Minutes  -  June 20, 2001
     SACIA, Stamford

1.  Minutes of the May Meeting were approved.

OLD BUSINESS:

2.  Lynda Pantalena of Amtrak, slated to report on the status of the Solari
boards in the New Haven station tunnel, did not attend. Mike Donnarumma of
CDOT advised the Council that, while the boards are now operative, Ms.
Pantalena is doing further programming to assure their dependability.  

3.  With the interim completion of rock work necessitated by the recent
rockslide, Shore Line East service in May was 88.03 percent on time.  But
periods of single-track operation during this repair reduced ridership by .5
percent, to 1,093 from the year-to-date average of 1,161.  Further rock work
on the other side of the tracks is slated for November.  Chairman Chabot
voiced the hope that ridership would recover, and it was pointed out that the
Summer beach season may help in this regard.

Attendee Scott Crosby contended that trainmen's use of footstools to aid
passengers in boarding and debarking prolonged station stops, but Mr. Chabot
indicated that this situation will be remedied when elevated platforms are in
place.          

3.  Waterbury Branch Line service was 95 percent on time during May, Eugene
Colonese reported, and there were only nine equipment failures.  Weekend
ridership was also improved, he indicated.  On the matter of equipment
serving Waterbury, it was reported that this will be abetted with the
delivery of new Genesis engines by yearend (Mr. Chabot says the number is
four, but "nine" was  cited by the speaker).

4.  Because media people were drawn to the meeting primarily by the issue of
"quiet cars" - those free of cellular phone use and other noises distracting
to riders desiring privacy - Mr. Chabot moved this matter up for early
discussion.  He cited the use of such cars on European railroads, their
availability on some Amtrak trains, and the public support generated by the
Council's interest this issue.  While not stonewalling the discussion, Metro
North representatives made it clear that the railroad has no present
intention even to experiment with such cars.  George Okvat, deputy director
of Metro North customer service, cited a survey which, he contended, showed
only 28.9 percent of riders as favoring restrictions on cellphone use. 
Besides, he alleged, inconsiderate use of such phones on trains is declining.

Supported by most Council members, Joe McGee of SACIA held that phone

use is indeed rising and that passengers' resentment of riders making one phone call
after another on trains is increasing.  Mr. Chabot underscored this by
reading a letter (from E. T. Cloonan, vice president, American International
Group, Inc.), stressing that phone use is the prime source of passenger rage
at a time when, along with loud talk, "over-all behavior is deteriorating" on
trains.  Quiet cars on Metro North trains will be quickly filled, he added. 
Besides just taking tickets, he noted, conductors should be asking people to
take feet off seats and carry their litter off trains with them.  Mr. Okvat
said Metro North is planning public address announcements and publicity to
encourage riders to be more considerate.  Stephanie Harwood introduced a
motion from Vice Chairman Jim Cameron empowering him to ask Metro North at

an upcoming meeting to put "a quiet car" on all Metro North trains.  The motion
was seconded and approved 6 to 3 by Council members.  

5.  Buses were substituted for trains three times during May on the Danbury
Branch Line, it was reported.  Harry Harris cited CDOT's budget problems
relating to the installation of Centralized Traffic Control on the line. 
Under CDOT's specs, which included "cut-and-cover" procedures at crossings,
he said, the lowest bid was about $6 million over the budgeted amount.  So
the scope proposal is being re-drafted, he added, and new bids will be sought
over the Summer.  If they come in high, CTC installation may have to be
deferred in favor of other budget needs. 

Mr. Crosby contended that the use of push-pull engines on the Danbury Branch
is necessitating the shortening of trains.  If the loop in Grand Central
Terminal were used, he said, engines could pull longer trains in both
directions. Citing the present seven-car trains, as needed now, spokespeople
for Metro North disputed this allegation. 

6.  Reporting on the status of the Stamford Station repair, Mr. Harris said
that en route to the meeting he found one of the station elevators
inoperative.  Out-of-service escalators remain a common problem, Council
Member Jeff Maron, a Stamford com-muter, added.  Member Peter Myers suggested

that CDOT take a tougher stance with suppliers by threatening not to purchase their

products in the future if existing units are not made more dependable. 

The contract for construction of the added garage has been let, the center
island project is "reasonably close to schedule," interior work is
progressing, and the elevators and escalators at the east end of the
platforms are approaching completion, Mr. Harris said.

Reconstruction of the tunnel will take three or four months, Mr. Harris
added, with final completion of the entire project anticipated by February,
2003.  It is not within the original budget, Mr. Harris said, because of cost
overruns and contractor claims.

