Minutes
Meeting of June 21, 2000
SACIA, Stamford
1. The minutes of
the May Meeting were approved.
2. Because she had a
9 p.m. meeting to attend, Chairman Chabot permitted Ms.
Bacal to speak at the meeting’s start. Saying she represented Northern
Westchester and Putnam County commuters, Ms. Bacal
complained that the
influx of
Connecticut commuters using the Goldens Bridge and other Harlem
Division stations
was usurping existing station parking, clogging local New York
State roads and taking seats on Harlem Division trains. She urged greater train
frequency and other improvements on the Danbury Branch Line
to discourage
Connecticut residents from using Northern Westchester
stations.
After attendees had noted that many New York State commuters
also drive to
Connecticut stations, Vice Chairman Cameron and Council
Member McGee
stressed that
station parking is an area, not local problem; that there is now a
fare disparity
favoring the Harlem Division, and that Ms. Bacal’s complaint belies
the fact Lewisboro and other Westchester municipalities seek
to avoid having
to create clearly needed additional station parking. Mr. Chabot noted that a
signal system and re-electrification of the Danbury Line
would increase
ridership and facilitate the addition of trains.
OLD BUSINESS
3. Harry Harris and
Jack Reidy reported that, under the state takeover, the
former maintenance company for Stamford Station escalators
has been
replaced, a new one hired, and a firm schedule of one per
month established
for the repair of the station’s 14 escalators.
Mr. Cameron recommended that CDOT make its role in the
station known by
posting signs to keep people informed that the escalator
program is in
progress and that other improvements are underway. While the cleanup is
already evident, he said, many rail passengers do not know
that CDOT is the
agent of change and is due credit for the changes. Mr. Harris felt that such
action might irritate Stamford’s mayor.
4. Mr. Reidy
reported that re-contouring of Stamford platforms and attendant
improvements are now nine months behind schedule. The new platform serving
two inbound tracks with its escalator to and from the
station will be in
service by late October, he added, and work will then move
to the outbound
platform.
5. While buses
replaced trains twice on the Waterbury Branch Line during
last month, service is generally improved, Mr. Reidy
indicated. The use of
F-10 locomotives is helping, he added.
6. The schedule for
rehabilitation of the M-2 and bar cars has been
tentatively set, Mr. Reidy said. Bids will be invited in July, and received
in September or October.
It will take about three months to review them, and
work should begin in January, 2001. Four fire-damaged cars stored in
Stamford are a separate project, he explained.
7. Mr. Harris
distributed CDOT’s new Fleet Management Plan, incorporating
its plans for expending the state’s $35 million equipment
allocation. The
starting point, he said, will be acquisition of four Genesis
locomotives,
with coaches to be purchased in the future to meet the
projected rise in main
line, branch line and Shore Line East ridership.
8. Mr. Harris
provided an illustrated overview of the CDOT/Metro North
contract, dated June 21, 1985 (retroactive to Jan. 1, 1983),
noting that it
covers five-year periods with an automatic rollover and no
provision for
renegotiation.
Connecticut must absorb numerous costs not properly its own,
with no escape provision, Mr. Harris said. It owns and must maintain its own
coaches and has full fiscal responsibility for the branch
lines. A bright
note, he added, is that the current Metro North president
has a decidedly
conciliatory attitude. Mr. Chabot noted that, without
representation on the
Metropolitan Transportation Authority board of directors,
the state cannot
effect meaningful changes.
Mr. McGee voiced his
concern that there is no regional mass transit and
freight rail planning for the entire tri-state area, and
that Connecticut is
suffering most from this lack. If the rail link across a new Tappan Zee
bridge is created, he said, it opens a door to many
opportunities we’re not
now positioned to assure.
Our state growth north and east of Bridgeport is
stagnant, and CDOT isn’t aggressively pursuing state needs,
he contended. A
40-minute rail ride from Queens over the present Amtrak
route could spark
major growth in this area, especially if a Bridgeport casino
brings in 40,000
daily players.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Mr. Harris
questioned whether Congressman Jim Maloney’s quest for federal
funding to re-electrify the Danbury Branch Line would bear
fruit in the
present Congress in the light of fiscal economies. But it’s a nice dream,
Mr. Chabot said.
Uncertainty was expressed as to the impact of a new law
sponsored by State Rep. Alex A. Knopp of Norwalk, requiring
the Commissioner
of Transportation to expand rail and bus service and
recommend ways for the
state to exercise its legal rights under the Metro North
contract.
2. CDOT is planning
special trains from New Haven to the July 12-15 OpSail
2000 festivities in New London, Mr. Harris said. That community anticipates a
half-million turnout when a portion of the Tall Ship fleet
moving up the East
Coast arrives for its three days there. A big fireworks display on the 15th
will cap the ceremonies.
There will be congestion, Mr. Harris said, because
that area cannot accommodate a large volume of cars. Hopefully, he said,
CDOT’s $10 Shore Line East roundtrip fare from any SLE
station will interface
with service Metro North provides into New Haven.
3. CDOT continues its
support for Operation Lifesaver, Mr. Harris stated. A
festivity thanking those who’ve helped warn the state’s
schoolchildren of
dangers in crossing or playing on railroad tracks will be
held June 28 in
Newington.
4. Mr. Cameron noted
that a Transit Fair will be held June 28 on the New
Haven Green. He asked for volunteers to help man the
SLE/Council booth. Mr.
Bowen provided Metro North New Haven Division schedules and
will attend the
event.
5. A letter of
complaint from a commuter between Westport and Greenwich
about trash on midday trains (for which terminal cleaning
can’t be provided)
was discussed. Mr.
Chabot said conductors should ask passengers to take
their carry-on newspapers and waste materials with
them. Mr. Sarn urged an
ego-bruising campaign to shame riders into taking materials
with them and to
curtail phone-users annoyance to other passengers. "Don’t be a pig" was a
suggested slogan.
6. As scheduled,
the Council’s annual election of officers was held.
Mr. Chabot was unanimously re-elected Chairman, as was Mr.
Cameron as Vice
Chairman. Ed
Zimmer-man will remain as secretary for 2000-2001.
OTHER NEW BUSINESS: Commenting on the outlook for increased ridership, Mr.
Harris said that in seeking marginal increases in revenue,
emphasis should be
placed on reverse-commute and intermediate (those not using
Grand Central
Terminal) riders. Such expansions have less impact on
equipment needs and
operating costs.
Mr. Tierney
reported that TransitCheck reimbursements to transit riders
whose employers participate in the program increased 30% in
the first
quarter. His group
does refer inquiries it can’t fulfill to other
organizations like RideShare, he assured the Council.
Mr. Reidy said that problems with buses not making
connections with Shore
Line East trains are being resolved by having drivers
indicate when they will
arrive at the New Haven Station, not how late they are
running. In deference
to other SLE passengers, trains can’t be held more than ten
minutes, he said.
Respectfully submitted,
Edward H. Zimmerman
Secretary
Next Meeting:
September 20, 7:30 p.m., SACIA, Stamford
In Attendance
Rodney Chabot, Chairman Joe McGee, SACIA, Council Member
Jim Cameron, Vice Chairman Allan Sarn, Council Member
Edward Zimmerman, Secretary Carl Leaman, Council Member
Harry Harris, CDOT Jim
Mohs, Council Member
Jack Reidy, CDOT John
Tierney, Stamford, Transit Center
Ted Bowen, Metro North Jessica
Bacal, Councilwoman, Lewisboro
Jeff Maron, Council Member
