METRO NORTH NEW HAVEN RAIL COMMUTER COUNCIL

(Established in 1985 under Connecticut Public Act 85-239, now Sections 13b-212b and -212c

of the Connecticut General Statutes)

www.trainweb.org/ct

 

MINUTES OF JANUARY 19, 2005 MEETING

AT UNION STATION

NEW HAVEN CT

 

The meeting began at 6:00 p.m.

 

Present were:  Chairman Rodney Chabot, Vice Chairman Jim Cameron; Bob Jelley, Lee Carlson, Joe McGee and Peter Marcuse, Council; Eugene Colonese and Joe Kanell, Metro North; Capt. McKenna, Metro North Police; Carl Bard, Jim Boice, Peter Richter, Jr., Mike Donnarumma and Carmine Trotta, CT DOT; Sue Prosi, SWRPA; Bob Levy, Rideworks; Steve Gazillo, Washington Group Int.; Jerry Carney, Concessions; and Al Song, member of the public.

 

The Minutes of the December 15, 2004 meeting were approved.

 

MAIN LINE

 

Peter Richter reported that during the previous week all morning peak trains had, on average, their full number of cars.  He also reported that only seventy-seven cars were out of service.  He also reported that thirty-two pairs of cars have now completed rehabilitation.

 

Gene Colonese reported that the December on-time record was 95.7% and that it was 95.4% for all of 2004, down from 96.4% in 2003.  The drop in 2004 was caused by the severe 2004 winter. 

 

SHORE LINE EAST

 

Mr. Richter reported that twenty-six Virginia cars are now in the possession of DOT.  Ten of them are available for service on Shore Line East, and eight of them are being used in the daily train sets.  As a result, eight Bombardier cars from Shore Line East have been transferred to Metro North.  He also reported that DOT has reached an agreement in principal with Amtrak to lease eight used Amtrak diesel locomotives, with an option to purchase them.  These are locomotives that have been in recent service, but some changes are required before they can be used in Connecticut. 

 

Mr. Richter reported that the State Street station public address system had been looked at and that there are no problems with it.  He also said that he and Jim Boice were talking with Rideworks about its hours of operation and ability to transmit announcements. 

 

Jim Cameron asked about the State e-mail system which is to give subscribers information about delays on highways and railroads.  He was told that it would be run by DOT and that it will be possible to subscribe to only those portions that the subscriber is interested in.

 

Bob Jelley raised the issue of an announcement about a delayed Shore Line East morning train the previous day.  He said that as a result of the announcement at the Guilford station, a number of commuters went back to their cars and drove, rather than waiting ten minutes for the train.  Mr. Jelley expressed the view that if the reason for the delay (a late Acela train) had been given, there would have been greater confidence that the delay would be short.  There was further discussion of the desirability and ability to give reasons for delays. 

 

WATERBURY BRANCH

 

Mr. Richter said that the December Waterbury on-time performance was 95.5%, with no bus substitutions. 

 

DANBURY BRANCH

 

Mr. Richter reported the December on time performance 97.5 % with no bus substitutions.  He announced that Steve Gazillo will do a presentation about possible expansion and/or re-electrification of the Danbury branch at a later meeting. 

 

Mr. Boice reported that bonds will be sold in February to pay for a study of the three branch lines. 

 

NEW CANAAN BRANCH

 

Mr. Richter reported that December on-time performance was 98% with three bus substitutions.  He also reported that there will be shortly, two weekends with busing in order to permit the upgrading of a signal. 

 

STAMFORD STATION

 

Mr. Boice reported that the taxi queue was working fine.  He also reported that by his observation, the cleaning supplies in the overpass from the new garage were caused by the cleaner being on break. 

 

Sue Prosi reported that there is a drainage problem from I-95 into the bus area adjacent to the station during heavy rain. 

 

FLEET REPLACEMENT AND FUNDING

 

Carl Bard reported that the Governor’s budget proposal will be issued on February 9.  In answer to a question, he reported that the DOT’s proposal is to purchase 340 cars was to replace the 240 M-2s in the existing fleet, creating a net increase of 100 cars for additional service. 

 

FARE INCREASE

 

Gene Colonese reported that MTA had approved the miscellaneous items, like higher on-board fares and reverse peak trains in the morning.  Mr. Bard and Mr. Boice reported that Connecticut DOT had also approved those items, effective March 1, 2005.  There was some discussion of the DOT’s failure to give notice of its approval. 

 

NEW MAINTENANCE SHOPS

 

Mr. Bard reported that DOT was working on the final design for an interim new shop with space for twelve cars.  The plan is to then update the interim shop in six or seven years.  DOT expects the interim shop bidding to be this spring, with completion in 18 months. 

 

OTHER OLD BUSINESS

 

Jim Cameron reported that Richard Stowe of New Canaan had been pushing before the legislature for conversion of the New Haven line from catenary to third rail.  He expressed concern that some members of the legislature might buy this idea.  Mr. Bard reported that along with all of the other problems of third rail, a wider track area is required, so that installation of third rail would require all stations to be rebuilt.  He said that the DOT had commented about that to the legislature. 

 

Mr. Bard said that he will try to have a Policy and Planning report for the council each month.  Carmine Trotta reported that the Rail Station Governance Study report is out.  He said that the New Haven/Hartford-Springfield commuter line study is being wrapped up.  In answer to a question, he said that the initial estimate would be that there would be 2,400 rides per day on that line, larger than  compared to the 1,600 rides per day on Shore Line East.  He said that the estimate of cost for New Haven/Hartford-Springfield rail was $263 million, which includes parking. 

 

Mr. Boice reported that there had been discussions with Amtrak about a new operating agreement between DOT and Amtrak for operating Shore Line East.  He said that Amtrak wanted an access fee 5-10 times higher than the existing access fee.  The current contract expires in June.

 

Mr. Bard, reporting on the federal transportation bill, said that things do not look good for the Northeast and the West Coast.  Connecticut highways presently get $440 million a year from the federal government, and there is fear that in a new transportation bill, in Connecticut will get less. 

 

Lee Carlson asked when the Shore Line East stations presently under construction would be completed and Mr. Bard said that Branford and Clinton will be completed in June and Guilford in August. 

 

With respect to the many complaints about unruly Wright Technical High School students, Mr. Bard and Mr. Boice had reported that they had recently ridden the train in question, the 2:51 pm weekday train out of Stamford, and the ride was uneventful. 

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

Rodney Chabot reported on the rally in Hartford today seeking more money for rail transit.  He said that 200 people were there.  Governor Rell had sent a message saying that she believes that Connecticut needs a voice on the MTA Board. 

 

Mr. Bard said that it was his view that he, along with Jim Boice and Peter Richter, have accomplished a lot in four months.  He said that their primary purpose is to improve things on the railroad.  He suggested his view that it was important for the DOT people and the rail council to work together and not to criticize each other. 

 

The meeting adjourned at about 7:45 p.m.  The next meeting will be in the Graybar building (420 Lexington Ave.) in New York City adjacent to Grand Central Terminal on February 16, 2005 at 7:00 7:30 p.m.

 

Bob Jelley, Secretary

rjelley@wiggin.com  

 

 

 

\88888888\1005\514183.1