(Naugatuck - March 20, 1997): Petitions bearing the signatures of almost 500 riders were presented Thurs. evening to local State Representatives and Senators in the Waterbury area, calling on them to save commuter rail service on the Waterbury branch line of Metro North.

The presentation came at the monthly meeting of the Commuter Rail Council which was held in a packed meeting room at Naugatuck town hall. Representatives of Conn. Dept. of Transportation as well as the lawmakers heard comments from scores of riders angry over Governor Rowland’s proposed elimination of rail service on the Waterbury, Danbury and Shore Line East lines.

"The real issue is the gasoline tax," said Vice Chmn. Jim Cameron. "If lawmakers in Hartford have the guts, they’ll stand up against efforts to cut the tax and instead explain to drivers that those funds pay for the D.O.T, the State Police, the DMV and our rail service. Other states like NY and NJ pay those costs out of the general fund or thru highway tolls. That’s why their gas prices may appear to be lower."

"If the gasoline tax cut was lessened by one penny, none of these cuts in rail service would be necessary. Can anyone argue that drivers can’t afford a penny a gallon to support mass transit?" asked Cameron.

At a separate hearing Thurs. evening in Danbury dozens of other riders told lawmakers to support all three rail lines slated for closure under the Rowland budget. Appearing at both meeting, Cameron told concerned riders that they need to reach out to their lawmakers now and tell them "not just to save ‘my’ train, but to save all of our commuter rail in Connecticut."

• 30 -