METRO NORTH NEW HAVEN RAIL COMMUTER COUNCIL
(Established in 1985 under Connecticut Public Act 85-239, now Sections 13b-212b and
13b -212c of the Connecticut General Statutes)
MINUTES OF AUGUST 24, 2011
SWRPA
STAMFORD, CT
Present were: Jim Cameron, Chairman, Bob Jelley, Rodney Chabot, Jeff Maron, Laura Cordes, Drew Todd, John Hartwell, Sue Prosi, Tim Beeble and Roger Cirella, members of the Council; Jim Redecker, DOT; Sue Doering and John Longobardi, Metro North; Jim McKenna, MTA Police; Harold Cabin, AOL Patch; Martin Cassidy, Stamford Advocate; Don Starkner, Hartford Courant; and Walt Baranger, member of the public.
The meeting began at 7:00 p.m.
The Minutes of the June meeting were approved. Jim Cameron introduced our new member, Tim Beeble, of Bethel, who commutes to Stamford.
M-8s
In answer to a question, John Longobardi said that 34 M-8s have been received, 30 of them have been accepted, and 24 are in active service. Jim Redecker said that the DOT was still expecting to receive 60 cars by year-end. He said that the M-8s were doing fine. He mentioned the 25 additional unpowered single cars that have been ordered, in addition to the 380 cars in the original contract. He said that the single cars will provide flexibility in train length, permitting trains of 7 and 9 cars, as opposed to trains with only an even number of cars.
Mr. Redecker also said that the DOT and Metro North had decided that it was not worthwhile to invest in rehabilitating any of the M-4 or M-6 cars. The unpowered single cars are a better deal, and the State has an option to buy more of them.
Bob Jelley mentioned that at a New York Metro North Rail Council meeting, there was mention of design work going on for M-9 cars for the Harlem and Hudson lines beginning about 2020. Mr. Redecker said that Connecticut had bought into the M-9 work because that will help for development for the next generation of cars for Connecticut.
In answer to a question from John Hartwell, Mr. Redecker said that they expect to receive all new cars by the end of 2015.
JULY 22nd STRANDING NEAR GREENS FARMS
There was a general discussion about the breakdown of an outbound train near Greens Farms on July 22nd. Mr. Jelley noted that the Metro North report of the incident said that the new high-speed switches at Southport had failed to work properly on July 22nd, thus making it impossible to switch tracks. He said that there was a report that the three high-speed switches had also not worked properly on the morning of the meeting. Mr. Longobardi said that the problem on July 22nd was that the switches would not properly clip into place. He said that normally the switches work very well. Mr. Cameron asked about the conduct of the passengers and of the crew on the train. Sue Prosi, who had been on the train, said that the engineer and two conductors had a lot of things to do checking outside the train. She said the conductor who took off his uniform shirt had climbed up on top of the train to check the pantograph. There was further discussion of the training of conductors.
Mr. Cameron asked why the service alerts had not been faster and more candid about the extent of the problem. Sue Doering said that there was much discussion since then at Metro North about that subject.
Drew Todd asked why there had been earthquake alerts the day before the meeting from New York City Transit but none from Metro North. Ms. Doering said that they should have sent an alert and would do so next time.
PROPOSED FARE INCREASES AND SERVICE CUTS
Mr. Cameron asked the reason for proposing fare increases. Mr. Redecker said that, as a result of the failure of the State employee unions to approve the pay cuts the first time around, there was a proposal to cut $58 million from the budget for public transportation. As a result, the DOT came up with the proposal to increase rail fares by 15% and bus fares by 10%. The hearings on the fare increase were set before the unions approved the pay cuts in their second vote, and there was no way to change the subject matter of the hearings.
In answer to a question, Mr. Redecker said that train ridership elasticity is .01% per 1% fare increase. In answer to another question, he said that Connecticut does not pay any differential to New York because Connecticut fares are lower than those on the Harlem and Hudson lines. He said that the fare increases were expected to produce $22 million per year for Connecticut.
Mr. Redecker explained that Title VI requires that the State demonstrate the effect on different groups of people of cut-backs in service. He said that they had done a study of the effect of proposed cut-backs in rail and bus service before the hearings.
Walt Baranger, in speaking of the proposed fare increases, said that he was convinced, after studying the fare structure, that fare zones were not fair. Mr. Redecker said that he recognized that to change the fare structure and eliminate fare zones would cause fights between those whose fares would be lowered and those whose fares would be raised, but that he agreed with what Mr. Baranger said. Mr. Jelley suggested that the most egregious fare zone was the one that included Stamford, Darien and New Canaan, because it required Stamford riders to pay more than if there were no fare zone and benefitted Darien and New Canaan. He suggested that at least that fare zone should be eliminated.
As a result of the discussion, the Council adopted a resolution opposing the fare increases and the service cuts.
RAIL PASSENGER BILL OF RIGHTS
Mr. Cameron raised discussion of a passenger bill of rights that Senator Boucher had prepared. There was some discussion, and a committee was formed to work on it.
AUGUST 18 POWER OUTAGE AT GCT
In answer to a question, Ms. Doering said that the power outage was caused by a mistake in dealing with the computer consoles of the train dispatchers. As a result, the system could not
give green signals to trains to proceed.
MISCELLANEOUS
Mr. Cameron asked about the platform canopy at Noroton Heights. Mr. Redecker said it would be completed by the end of the year.
In answer to a question from Mr. Jelley, Mr. Redecker said that the new power substation at New Haven was being built quite quickly, and he also said that the 4th track was being built in West Haven at the site of the new West Haven station.
Jim McKenna said that he thought the MTA police had done well on July 22 and thought the train crew had also done well.
Laura Cordes said that she thought the Shore Line East trains for Sail Fest in New London worked well. She also asked about getting information about the closing of rail bridges and its effects on boats between Old Saybrook and New London.
Mr. Beeble asked about the construction of signals on the Danbury line. Mr. Longobardi said it was right on schedule.
Drew Todd resigned from the Council because of conflicts with other activities.
The meeting adjourned at 9:25 p.m.
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 at SWRPA in Stamford, CT.
Bob Jelley
Secretary
Phone: (203) 498-4306
E-mail: rjelley@wiggin.com
