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 MARCH 19, 2008
GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL
NEW YORK, NY
Present were: Jim Cameron, Chairman; Rodney Chabot, Sue Prosi, Terri Cronin, Jeff Maron, Joe McGee, Jeff Steele and Bob Jelley, members of the Council; Gene Colonese, CDOT; George Walker, Ed Lydecker, Scott Ornstein, George Okvat, Tim McCarthy, Donna Evans, Jeff Olwell, and Joe Kanell, MNRR; Bill Henderson, PCAC; Barry Adler, Roger Cirella, Andrew Todd, Richard Stowe, Kristin Tulp, Dave Bonan and Susan Schneiderman, Members of the Public; Chris Gosier, The Advocate, Stamford.
RIDER SATISFACTION SURVEY
Jeff Olwell reported on the recent survey of rider satisfaction. Sue Prosi asked what Metro North does with the results of the survey. George Walker said that on items that indicated dissatisfaction Metro North got more detail and then charged the supervisors with correcting and improving those aspects of the operation.
Jeff Steele asked why the New Haven line results were always lower than those of the Hudson and Harlem divisions. Gene Colonese said that New Haven line passengers had always been more critical than Harlem and Hudson line passengers. Mr. Walker said that the new M-7 cars caused Harlem and Hudson line passengers to be more satisfied with everything. He also said that the outer New Haven line has a lot of catenary and bridge work going, which slows things down, and has interference from Amtrak trains.
Ms. Prosi asked why Metro North did surveys each year. Mr. Olwell said surveys do not cost much. Mr. Walker said it was important to get feedback each year.
NEW M-8 CARS
Susan Schneiderman asked how the seats on the M-8s will compare on those on the M-7s. Tim McCarthy said that the M-8 seats are slightly wider than those on the M-7s.
Rodney Chabot asked about trash receptacles on the new cars. Mr. Walker said that trash receptacles do not work on commuter cars. He said people put bad things in the receptacles. But he went on to say that people do treat new cars more carefully than they treat older cars.
There was a question as to whether the M-8s will have outlets for plugging in computers and other equipment. Mr. McCarthy said there will be outlets.
Terri Cronin asked about the three seats opposite three seats seating in the new M-8s. Mr. Walker said that he didn’t want to change to two seats opposite three seats, as in the present New Haven line cars, because he did not want to lose four more seats. Donna Evans commented that the first 100 M-8s that are delivered will add to the fleet of cars; in other words no older cars will be retired as the first 100 new cars are delivered.
Mr. Schneiderman asked about tinted windows in the new cars. Mr. McCarthy said that the windows are tinted in the existing cars and would be in the new cars. But he said it was not possible to have variably tinted windows.
BICYCLES ON TRAINS
Richard Stowe spoke in support of providing facilities for bicycles on trains. He said that facilities for bicycles are cheap and he wanted the New Haven line to be the leader in supporting bicycles. Jim Cameron proposed Mr. Stowe’s resolution in support of increased ability to bring bicycles on trains. Mr. Walker said that he will work on bike lockers at stations. Mr. Colonese said that the CDOT would work on more sheltered bike racks. He said that he thought the present policy for permitting bicycles on trains was very liberal; there is a lifetime $5.00 permit fee but no bicycles are permitted on peak trains. Jeff Steele thought that the proposed resolution should only cover bike racks at stations and that we should not propose accommodations for bikes on trains. As a result of further discussion, the Council voted in favor of an amended resolution as follows:
RESOLVED, That the Connecticut Metro-North Rail Commuter Council encourages Metro-North Railroad and the Connecticut Department of Transportation to provide for safe, sheltered bicycle parking at stations along the New Haven Line.
Seven members were in favor and there was one abstention.
MAIN LINE ISSUES
Mr. Chabot asked about the paint colors of the first new diesel engine to arrive. He said that the colors were not correct. Mr. Colonese said that the CDOT was not trying to copy the old paint style but to provide a modification of that style. Mr. Walker said that the paint style, which includes a black front on the engine, complies with all the federal regulations.
Mr. Steele said that the platform lights were finally working at the Fairfield station. He also asked about the fact that the station waiting room was closed when the ticket agent was sick. George Okvat said that if the ticket agent doesn’t come to work, there is no one to open the station. Jim Cameron asked why the police couldn’t open the station. Mr. Okvat said that some back-up is available.
Jeff Maron asked about contract negotiations for the new Stamford garage. Since Al Martin was not at the meeting, Mr. Colonese said that he would send an e-mail about the status of contract negotiations.
Mr. Schneiderman said that the walkway from the Bridgeport station to the garage is still not open. Mr. Colonese said that the City of Bridgeport is responsible for the punch list items, which are not complete. Mr. Steele asked who was responsible for this and Mr. Colonese said he would send an e-mail to explain.
Mr. Colonese reported that track 3 (the inbound local track) at Darien would be back in service by mid-April. He said that the steel for bridge repairs had finally come in and said that the subcontractor had been over-extended.
Ms. Cronin asked about the status of the bike rack for the East Norwalk station and Mr. Colonese said that it had been ordered. Andrew Todd asked why the State can’t simply take over the stations, and Mr. Colonese said that the State owns most of the stations but they are leased to the Towns.
Ms. Schneider asked about a former Bridgeport train that now starts in Fairfield at 7:52. Mr. Colonese said that he will look at that train.
Ms. Prosi asked about gaps in train service outbound from Stamford in the evening.
Joe McGee spoke about Penn Station access from the New Haven line, with new stations on the Hell Gate route at Co-op City, Parkchester and Hunts Point. Mr. Walker said that service into Penn Station is years away, because New Haven line trains can’t get into Penn Station until the Long Island’s Railroad East Side Access into Grand Central is completed.
Bob Jelley asked about the effect that Governor Patterson will have on the MTA and Metro North. Mr. Walker said that the Governor’s father was a big supporter of public transportation.
BRANCH LINE ISSUES
Roger Cirella said that everyone was pleased with the new, earlier Waterbury train to GCT and that people were also pleased with the new afternoon train from Stamford. Mr. Walker commented that it is hard to provide additional Waterbury service, because there are no signals on the Waterbury line, and therefore only one train can operate at a time.
MISCELLANEOUS
Ed Lydecker discussed the monthly report, which was very good.
Mr. Chabot again raised the question of single-leaf doors on the new M-7s and M-8s. He said that conductors on the Harlem and Hudson lines reported that the doors were slow in closing. Mr. Walker said that it was not that the doors were slow in closing, but that it took an extra 20 seconds after the door closed to get a door light, because there were so many electrical checks being performed to ensure all the doors are closed.
There was a general discussion of the capacity problem in Grand Central Terminal and the possibility of more frequent Connecticut service. Mr. Walker spoke of the 10 mile per hour speed limit from 59th Street to Grand Central Terminal. He also said that the signals being studied by Metro North were only the signals from New York City to Greenwich, not from Greenwich to New Haven. He said that East Side Access is a capacity problem for Grand Central Terminal. With respect to ten-minute service, Mr. Walker said that it was probably possible to do that with cab signal improvement so that trains can run closer together.
The meeting adjourned at 8:00 pm.
Bob Jelley
Secretary
Phone: (203) 498-4306
e-mail : rjelley@wiggin.com
