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
FEBRUARY 28, 2007 MEETING
UNION STATION
New Haven, CT
Present were: Present were: Jim Cameron, Chairman, Bob Jelley, Stan Trybulski, and Sue Prosi, Members; Gene Colonese and Peter Richter, DOT; Lee Carlson, SLERA; Joe Kanell and Jeff Watson, Metro North; Scott Howland, Len Elwin, and Tom Moritz, Amtrak; Mark Ginocchio, Stamford Advocate; Melinda Tuhus, New Haven Independent, WQVN; Paul Hammer, Jeff Tang, William Kurtz, and Bill Kemper, members of the public.
The meeting began at 6:00 p.m.
The minutes of the December and January meetings were approved.
Jim Cameron reported that he had testified before the Transportation Committee of the Legislature about the planned Shore Line East expansion of service.
SHORE LINE EAST
Gene Colonese gave a presentation about the Department of Transportation’s proposal for expansion of Shore Line East service, as presented to the Legislature in January. Phase I would provide weekend service, with trains every two hours in each direction between New Haven and Old Saybrook. In addition, there would be a midday weekday train running from Old Saybrook to New Haven and then back to Old Saybrook, to accommodate people who wanted to spend only half the day in New Haven. There would also be one late evening weekday train from New Haven to Old Saybrook.
Phase II would extend service to New London. The problem with extension of service is the bridges over the Connecticut and Niantic Rivers, which by agreement among the DOT, Coast Guard, DEP, and boating groups, limits the number of times the bridges can be closed. That agreement would have to be amended in order to permit Shore Line East service to New London.
Phase III would provide weekday service in both directions throughout the day. In order to accomplish that, two-sided stations would have to be built in Branford, Madison, Clinton and Westbrook. Mr. Colonese went on to report that issues with respect to the Westbrook station had now been resolved and construction of the south side station there will commence shortly.
Mr. Colonese said that not only are there issues between DOT and Amtrak as to payments to Amtrak for extended service, but the DOT – Amtrak agreement provides that there will be no expansion of service for 15 years. Mr. Cameron asked the reason for the no-expansion provision, and Tom Moritz said it was because of the decision to build one-sided stations.
Mr. Cameron asked where negotiations about closing the bridges stood. Peter Richter said that he had met with the DEP to discuss the issue. He noted that the 41 present bridge-closing slots were all filled.
Paul Hammer raised the question of putting a station in Stony Creek. He noted that years ago there had been a station there. Lee Carlson seconded the idea of a station in Stony Creek, and said that his view was Stony Creek was the best location for an additional station between New Haven and Old Saybrook. He noted that the original station location is still available. Mr. Hammer also raised the question of a station in East Haven.
In response to a question, Mr. Colonese said that he thought everyone was in general agreement on expansion of Shore Line East service, and there was a lot of support in the Legislature. Mr. Cameron asked about the possibility of extending commuter service to Providence, saying that there was no present commuter service between Providence and New London (and almost none from New London to Old Saybrook). Mr. Colonese said that Mr. Richter and Jim Boice had always wanted to extend service to Providence. Mr. Moritz said that the State of Rhode Island said they’d like to extend commuter service west of Providence. He went on to say that Amtrak is happy to run commuter service.
Mr. Carlson asked when weekend service might begin, and Mr. Colonese said that he was hoping it could begin with the April timetable change in 2008.
There was discussion of the Guilford commuter who was stuck in one of the Guilford station elevators after the last evening train on a night in late January. The problem was that the emergency telephone did not connect to anyone. Fortunately, the commuter had a cell phone and was able to call Guilford emergency services. Mr. Colonese reported that AT&T had a block on the 877 number that the elevator phone was supposed to connect to, so the phone didn’t work. He said that it is now properly hooked up to the AT&T call center, which would forward the call to the elevator company. Bob Jelley suggested it would be better if the emergency telephone in the elevator were hooked up to the Guilford Police Station. Mr. Colonese said that he would consider that possibility.
