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)

 

MINUTES OF JUNE 15, 2005 MEETING

AT SACIA OFFICES

STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT

 

 

The meeting began at 7:00 pm.

 

Present were:  Chairman Rodney Chabot, Vice Chairman Jim Cameron, Bob Jelley, Carl Lehman, Lee Carlson, Ed Zimmerman, Jeff Maron and Peter Myers, Members of the Council; Gene Colonese, J. Grumblatt and Jeff Watson, Metro North Railroad; Peter Richter, Connecticut DOT; Sue Prosi, SWRPA; Mark Ginocchio, Stamford Advocate; Rhoda Myers and Jeff Steele, members of the public.

 

The Minutes of the meeting of May 18, 2005 were approved. 

 

During the public comment period, Jeff Steele of Fairfield and Sue Prosi spoke briefly. 

 

MONTHLY METRO NORTH OPERATIONS

 

In answer to a question, Gene Colonese said that 260 to 270 cars were required for full daily service.  He also said that on the Monthly Report of Operations, on-time performance treats a canceled train as merely “late”.  On the other hand, “bus substitution” means a planned bus substitution, because of track work or other planned interruption, and does not include emergency replacement of a train by a bus. 

 

Lee Carlson stated that the Metro North afternoon trains that leave from State Street only have one door open in the front car, requiring passengers from State Street to walk back through the train if they prefer to sit further back than the first car. 

 

Bob Jelley raised, once again, the issue of closed cars on Metro North trains to and from Grand Central Terminal.  He suggested that conductors were abusing their discretion to close cars, resulting in crowded open cars.  He suggested that for all trains, until about 9:00 pm, all cars should be open.  He noted that New York City subway cars are never closed.  Lee Carlson commented that conductors close cars in order to have private cars for themselves and their friends. 

 

Rodney Chabot reported that the clocks on the New York bound side of Westport Station were wrong. 

 

 

STAMFORD STATION

 

Jeff Maron reported that taxis are not queuing, but instead are jumping lines and are blocking railroad space.  He also reported that the stop lines on the garage floor have worn away, so that cars do not know where to stop.   

 

SHORE LINE EAST

 

Peter Richter reported that opening of the new Branford and Clinton stations has been delayed until August [they did open in August], and the Guilford station will also open in August.  [Guilford has been delayed by late delivery of glass, and will not open in August.] 

 

WATERBURY LINE

 

Peter Richter reported that because of bridge work, buses will replace trains for three weeks, but not on weekends. 

 

Jim Cameron reported that in an e-mail Peter Marcuse had complained that buses intended to replace trains on the Waterbury line had been taken to bus people stranded at Stratford station, because the catenary was down. 

 

E-MAIL ALERTS

 

Jim Cameron and Jeff Maron stated that e-mail alerts, when the catenary was down between Stratford and Milford, were not timely.  Mr. Colonese said he would look into it.

 

NEW CANAAN LINE

 

Mr. Chabot reported again on the Town of New Canaan’s efforts to park school buses at the Talmadge Hill Station.  He introduced a resolution, which was passed by the Council urging the Town of New Canaan not to use necessary parking spaces for school bus parking. 

 

ADDITIONAL CARS AND LOCOMOTIVES

 

Mr. Richter reported optimism that the Legislature will pass at its Special Session the Transportation Bill providing money for new cars.  [It passed.]   He also reported that DOT has leased eight locomotives from Amtrak, which the Governor announced on May 17.  One has already been received, and the rest ought to be received by the end of the year.  He also reported that twelve of the cars bought from Virginia are in operation on Shore Line East.  He also reported that DOT has received three of the ten cab cars from Virginia and the other seven will be received after July, 2006.  The cab cars need modification in order to be operable in Connecticut. 

 

Mr. Richter also reported that he expects the planned first stage of the new repair shop in New Haven to be in operation by the end of 2005. 

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

Mr. Richter reported that funding is in place to continue the thru SLE trains to Stamford.  Mr. Richter also said that he knew of no planned service reductions. 

 

Carl Lehman suggested that DOT hold an open house when the new repair shop opens. 

 

Peter Myers reported that at the Milford station, the structural work appears to be complete but much of the station is not usable yet.  Mr. Richter said that bridge work adjacent to the station is not yet complete and that work impacts on the station. 

 

At a closed session, Rodney Chabot was re-elected Chairman of the Rail Council, Jim Cameron was elected Vice Chairman and Bob Jelley was elected Secretary. 

 

The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 pm.

 

The next meeting will be held at 7:00 pm at SACIA in Stamford on Wednesday, September 21, 2005.

 

Bob Jelley

Secretary

 

 

\88888888\1005\549213.1