Minutes
January 17, 2001
Union Station New Haven
The
minutes of the December 13, 2000 Meeting were approved.
Mr. Chabot
introduced Mr. Raymond Cox to the council.
Mr. Cox is the replacement for Jack Reidy who retired at the end of the
year. Mr. Cox replaced Mr. Jack Reidy
who was operations manager (rail service).
OLD BUSINESS:
Waterbury Branch Issues:
Danbury Branch Issues:
Shoreline East Issues:
·
Mr. Carlson indicated
that Amtrak wants all trains to run on track 2. He further noted the new ramps in Westbrook and Branford.
·
Reporting on the
Branford station Mr. Carlson indicated that it should not be opened since the
parking lot was not lighted and remains unpaved. Citing the need for marked crosswalks, Mr. Cox reported that the
Branford repairs (sidewalk, ramps) have been requested and should be started
within a 30-day time frame.
·
At the Guilford station
the wheelchair lift has been moved to a location where it cannot be used. MNR will be looking into this.
·
At the Clinton station
trash has been piled up. MNR reported
that this should be a town issue and not a MNR issue.
·
There have been many
complaints regarding bus connections and the lack of announcements. MNR will be looking into this.
·
Mr. Chabot raised the
issue of Metro North trains being cleaner than Shore Line East trains.
New Time Table Revisions:
·
Mr. Colonese reported
that there would be changes to the April schedules.
·
Interim changes made on
January 15 should eliminate the problems encountered on train #1446.
·
Mr. Cameron asked why
MN schedules were being dictated by Amtrak’s new Acela service. Mr. Colonese disagreed, noting not all
adjustments can be made due to the Acela schedule.
·
Mr. Harris indicated
that discussions were held with Amtrak and that no MNR train will be held up
for the Acela schedule.
·
Mr. Harris further
indicated that the Greens Farms interlocking would be put back in as part of
the catenary program.
·
Mr. Colonese indicated
that MNR and Amtrak will coexist for the benefit of the riders and that all
three services will have appropriate slots.
·
Mr. Harris reported
that the Amtrak bonus was not significant enough to “foul up” service for
70,000 people.
Diesels Idling in Danbury, GTC Service:
Stamford Station Construction/Repair Update:
·
Mr. Harris reported
that the parking garage construction is scheduled to start in spring 2001 and
that it is a 2-year project.
·
The westbound section
is finished.
·
The eastbound section
is on track, and is estimated to be completed in 2 years.
·
Mr. Chabot questioned
if the broken eastbound escalators have been repaired. Mr. Harris indicated he would check this
out.
Station Kiosks – Status Report:
·
This item carried over
to next month’s agenda.
Winter Operations:
·
Mr. Kiniry reported
that the shops are running full capacities all shifts, 7 days a week to catch
up.
·
During the 1st
week MNR was 20-30 cars short due to weather related problems. 2nd week they were 20 cars
short. 3rd week 10 cars
short. Normal is 3-4 cars short.
·
Mr. Chabot asked when
MNR expected to be caught up. Mr.
Kiniry estimated that they should be caught up this week.
·
Mr. Colonese reporting
on operations during the storm indicated that MNR ran a reduced schedule to
protect the fleet (Sunday schedule). He
further indicated that the New Haven line did very well on the reduced New York
service.
Other:
·
Mr. Schroeder
questioned the status of the Shore Line East renovations. CDOT indicated that
they should start in the spring/summer of 2001.
·
The Solari boards in
New Haven are not functioning and are erroneous. CDOT indicated that the
parking authority has been notified to make the changes and that all changes
are made by the sign company.
NEW BUSINESS:
Legislative Proposals for Rail Operations:
·
Mr. Harris reported
that in Governor Rowland’s opening remarks to the legislature the Governor
indicated that transportation would be a major item on the new legislature’s
agenda. He further indicated that he
expected the Governor’s budget to include numerous transportation proposals.
·
Acknowledging that all
legislatures have the right to introduce bills Mr. Harris indicated that some
of the bills include a new station in Orange, a new line to Hartford, and
extending the Danbury branch to New Milford.
He further indicated that all bills would be sorted out in the
legislative process.
·
Speaking on the
Transportation Board of Connecticut, the TSB will focus on short-term remedies.
Transportation Strategy Board – Report:
·
Mr. Chabot reported
that he and Vice Chairman Cameron attended the TSB meeting and that any
remedies the TSB is looking at must alleviate the problems on the roads.
·
Mr. Cameron reported
that the TSB's short list of $40 mm expenditures consist of items such as bus
service and ferry service out of Stamford.
He further indicated that there are no rail issues on the short list and
in fact there is no rail representation on the TSB. Mr. Cameron called on the
Council to act quickly when the TSB report is issued and the Governor’s budget
proposal comes down to keep rail spending a priority.
CT Fund for Environment Presentation:
·
Mr. Dan Lorimier
presented a proposal for the MNRCC to join the CT Transportation Choices
Coalition, a group that is seeking representation at the TSB. He indicated that the coalition would
ultimately like a seat on a TSB but feels it imperative to have a voice in the
process. Mr. Lorimier presented a
written proposal to each member of the council and requested any member of the
council to attend its meetings.
·
Mr. Doyle of the
Association of Commuter Rail Employees indicated that his membership has joined
the coalition and urged the council to also join.
·
Mr. Cameron also noted
that the Shore Line East Riders Assoc. has joined the coalition and made a
motion that the MNRCC join the coalition, that motion was unanimously carried.
·
Mr. Hammersley of the
Governor’s Office, disagreeing with Mr. Cameron’ assessment stated that the TSB
is looking at what can be done immediately at the lowest cost and is not acting
in a vacuum.
Darien Reconstruction Plans:
·
This item carried over
to next month’s agenda.
Other:
·
CDOT reported a
landslide occurred on the SLE line.
Train 3604 in route to Old Saybrook from New Haven encountered a
rockslide, which partially covered the rail.
The train was operating from the rear and hit a rock. Damage to 2 cars and the engine are estimated
to be in the area of $1 mm. There were
no serious injuries reported.
·
Mr. Chabot reported
that there were lights out at the Darien train station. Mr. Harris indicated that they should be
repaired but these problems should be conveyed when they happen and not held
for MNRCC meetings.
The meeting was adjourned at
8:55 p.m.
NEXT MEETING: SACIA/STAMFORD – Wed. February 21, 2001 7:30
pm
Respectfully submitted
Acting
Secretary
In Attendance:
Jim Mohs, Council Member E.J. Colonese, MNR
Lee Carlson, Council Member Raymond F. Cox, CDOT
Rodney Chabot, Chairman Robert Hammersley, Gov. Office
Jim Cameron, Vice Chairman M. Barone, CT Post
Tina Maulucci, News 12, CT James Finch, New Haven
Frank Bruce, News 12, CT Maurice Kiniry, MNR
Swati Pandey, Yale Daily News Michael Doyle, Assoc. Of Commuter Rail
Employees
Matt Breslow, Stamford Advocate Denis K. Pope, Assoc. of
Commuter
Rail
Employees
E.C. Schroeder, SLERA Harry Harris,
CDOT
J. T. Kamier, MNR Joan
Ventrilio, Council Member
F.N. Chidester, MNR Dan Lorimier,
CT Fund for the Environment
