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.

                                  

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