public, and authorities have not yet verified the circumstances surrounding the crash, including whether the victim was on foot or riding a bicycle at the time of impact.

Police temporarily controlled traffic at the intersection while investigators began documenting the scene. The cause of the crash remains under investigation as officials work to determine whether any traffic violations or negligence contributed to the incident.

Our thoughts are with the injured student and their family during this time.

Pedestrian Accidents in Connecticut

Incidents involving pedestrians, such as the one that took place at Howard Ave and Railroad Ave in Bridgeport, underscore a growing concern across Connecticut communities. Whether on foot or riding a bicycle, individuals face heightened vulnerability in traffic zones, especially near schools, residential areas, and urban intersections.

According to the Connecticut Department of Transportation, pedestrian injuries continue to rise annually, with students and younger individuals often among those most affected. Busy intersections like the one in Bridgeport pose unique risks, where visibility issues, driver distraction, and speeding can contribute to tragic outcomes.

When students are injured in traffic incidents, the consequences extend beyond immediate physical harm. Families must navigate not only emotional stress but also the burden of medical bills, missed school days, and potential long-term recovery. In cases involving minors, it becomes particularly important for guardians to document every aspect of the incident, from eyewitness accounts to official reports, in order to protect the child’s rights and secure necessary resources.

Victims and their families should also be aware of their legal rights. Whether the child was on foot or a bicycle, they are entitled to fair consideration by insurance companies. Legal representation may be helpful to ensure accountability and adequate compensation, especially if driver negligence or unsafe road conditions played a role.

As Bridgeport continues to enhance school zone safety and pedestrian protections, this incident highlights the critical need for heightened driver awareness and community-wide education around safe driving practices near intersections heavily traveled by students.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a crash, reach out to Local Accident Reports for assistance.

Note: These posts are created solely for the use of Local Accident Reports. We have not verified the information in these posts as the information is gathered from secondary sources. If you have personal knowledge that the information contained in these posts is inaccurate, please contact Local Accident Reports immediately so we can make the necessary corrections or remove the story.

Disclaimer: We are providing this information to the general public as a resource to use in the event you or a family member are injured in a similar incident. Every effort is put forth to honor the victims of accidents, and hope the information presented helps others avoid the same type of accidents in the future. The photos depicted in these posts are not representative of the actual accident scene. Please contact Local Accident Reports at (888) 657-1460 to be connected with an attorney in your area who will answer any legal questions you may have.

BRIDGEPORT — Instead of committing to $100 million for a proposed $1.1 billion lower East Side redevelopment anchored by a minor league soccer stadium, legislators on Wednesday voted to focus on evaluating the economic impact of the massive project.

Entrepreneur Andre Swanston and city officials had been lobbying to get around $100 million set aside in the borrowing or bonding package that is part of the new Connecticut budget.

However, state lawmakers voted to have the Department of Economic and Community Development and Department of Revenue Services conduct an economic analysis of the impact of the proposed stadium on the city and the state. Lawmakers are also looking for a report by Oct. 1 on when the state will likely see a return on a $127 million state bonding investment in the project.

Officials say a state economic analysis would help further the case for significant public investment.

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"In essence, what it does (is) it gives the project the life to take another bite at the apple," said state Rep. Christopher Rosario, D-Bridgeport, of the East Side, while acknowledging "disappointment" actual funds could not yet be secured.

"Obviously, this plan in concept has been around for some time now," said state Rep. Steve Stafstrom, D-Bridgeport. But, he continued, more needs to be done to help some in state government better understand how and when Connecticut would "recoup" the investment of taxpayer dollars on Swanston's redevelopment.

It is well known that Gov. Ned Lamont's name has been on the list of the cautious. Since shortly after Swanston first went public in fall 2023 with his plan for the stadium, housing and a hotel, the governor has expressed support for the concept but indicated he wants the private sector to do the heavy lifting financially. Ultimately, Lamont is the gatekeeper of state borrowing.

Swanston and his Connecticut Sports Group could not immediately be reached for comment. Their Connecticut United, a lower-division team associated with Major League Soccer, launched in early 2024. Swanston's initial timeline to have the stadium built by now proved too aggressive and, last summer, that opening date was moved to spring 2026. What the lack of state funding means for that timeline was not immediately known.

