Minutes

 

Wednesday November 16, 2011� -� 6 PM

CDOT Offices � Union Station � New Haven CT

 

1. Members in Attendance: Roger Cirella, Acting Chairman, Sue Prosi, Bob Jelly, Aaron Goode, Tim Beeble, Laura Cordes, Mark Maruszewski.� Guests: Eugene Colonese of DOT, Richard Jankanch of DOT, James McKenna of MTA PD.

No Quorum was achieved, and no action taken.�

The Council heard presentations as follows:

1. Update on M8s: Gene Colonese reported that 52 M-8s had been delivered and 36 have been accepted. Four more sets were shipped today. �DOT is working on an agreement with Amtrak to test the M-8s on the track to Boston.� 16 sets are being tested, mostly at night.�� 28 cars are in service.� Sue Prosi reported seeing loose bolts on the car interior near outlets.

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2. Fare Increases:� The fare increases will go into effect for January monthly and weekly tickets, as well as all single and ten-trip tickets purchased after January 1^st.

 

Sue Prosi asked that fare inequities be addressed.� Gene Colonese reported that branch line fares had been reduced to make train travel attractive.� MN had maintained lower Bridgeport fares to encourage use of that station.� Bob Jelly recommended that Stamford fares be adjusted to address inequities with Darien.

 

3. Discussion of revised �Rail Passenger of Rights�:� Gene Colonese reported that he had been talking with Jim Cameron to see how the �Rights� could be reconciled with the Passenger Pledge.� He reviewed the similarities between the two proposals.�� The Passenger Pledge eliminates the right to a refund for extend periods of cancelled trains without substitute bus service.� The Council members in attendance suggested that the issue could be addressed in a MN Refund Policy that is clearly conveyed to commuters.� Sue Prosi pointed out the inequities of expiration of tickets as well as the on-board ticket surcharges as they apply to non-English speaking riders.� Tim Beeble questioned whether the Connecticut laws prohibiting the expiration of gift cards might also apply to MN�s expiration of train tickets.� Sue Prosi asked how the Passenger Pledge would be rolled-out.� Gene Colonese suggested that it could be included on the printed schedules, the web site, Mileposts newsletter, and other seat drops.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. �Discussion of service outages re 10/29 storm:� The Shoreline was spared.� New Canaan was out for a while.� Due to the extensive number of trees and limbs across the Danbury line, MN attacked from both ends of the line.� Locomotives were used to move chain saw crews to sections of the track that were blocked by downed trees.� There were 46 trees across the tracks between Branchville and Redding alone. Danbury service was restored on Wednesday morning.� On the Waterbury line by Wednesday�s PM rush hour, MN phased-in service between Beacon Falls-Bridgeport and ran buses to Waterbury.� Since the electricity was out for most of the week, MN installed generators at the railroad crossings to operate the lights, bells and gates.� The Council members commended MN for their quick response to the October snow storm that was far worse in impact than the August hurricane.

 

5. Shore Line East:� Laura Cordes asked about the 2 year study on expanding service and also expressed appreciation for MN meeting with the One More Stop group in New London.� Additional weekend service would help.� Gene Colonese indicated that the impact on boaters for bridge is a consideration for increased service.� AmTrak must apply to DEEP for approval.� The new sidings on Shoreline East near the Westbrook Station will be completed in 18 months.� Westbrook is the only station without a raised platform.�� Platforms will be extended in Guilford.� There is free parking at Old Saybrook, but the owner of a nearby shopping center is charging a fee through LAZ.� Sue Prosi asked for a written report on the Shoreline East Improvements.

 

6. Mainline: The new Fairfield Metro Station opens December 5^th.� Parking is nearly complete.� Ticket vending machines will be in place.� The platform will accommodate 12 cars.� Parking will be available for 1,400 autos.� Parking permits are first being offered to current permit holders at the Fairfield and Southport Stations.� Then, those on the waiting list will be offered an opportunity to buy parking permits.� DOT intends to allocate 1,000 spaces for permit parking and 400 spaces for daily parking.� Republic will manage the parking.� Initially envelopes will be left on windshields for payment of daily parking.� Members discussed free parking policies.� Every train that stops at Fairfield will also stop at Fairfield Metro.� The Council members discussed whether the Fairfield Metro Station should be an express stop and whether off-peak trains should run a skip-stop schedule.

 

7. Branchlines: Danbury Line signalization work is proceeding with setting the signal houses.� A Study of a service extension from Waterbury to Bristol and Berlin is underway.� Pan Am owns this section of track.

 

8. Other: Amtrak�s proposed high speed rail from Boston to Providence to Hartford to New Rochelle to Penn Station was discussed.� The new route in CT would follow I-84 to Danbury.� The Boston to NYC trip would be an estimated 95 minutes.� �Vermont filed an application for a TGER3 Grant on behalf of three states for design work to enable the use of existing track.�

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mark Maruszewski asked if MN has considered offering WiFi.� Since service and seating is �going downhill� and since fares are increasing, giving WiFi could help appease riders.� He also asked what MN was doing about cost containment in light of recent reports of pension, OT and disability abuse.� Gene Colonese replied that many of these issues are the subject of union contracts.� However, much of this has been addressed in the negotiation of recent contracts.

 

9. Adjourned at 7:45 PM

 

 

Respectfully submitted by:

 

Tim Beeble, Secretary pro tem

 

 

 

NEXT MEETING:�� Wed December 21th, 7 pm at SWRPA / Stamford Govt Ctr