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 15, 2009
SWRPA
STAMFORD, CT
Present were: Jim Cameron, Chairman; Rodney Chabot, Sue Prosi, Terri Cronin, Jeff Steele, Roger Cirella, Drew Todd, Connor Murphy, and Bob Jelley, members of the Council; Gene Colonese, Peter Richter and Jim Redecker, CDOT; John Longobardi, George Okvat, Robert MacLagger and Dan O’Connell, MNRR; Jim McKenna, MTA Police; Martin Cassidy, Stamford Advocate; Justin Austin, Danine Chevarella, Richard Stowe and Kristin Tulp, members of the public.
The meeting began at 7:00 pm. The minutes of the February meeting were approved.
METRO NORTH’S PROPOSED ELIMINATION OF FOUR CONNECTICUT TRAINS
Jim Cameron began the meeting by noting that he had written to ask CDOT and MNRR why the cuts proposed for the New Haven line (prompted by MTA budget problems) were all for Connecticut trains as opposed to Westchester County trains. Dan O’Connell of Metro North said that in choosing trains for elimination, Metro North had looked particularly at trains that had been most recently added. Robert McGlagger said that in proposing trains for elimination, they had treated the New Haven line as a single line, as opposed to considering Westchester trains and Connecticut trains separately.
Mr. Cameron asked if CDOT had to agree with the proposed cuts. Jim Redecker said that the cuts were still under review and that no one was ready to make a decision yet. He also said that the cuts proposed were ones where there was the greatest saving of money. Mr. Cameron then asked if CDOT was prepared to pay extra to keep the cut trains running. That question was not answered. On the issue of elimination of the New Canaan ticket agent, George Okvat said that ticket machines were more reliable than ticket agents.
Bob Jelley moved that MNRR be asked to “go back to the drawing board” and come up with some cuts of Westchester trains as well as Connecticut trains. The motion passed unanimously. Mr. Jelley went on to say that he had several times ridden the 2:33 pm train from New Haven to GCT and that it was his view that it was appropriate to cut that train, because it was never very full and because it is followed 19 minutes later by the 2:52 pm train from New Haven to GCT, which also is not very full.
CONNECTICUT STATE RAIL PLAN (2010-14)
Peter Richter made a presentation about the State’s next 5-year rail plan. He said that the Governors of the New England states had adopted a policy of doubling rail service and ridership in the next 20 years. He talked about weight limitations on bridges on the New Haven line and noted that the older 263,000 lb. rail cars were being replaced by the new 286,000 lb. rail cars. He said that freight cars were also getting heavier.
Mr. Richter noted that the New Haven, Hartford, Springfield line was part of the President’s Northern New England high speed rail corridor. Mr. Jelley asked how the designation of a high speed corridor had affected the plan for commuter service between New Haven and Springfield. Mr. Richter said that the New Haven, Hartford, Springfield line will not really be high speed, so that plans for commuter service can go forward as presently conceived.
LOCATION OF MAY MEETING
In view of the request for some Waterbury commuters for a meeting in Naugatuck, there was considerable discussion about the location of the May meeting. Mr. Jelley suggested that the meeting ought to remain in Stamford. Sue Prosi suggested Bridgeport as a compromise. Mr. Cameron decided that the May meeting would be in Naugatuck on May 20 at 7:00 pm.
MAIN LINE ISSUES
Drew Todd said a transformer blew out at 4:30 am on a Monday morning in March, resulting in the South Norwalk garage being unable to be opened. He said that there was no email report of this problem until 10:30 am. Representatives of the City of Norwalk and LAZ Parking who were invited to attend the meeting to discuss what happened were not present.
On the question of replacing pay telephones at Stamford station, Gene Colonese said that CDOT was looking at alternatives. Mr. Redecker said that in New Jersey there were video kiosks in place of telephones, with a 911 button. Mr. Cameron said that he thought that an advertising kiosk was not the answer as it lacked the visibility of a pay-phone or dedicated phone box connected to MTA Police.
On the issue of cars parking in two parking spots in Stamford garage, it was announced that the police had begun ticketing cars so parked.
Terri Cronin said that she believed the MTA police were underreporting crime at the South Norwalk and East Norwalk stations. Jim McKenna said he would have someone talk to Ms. Cronin about that.
It was reported that the new May timetables will permit bicycles on reverse peak trains. But conductors can continue to not allow bicycles on overcrowded trains.
BRANCH LINE ISSUES
It was announced that the public address system at Ansonia does not work.
Mr. Chabot asked about signals on the Danbury branch. He asked whether the wires for the signals would be underground or overhead. It was reported that they would be underground and that the project is shovel ready, that it is a stimulus project, and that the next step is bidding for its construction.
Connor Murphy reported that the 7:24 am train out of Wilton had recently been 20 minutes late. John Longobardi said that a failed locomotive had blocked the exit from the Danbury yard.
It was reported that there had again been vandalism in the Waterbury parking lot and that eight cars had been broken into.
MISCELLANEOUS
Mr. Redecker reported that he was still talking with developers about replacement of the old Stamford garage.
On the operations report, it was reported that ridership numbers now lag by a month.
The meeting adjourned at 9:15 pm. The next meeting is scheduled for 7 pm, Wednesday May 20, 2009 at the Old Naugatuck Railroad Station.
Bob Jelley
Secretary
Phone: (203) 498-4306
e-mail : rjelley@wiggin.com