Mr. Carlson raised the question of the need for some kind of emergency telephone at the State Street Station, saying that since announcements are not made at State Street, there is no way for passengers to know if there are problems with service, particularly with the later evening trains. Mr. Colonese said that the DOT is looking at the possibility of a new public address system for Shore Line East.
Mr. Hammer discussed fares on Shore Line East. Mr. Colonese said that there were not senior fares on Shore Line East but it was being looked into. Mr. Jelley said that fares on Shore Line East are more expensive than on the Waterbury line. Mr. Colonese said that Waterbury fares had been kept low in order to get more passengers.
M-2 CAR REHABILITATION
Mr. Colonese reported that 40 cars had been totally completed, and that 80 cars had been partially completed.
DOT REPORT ON METRO NORTH STATIONS
Mr. Cameron said that he liked the report that the DOT had prepared about what repairs and improvements needed to be done at each of the Metro North stations. Mr. Colonese agreed that it was a good report. Mr. Cameron emphasized the need for towns to use parking money to maintain stations. He also spoke of lists in the report of what agency is responsible for what function at each of the stations, and suggested that it ought to be posted in each station.
Ms. Prosi said that the report on Stratford Station did not note the foundation problem with the shelter. Mr. Colonese said that he was talking to the Town about the shelter. Ms. Prosi also expressed appreciation for Mr. Colonese’s willingness to work with communities on remedies. She noted that several South Western Region towns had reported inaccuracies in information contained in the report.
ONE DOLLAR FARE SURCHARGE
Mr. Cameron raised the question of the $1.00 fare surcharge, that is to be used to help pay for the new M-8 cars. Mr. Jelley suggested that the $1.00 surcharge was part of a funding agreement between the Governor and the Legislature, and said it was his view that the Council should stay out of the issue. Sue Prosi said that she did not approve of the $1.00 surcharge. Mr. Cameron also opposed the $1.00 surcharge. There was considerable discussion about the unfairness of the surcharge being applied before M-8’s are delivered and also the fact that $1.00 was an unfair amount on tickets for small distances. Mr. Colonese said he would check on when the surcharge was to begin. There was also a question as to how it would apply to reverse commuters. Because there was no quorum at the meeting, it was left that Mr. Cameron would poll the other members of the council as to their opinions of the surcharge.
BICYCLES ON TRAINS
Mr. Cameron said that he would permit the issue of greater ease in taking bicycles on trains to be raised one more time. Members of the public urged that bicycles be permitted on peak trains, that better bicycle storage at stations be provided, and that new cars have more space available for bringing bicycles on trains.
MAIN LINE ISSUES
Joe Kanell reported that there was a train derailment in Grand Center Terminal on February 7th. He said that two cars derailed, there were no injuries and that at least one car had already platformed, so the passengers were able to walk through the train to get off.
FREE MASS TRANSIT FOR SENIORS
Mr. Cameron reported that in his testimony before the Transportation Committee, he had testified against the bill presented by Senator Williams to provide free mass transit for seniors. There was some discussions about the fact that Senator Williams said that such a plan would cost about $7 million per year and Mr. Richter said it was $9.7 million. Mr. Jelley noted that SEPTA, the Transportation Authority in and around Philadelphia, provided free public transit for seniors, except for one hour during the morning and evening peaks on weekdays, and except that railroad train rides are $1.00. He suggested that the benefits of free transit for seniors ought to be studied. The other members of the council seemed opposed to free transit for seniors and Stan Trybulski suggested that fare discounts should be need-based. Ms. Prosi described the CT Municipal Dial-A-Ride Grant program which was resulting in enhancing transportation services for seniors and persons with disabilities in FY2007.
The meeting ended at 7:45 p.m.
The next meeting will be at Grand Central Terminal on Wed., March 21, 2007.
Bob Jelley
Secretary
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