During an impromptu interview May 29 at Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim's annual state-of-the-city address to the region's business community, Swanston declined to speculate on the chances of obtaining the $100 million in state funds. He said his entire redevelopment will cost $1.1 billion, and the sports venue is the lure for other investors to build hundreds of much-needed housing units.

"Without a catalyst like the stadium, how does Bridgeport and the surrounding area help attract private capital to solve the housing crisis?" Swanston argued.

His ultimate aim is for Bridgeport to host a major league soccer team, which he believes will follow on the success of Connecticut United.

"We can't be penny-wise and pound-foolish," Swanston insisted. "This is it. This is the chance."

Tuesday, Lamont's office indicated it had not at that time been apprised of any effort by Bridgeport officials to get the state to mount an economic analysis of Swanston's stadium.

"Our understanding is that the developer has already conducted a study," the governor's office said.

In February, Swanston and Connecticut Sports Group touted the positive findings of an economic impact report they commissioned from the Center for Economic Analysis at the University of Connecticut. That document takes into consideration the minor league stadium, 1,005 apartments, a 260-room hotel and a minimum 68,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space. It also looks at the future best-case scenario of erecting a major league venue.

The report claims the minor league facility alone will have a $2.2 billion economic impact and create hundreds of new jobs.

"This project is a game-changer for Bridgeport and the state," Fred Carstensen, the economic center's director, said at the time in a press release issued by Connecticut Sports Group. "The numbers speak for themselves, and the financial returns and long-term economic growth far exceed the level of state investment."

But Tuesday, Stafstrom was working on last-minute legislative language to compel the state Department of Economic Development and the Department of Revenue Services to weigh in on the UConn report.

"I don't think that's been formally studied or evaluated by the powers that be in state government," Stafstrom said.

Given that Swanston and his team commissioned the UConn report, Rosario agreed that he feels numbers-crunchers at the State Capitol need to take a closer look to satisfy skeptics who simply assume the developer got what he paid for and do not take the data seriously. His hope is "that will eventually lead to a path to making this a reality that includes everyone's voices, including the governor's, which is the most important to the life of this project."

Constance Vickers, Ganim's deputy chief of staff, also confirmed her understanding the $100 million was not going to be approved by the legislature by the session's end Wednesday.

"We're disappointed to hear it's not in the bond bill," Vickers said. "But we are working on other avenues to ensure the legislature and the (Lamont) administration understand the potential economic impact of this project. It's not over yet."

BRIDGEPORT — Andre Swanston just wanted to eat his hot chicken sandwich — hold the pickles — not discuss the chances of his minor league soccer stadium receiving tens-of-millions of dollars in state funding before the legislative session adjourns.

But the entrepreneur, between bites, was soon extolling the benefits of his $1.1 billion redevelopment plan while avoiding any predictions.

"What I know with 100% certainty is this will be one of, if not the biggest economic impact undertakings in the state in decades," Swanston said during an interview at Mayor Joe Ganim's annual lunch address to the business community Thursday.

Swanston should soon have more certainty about if and when his vision for the lower East Side in Bridgeport, which includes the soccer venue, a hotel, 1,100 housing units and public recreational space, will become a reality.

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The state House of Representatives recently passed a bill that would, should Bridgeport officials so choose, allow the city to use tax incremental financing (TIF) to help pay for up to $190 million of the stadium and infrastructure construction. A portion of any new real estate taxes generated by the project would pay off the debt rather than going directly into Bridgeport's municipal coffers.

TIF was used to help finance the Steelpointe harborfront redevelopment across from the proposed stadium site where a Bass Pro Shop, a Starbucks, a marina and a seafood restaurant are open and an apartment complex is under construction.

Bridgeport's legislators as of late last week felt good the TIF bill would be voted out of the state Senate by the session's end at midnight Wednesday.

"Barring a catastrophe, (it) will be something that passes both chambers and is signed by the governor," said state Rep. Antonio Felipe, D-Bridgeport. "I think we can say that is going to be available to us. I just think there needs to be a significant state investment on top of that."

