the September meeting were approved.

1. Jack Reidy reported that negotiations with Metro North over the Year 2000

budget are continuing, but that CDOT people are now more optimistic about the

outcome due to the intercession of Metro North’s new president, who has

brought a new, more accommodating mindset to the table. He cited past

experiences in which Metro North sought mid-year budget adjustments, and

CDOT had enough fiscal latitude to accommodate them. Now, he said, funds

aren’t as readily available to be shifted when needs arise.

2. Mr. Chabot reported his attendance at a meeting to explore New Haven

Division riders’ possible access to Penn Station if the proposed expansion

of Long Island Railroad service into Grand Central Terminal is funded. Gene

Colonese said that this issue is complicated by the fact that Harlem Division

riders may also want such access, and means may have to be found for

providing it.

3. Ms. Pam Burford, spokesperson for the LIRR on the proposed GCT access,

did not appear as promised at the Council meeting; her associates went in

error to SACIA in Stamford for the meeting. Mr. Chabot stressed the impact

that the starting contingent of 70,000 LIRR commuters will have, not just on

terminal facilities, but on the Lexington Avenue subway’s GCT station, as now

accessed primarily through a long, steep, dangerous stairway. It is notable

that the city’s New York State legislators have indicated that they will

op-pose catering to Long Island residents until the long-awaited Second

Avenue Subway is built to serve not just upper Manhattan, but the southern

end of the island. Mr. Chabot suggested to Bob Hammersley, the Governor’s

representative, that Gov. Rowland might want to bring his influence to bear

to insure that Connecticut residents don’t face added inconvenience or costs

resulting from this multi-billion dollar construction project.

4. Mr. Chabot voiced concern that, amid other disrepair, three escalators at

the Stamford Station were not functioning when he inspected them during the

day. The long escalator from Track 4, he said, had been shut down by police

for the second consecutive day "because children were playing on it." While

he had them re-started, Mr. Chabot and Council members felt that the police

have the responsibility to keep children away from the escalators, rather

than forcing the elderly, infirm and hundreds of others to find alternate

ways of ascending to, descending from or crossing through the station level.

5. Mr. Reidy reported that the Commissioner has met with Mayor Dannel Malloy

regarding CDOT’s ultimate takeover of the station. This will benefit all

Stamford passengers, it was said, just as state standards have made the

state-operated Bridgeport and New Haven stations superior. Mr. Reidy stated

that the station construction remains "on schedule" toward early 2002

completion.

6. Mr. Chabot noted that State Senator William Nickerson had pursued the

issue of excessive summer heat on GCT platforms in two recent letters. Mr.

Colonese indicated that terminal ventilating systems are being revamped so that

cool air will be circulated to platforms in the future. Mr. Colonese will review

Sen. Nickerson’s letters so that a response can be made to them.

7. Pursuant to First Selectman Richard Bond’s request that litter along the

New Canaan branch be picked up, Mr. Reidy noted that this is being done, but

that a few rails will be left along the line for emergency use.

8. Mr. Reidy reported that a dispensation has been granted to defer the

implementation of Americans with Disabilities Act adjustments at the

Fairfield station. This will permit the addition of a second station in

Fairfield, in full ADA compliance, within the next year and a half. All that

remains for settlement, it was noted, is agreement on road access to the new

station.

9. Mr. Colonese reported on the most recent Metro North customer

satisfaction survey, which again showed the New Haven Division, which once

led them, now trailing other divisions. While Stamford station conditions

and air conditioning problems during the summer heat wave contributed to low

marks. Moe Kiniry of Metro North cited the special efforts of New Haven

maintenance shops in minimizing unfavorable rider comments.

OTHER OLD BUSINESS. Council Member Jim Mohs indicated that, despite its

immediate proximity to the Bridgeport station, the ferry to Port Jefferson,

Long Island, is accorded no signage on platforms or in the station. To make

this a true transportation center, Mr. Reidy pledged to arrange such a sign.

Mr. Chabot asked the status of the free parking lot in Bridgeport; its site

has been torn up and moved to the other end of the station area (which seemed

a waste of public funds, he said, as the lot was opened less than a year

ago). The new lot is in place, Mr. Reidy advised, and is drawing more than

400 cars a day. A hockey center will be built on the old lot, and a

multi-tiered garage with free parking for commuters will be built between the

hockey center and the hugely successful Bluefish baseball stadium, he added.

