CONN DOT PLANS FARE INCREASE ON TRAINS
COMMUTER COUNCIL URGES PROTESTS
(Stamford CT - MAY 22nd 1999): The Connecticut Dept. of Transportation is following through on its plans for a 5% fare increase for Metro-North riders in the state. Public hearings on the proposed August 1st fare jump, the third in as many years, are set for:
Wednesday June 2nd 8pm
Town Hall
2 Renshaw Rd
DARIEN
Thursday June 3rd 8pm
Roger Ludlow Middle School
785 Unquowa Rd
FAIRFIELD
Saturday June 12th 9am
Stamford Govt. Ctr (4th Fl Cafeteria)
888 Washington Blvd.
STAMFORD
If you cannot testify in person, written testimony may be sent, by June 14th 1999, to:
Mr. Harry Harris, Bureau Chief
Conn. Dept. of Transportation
PO Box 317546
Newington CT 06131-7546
The Commuter Council, a volunteer group of commuters appointed by the state legislature as advocates for affordable, quality rail service, is opposing this fare boost.
"Enough is enough," says Jim Cameron, Vice Chmn. of the Council. "Connecticut riders already pay the highest fares in the country. If ticket prices go up any further it will only discourage ridership. How can the Governor be calling for a reduction in highway congestion and be allowing ticket prices to rise while gas taxes go down?"
To communicate its dissatisfaction with the DOT's proposed fare increase, the Council is urging commuters to turn out at the public hearings and share their views. "Typically, these hearings see only a handful of commuters," says Cameron, noting that a small turn-out is always seen by DOT as rider apathy if not outright endorsement of the fare jump.
"We're urging riders to visit our website (
www.trainweb.org/ct ) to learn more about this issue. We need their help to spread the word to fellow riders and get a big turnout at both hearings," noted Cameron, a Darien resident.For more information on the CDOT Public Hearings,
click here to view their official website news release (http://www.state.ct.us/dot/news/releases/advise/fare0510.htm ) .###
