Malloy's Search for DOT Commissioner Still on

The new commissioner will also face difficulties from the effect of early retirement buyout programs taken advantage of by some high-performing DOT employees, Cameron said.

"(Marie) was starting to give some stability to the agency after going through a number of commissioners, some of whom seemed to be brought in reaction to scandals," Cameron said. "Whoever is being auditioned will probably wonder how much independent thought and initiative they will be able to put into this job and survive."

Marie and Parker declined comment for this story.

State Sen. Carlo Leone, D-Stamford, a member of the Transportation Committee, said he expected Malloy to choose a leader able to balance the need to maintain the state's aging highways with ambitious rail projects.

Once the leadership question is settled, Stamford lawmakers will resume talks on plans to build new parking at the Stamford railroad station.

The oft-delayed project was halted last August when the General Assembly vetoed legislation by Rell and blocked the use of $35 million appropriated for the work to instead build rail parking on private land a short distance from the station. Legislators and rail advocates have insisted the parking be built on the same footprint as the existing garage, within steps of the train platforms.

"There is a lot of work to do but I'm confident the governor is going to pick someone who will be able to do the job," Leone said. "There are a lot of projects that are critical for Stamford's economic growth that we want to move forward on."

Staff Writer Martin B. Cassidy can be reached at martin.cassidy@scni.com or (203) 964-2264.

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