1. Several Shore Line East riders indicated that they had found service

highly dependable in recent months, following Amtrak’s construction work in

electrifying and grading the right-of-way for high-speed service. They asked

if through service from SLE stations to New York or Stamford might be planned

for the future. The Council discussed whether the equipment for such service

was available, and whether a crew change on such trains in New Haven would be

required. Mr. Reidy said that equipment was not now available or suited to

such service, and that the crew change, as now required, would make costs out

of proportion with projected ridership and revenue.

Mr. Reidy presented sketches of the proposed new Shore Line East station in

Westbrook, to be built at the cost of two and a half million dollars --

evidence, he indicated, of the state’s growing, long-term commitment to SLE

service.

Spearheaded by Council Member Josh Geballe, who had drafted a proposed

Council resolution calling for non-rush hour and weekend Shore Line East

service, plus reduced fares, several representatives of the Shore Line East

Riders Association challenged last month’s explanation by Harry Harris of

CDOT that such a service expansion cannot be considered until ridership

increases measurably.

SLERA member Lee Carlson of Madison contended that Mr. Harris

deliberately uses figures which understate SLE ridership, and that he has

numbers showing a higher level of patronage. Secretary Edward Zimmerman

reminded Mr. Geballe that Mr. Harris had specifically stated last month that

CDOT could not justify weekend or mid-day service based upon the limited

current rush-hour ridership, and that, while so heavily underwriting present

service, CDOT was not in the position to begin running additional SLE trains

in the hope that riders would ultimately materialize.

In response to riders’ requests, however, it was noted that an additional

morning rush hour train has been added. John Tierney of TransitCheck cited

the introduction of a successful bus service between Stamford and White

Plains, which has since been expanded from rush hours to seven days. It was

noted, however, that experimental bus lines don’t involve the cost levels

surrounding train operations. There being no Council quorum, consideration of

Mr. Geballe’s resolution was deferred until a future meeting.

An attendee said that the New Haven Station tunnel signs identifying

departure tracks aren’t yet operating dependably. Mr. Reidy promised to

pursue this.

2. Messrs. Colonese and Kiniry reported that the recent Hurricane Floyd

created few problems on the New Haven Division, but that some service

interruptions did occur on the Hudson Division. Fortunately, these were

short-term.

3. Mr. Kiniry and John Hogan of Metro North indicated that winter

preparations are proceeding. Heat settings in M-2’s will be increased

slightly to combat past complaints about inadequate heat in these older

coaches, Mr. Kiniry said.

4. The agenda topic of Council members’ public statements on rail service

issues was addressed. While members are free to speak publicly on any

matter, Mr. Chabot said, they must emphasize that they are speaking as

individuals and underscore that they are not representing a Council

position.

OTHER NEW BUSINESS. An engine breakdown this week necessitated the

substitution of buses for one evening train on the Waterbury branch line,

Mr. Reidy reported. However, service on this branch has been generally good,

with little need for bus use, he added. Council Member Joan Ventrilio

delivered a letter in which a commuter complained about "rudeness" on the

part of a trainman in making announcements. She was present during the

episode, Ms. Ventrilio said, and does not regard the complaint as being

justified.

Respectfully submitted,

Edward H. Zimmerman, Secretary

Next Meeting: Wednesday, November 17, 7:30 p.m., Danbury Station

In Attendance

Rodney Chabot, Chairman Bob Hammersley, Governor’s Office

Edward Zimmerman, Secretary Dick Carpenter, CPTC

Jack Reidy, CDOT Mel Doyle, BLE MetroNorth

Eugene Colonese, Metro North Ralph Sanzari, UTU, Metro North

Jon Foster, CDOT John Tierney, TransitCheck

Moe Kiniry, Metro-North Lee Carlson, SLE Riders Assoc

John Hogan, Metro North E. C. Schroeder, SLERA

Jim Mohs, Council Member Joan Ventrilio, Council Member

Jeffrey Maron, Stam. Commuter Josh Geballe, Council Member