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

APRIL  18, 2006 MEETING

UNION STATION

NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT

 

Present were:  Rodney Chabot, Chairman, Jim Cameron, Vice Chairman, Bob Jelley, Jeff Steele, Steve Di Salvo, Carl Leaman, Terri Cronin, members; Ed Lydecker and Joe Kanell, Metro North; Jim McKenna, MTA Police; Gene Colonese and Peter Richter, Connecticut DOT; Carmine Trotta, DOT;  E.C. Schroeder, SLERA; Larry Uydess, member of the public.

 

The meeting began at 6 pm, after a tour of the not-yet completed new car maintenance facility in the New Haven yard.

 

Minutes of the March 22, 2006 meeting were approved.

 

MONTHLY REPORT

 

Ed Lydecker discussed the March report.  He noted that there had been very good on-time performance, and that on March 30, on-time performance was 100%.  He also reported that 100 of the 242 M-4s have now completed rehabilitation.

 

M-8 SPECIFICATIONS

 

Gene Colonese reported on the focus groups dealing with new bar cars.  He said that no one in the focus groups liked having additional seats, and, therefore, the State probably will not change from the existing bar car configuration.  He also said that he will have additional information about M-8 designs at the next meeting.

 

MAIN LINE

 

Steve DiSalvo showed pictures of the problems at Milford station caused by construction work.  Commuters have to walk through mud and stones to get to and from the parking lot.  He said that no improvements in the situation have been made since the last time he reported on the problem.

 

Mr. Colonese said that there were problems in improving the situation.  Larry Uydess asked if the contractor didn’t have responsibility to maintaining a decent walkway and Mr. Colonese said that he did.  He said that the DOT will try to improve the situation.

 

Jim Cameron reported that a commuter had complained about the closing of the surface lot at Bridgeport station, with the Harbor Yard parking garage only open 5:00 am to midnight, five days a week.  Mr. Colonese said that he thought that the garage had extended its hours to 3:00 am.  He admitted that there was a parking problem at Bridgeport but said that the State was looking for more parking.  A problem is that the city hasn’t conveyed title to the garage and the station to the State. 

 

SHORE LINE EAST

 

It was reported that on April 6, train 1644 had a hot bearing on the locomotive that was disclosed by the hot-bearing detector in East Haven.  So the train was stopped at Branford, so the passengers were able to get on to the Branford platform. 

 

Mr. Colonese reported that construction of the Madison station will begin shortly but that there are still issues to be resolved before a Clinton station can be built. 

 

Mr. Richter reported that an agreement had been reached with Amtrak extending its contract to operate Shore Line East to June, 2007. 

 

PROGRESS ON USED LOCOMOTIVES AND VIRGINIA CARS

 

Mr. Richter reported that the used locomotives were operating a bit better than previously.  He also reported that a notice to proceed four rehabilitation Virginia cars was given to Kawasaki.  He said that the first six cars would go to Yonkers the first week of May.  All 33 cars are to be finished in June, 2007.

 

STAMFORD GARAGE

 

Mr. Colonese reported that he had just received the draft report of the condition of the old garage, which shows a lot of salt deterioration. 

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

In response to a question about the rising cost of diesel fuel, Mr. Colonese said that even though that increases operating costs, the rising cost of fuel causes more people to use rail transportation.  He thought the additional revenues would cover the additional costs.  He went on to say that diesel locomotives should be shut off during the summer when they are not in use in order to conserve fuel, but during cold weather, there are not enough plug-ins in Danbury to keep the engines warm and permit them all to be shut off. 

 

The meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m. 

 

The next meeting is on Wednesday, May 17, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. at SACIA Offices, Stamford, CT.

 

 

Bob Jelley

Secretary

 

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