METRO NORTH NEW HAVEN RAIL COMMUTER COUNCIL

(Established in 1985 under Connecticut Public Act 85-239, now Sections 13b-212b and -212c

of the Connecticut General Statutes)

www.trainweb.org/ct

 

 

MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 16, 2005 MEETING

AT GRAYBAR BUILDING

NEW YORK CITY

 

 

 

The meeting began at about 7:00 p.m.  It followed a meeting of New York’s Metro North Rail Council, at which Peter Cannito, President of Metro North, gave a report about Metro North Railroad and answered a number of questions from members of the public.  That meeting was attended by a number of representatives of Connecticut DOT, Metro North Railroad, and the Connecticut Rail Council. 

 

Present at the Connecticut Council’s meeting were:  Chairman Rodney Chabot, Vice Chairman Jim Cameron; Bob Jelley, Jeff Maron, Council; Eugene Colonese, George Okvat, Joe Katik and Joe Kanell, Metro North Railroad; Carl F. Bard, Peter Richter and Jim Boice, CT DOT; Capt. Jim McKenna, MTA Police; Jack Kadden, New York Times; Mark Ginocchio, Stamford Advocate; Harold Cobin, The Hour; and Mark Barbarash, LTK; and Richard Stowe and Larry Uydess, members of the public.

 

The Minutes of the January 19, 2005 meeting were approved.

 

MAIN LINE

 

Representatives of Metro North reported on operations during the January 22-23 snow storm.  Many trains were, as planned, parked in the tunnel leading to Grand Central Terminal.  On Sunday, January 23, the New Haven line had service every two hours, at first provided with diesel engines, and then regular hourly service after 4:00 pm.  The rehabilitated M-2 cars worked fine in the snow, because their vulnerable electrical equipment is now protected from snow infiltration. 

 

SHORE LINE EAST

 

Peter Richter reported that the Shore Line East public address system is being evaluated, and that the hours of operation of Rideworks are being looked at. 

 

METRO NORTH BRANCH LINES

 

Gene Colonese reported that there was one bus substitution on the Waterbury branch in January, and none on the Danbury or New Canaan branches.  The on-time performance for January was 92.4% for Waterbury, 94.6% for Danbury, and 97.2% for New Canaan. 

 

STAMFORD STATION

 

Jeff Maron reported that the escalators were working better and that the taxi queues were working better.  Jim Boice reported that cleaning supplies are now out only when cleaning is actually being done.  Mr. Boice also reported that the Department has issued a Request for Proposals for a new operator for the Stamford and Bridgeport stations.  The present operator will be permitted to apply. 

 

FLEET REPLACEMENT

 

Jim Cameron suggested that the Council write a letter to legislators endorsing purchase of new cars.  Carl Bard said that the DOT can start picking a consultant on design of new cars even before the legislature approves funding for new cars.  He said that the DOT continues to believe that a combination of two M-7s, operating on third rail power, and one newly designed M-8, operating on catenary power, is the likely way to go. 

 

NEW REPAIR SHOP

 

Mr. Bard reported that funding is in place for the first phase of the new repair shop in New Haven.  It will be let out to bid as a package with extras that can be added if the bids for the basic package are low enough.  The Governor has in her budget $3 hundred million for adding to the new repair shop a much larger facility to be available when new rail cars are delivered. 

 

OTHER OLD BUSINESS

 

Richard Stowe of New Canaan asked about the contract for signals on the Danbury branch.  Mr. Boice reported that the project would be bid this summer but he said that the DOT was evaluating the project to see if the addition of signals really results in an improvement of operations of the Danbury branch, or if reelectrification is also necessary for any real operational improvement. 

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

There was general discussion of the importance of improved communication between the railroad and passengers.  Rodney Chabot asked about use of the car wash facility in Stamford, and Joe Kanell reported that it is being used.  Mr. Chabot also asked about replacement of windows on M-4 and M-6 cars, and it was reported that that work is in progress.  Mr. Chabot also reported that Peter Millard has resigned from the council because he has moved to New York. 

 

Mr. Richter said that he would report in March about the new DOT e-mail system for reporting on transportation problems.  Mr. Colonese reported that it is now possible to print out the Metro North timetable from the web.  Mr. Maron reported that it is difficult to get much of the material on the MTA website on a Blackberry.  Mr. Colonese reported that the new timetable in April will reallocate times for intermediate stations, so as to be more accurate, but that will not extend total trip time to the end station. 

 

The meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m.

 

The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 23, 2005 [NOTE CHANGED DATE]

at 7:00 p.m. at SACIA in Stamford.

 

Bob Jelley, Secretary

rjelley@wiggin.com

 

 

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