Borrowing or bonding?

There has been a simultaneous push for state lawmakers to also commit about $100 million to Swanston's project as part of any borrowing or bonding package included in a new two-year Connecticut budget negotiated with Gov. Ned Lamont.

But Bridgeport officials are not as confident about that funding.

"There's a lot of unknowns in the (state) budget," said Constance Vickers, Ganim's deputy chief of staff. Federal cuts and other issues have created "a very tricky session to ask for non-immediate on-the-ground needs."

"But we are still pushing very hard for this," Vickers said. "We believe in the vision and the incredible economic impact the stadium would bring to Bridgeport and the region."

Felipe and Bridgeport state Reps. Christopher Rosario and Steve Stafstrom in separate interviews emphasized the importance of getting Lamont to back the stadium spending. Lamont has previously expressed support for Swanston's effort but not about providing significant state funds, preferring the private sector to take on that responsibility.

"We could put $300 million in (the budget)," Rosario said. "If he doesn't authorize it, it doesn't matter."

"I've been encouraged by statements the governor has made in terms of his support for soccer, but ultimately it's his discretion," said Stafstrom.

Bridgeport has a lot of other financial asks to help balance the just-passed municipal budget and fund a struggling school district.

Lamont's office in a statement said staff has "been tracking the Tax Incremental Financing proposal ... and will need to review the final language before acting on the bill, should it make it to the governor's desk."

As for borrowing state dollars for the stadium, the governor's office noted the project was not included in the bond proposal he submitted to the General Assembly earlier this year.

Big opportunity?

Swanston declined to discuss actual dollars or what it could mean for the stadium's tentative 2026 opening if no state monies are offered. But he said, "This may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" for Bridgeport and for Connecticut.

"We can't be penny-wise and pound foolish," he said. "This is it. This is the chance."

This is the single chance, he believes, for Connecticut to get a major league sports team. Connecticut United, announced in January 2024, is a lower-division club associated with Major League Soccer that would call Bridgeport home. Swanston's ultimate aim is for the city to eventually host a major league team.

But Swanston also pivoted to focus more on his plan's housing component, saying the stadium is the "smallest part" of the $1.1 billion budget but necessary for getting the East Side redevelopment accomplished.

The "overwhelming majority of that money is actually housing and public infrastructure," Swanston said. "There's a housing crisis in Connecticut and there need to be things that are a catalyst ... for housing."

At least 160 different developers have told him they need to know the stadium is happening before committing to erecting residential buildings, he said.

"Without a catalyst like the stadium, how does Bridgeport and the surrounding area help attract private capital to solve the housing crisis?" Swanston said.

Despite the uncertainty, the stadium project was on Ganim's list of highlights at Thursday's event, held at the concert amphitheater in the South End.

"It's a real game-changer for Bridgeport and a real testament to how far our city has come attracting development," the mayor told the crowd.

Ganim's speech was a reminder of how long it can take for projects to move forward in Connecticut's largest municipality.

The amphitheater, constructed from the bones of the closed minor league baseball park, was approved in 2017 and opened in mid-2021. That was a relatively quick turnaround compared to the timelines of other redevelopments the mayor praised.

Steelpointe has been a work-in-progress for decades, with the long-anticipated housing just going up. And while demolition is underway at the retired coal-fired power plant adjacent to the amphitheater, efforts to close that facility date back over 10 years.

Another redevelopment Ganim focused on — the modest Honey Locust Square on the East End, with its supermarket, restaurant, bank and other retail space — has been in the works since 2018 and should finally open this year.

It came as no surprise last August when Swanston, who first went public with his stadium plans in fall 2023, moved the venue's grand opening from spring of this year to early 2026.

And with the clock ticking away at the Capitol, he is not the only stadium supporter speaking in now or never terms.

The state-of-the-city was hosted by the Bridgeport Regional Business Council, whose president, Dan Onofrio, sported a "Connecticut United" pin on his jacket.

"It's a big ask," Onofrio said of the $100 million in state aid. "It's a huge ask."

But, he said, "I think we have a short window of opportunity. If Connecticut wants to be on the map for a sports franchise, it's only going to be Major League Soccer."