7.  The long awaited station kiosks, recommended by the Council, are still in
limbo without finalized design, Jon Foster conceded.  No timetable exists,
but they will be incorporated into the Darien and State Street stations when
these are completed.

8.  Mr. Chabot thanked Council members and CDOT and Metro North
representatives who participated in the "Meet the Commuter Day" May 23 at
the Bridgeport Station.  Three issues raised were (1) the odor emanating from
restrooms on Waterbury Line trains (a problem linked to strong cleaning
compounds used) and (2) a shortage of seats for those boarding evening trains
from Stamford, and (3) the adequacy of reverse commute service from
Bridgeport to New Haven. 

9.  Legislative Update:  slated for State Senate budgetary approval during
the week of June 25, the proposed Transportation Strategy Board is awaiting
its initial $50 million allocation, which will cover extension of Shore Line
East service west of New Haven; added bus service (including buses from
Danbury to Golden's Bridge on Metro North's Harlem Division), and commuter
service to Springfield.  Decisions on board staffing are also due.

10. The Darien Station renovation is progressing toward April, 2002,
completion, with the elevator shaft at the east end of the platform now under
construction.  Mr. Chabot voiced the hope that platform canopies would extend
to the elevators.  Late night work will be required for canopy installation,
Mr. Donnarumma said, and this will necessitate some two-way use of platforms
to accommodate use of the crane on one platform as a time.

OTHER OLD BUSINESS.    In response to a question about the status of catenary 

work, Mr. Harris asked that this be made a topic for the September meeting, so that

he may have the opportunity to prepare a comprehensive report.  Mr. Myers noted that

railroad underpasses in Milford are often flooded at times of heavy rain, and asked

that this problem be addressed.

NEW BUSINESS:

1.  The scheduled subject of the May 22-23 New Canaan Branch Line shutdown
was largely pre-empted by review of the June 18 evening delays precipitated
by downed catenary.  The Council website received messages about poor Metro
North communication, but Moe Kiniry said Metro North itself received only 15
telephone complaints.  Station announcements did not reach those waiting on
trains during the delay, Mr. Colonese conceded, and this is an issue Metro
North is addressing for the future.  Metro North people said detection
equipment does not exist which can pick up flaws such as that which caused
the Cos Cob catenary breakdown.
The May disruption on the New Canaan line resulted from the fall of a 75-foot
tree not on railroad property, Mr. Colonese said.

2.  Mr. Harris reviewed plans for station construction on Shore Line East.
Towns have approved the design, he said, and the $30 million construction
project will begin next year and continue for two years.  CDOT is currently
"taking a hard look" at the adequacy of parking, he said, and with the goal
of tripling parking spaces has recently acquired a lot in Old Saybrook. 
Opening in January, the State Street Station will serve Shore Line East and
also be the termination for some Metro North trains, he added.

3.  Based on the complaint of a Mr. Farrell, there was a discussion of the
handling of longer trains making stops at stations with six-car-length
platforms.  There can be no standing formula for longer trains, Mr. Colonese
said, but conductors should make numerous announcements during the ride for
the benefit of passengers debarking at such stations.
     
4.  There being no floor nominees, election of 2001-2002 officers was by
acclamation:  Rodney Chabot, chairman; Jim Cameron, vice-chairman, and Jim
Mohs, secretary.

OTHER NEW BUSINESS:

 

Council Member Carl Leaman questioned why the pending Metro North budget

includes funds for a High Bridge Yard, which is part of the multi-billion dollar project

to give the Long Island Railroad access to Grand Central Terminal.  That plan, not

yet approved or budgeted, is opposed by knowledgeable Connecticut and Westchester

County residents as a non-essential intrusion on their future terminal needs.  Mr.

Leaman did not receive a clear answer to his question.     

Mr. Harris asked Council aid in finalizing the re-design of the ten bar cars
Connecticut owns.  He has in the past indicated that these cars might also
serve as coffee cars on their morning runs.  But he asks: should they be
contoured like Metroliner café cars with table seating, or be designed
primarily to allow room for service to standees?  Members agreed that the
present long bars aren't needed with the single bartender.  Mr. Chabot
appointed Members Peter Millard and Jeff Maron to serve as a subcommittee to
work with Mr. Harris on this project.

Mr. Crosby questioned a Mileposts article referring to Metro North's "four
tracks between New York and New Haven," as one of the tracks from Milford to
New Haven was removed several years ago.  With Acela service needs and the
proposed Orange or West Haven station, he asked if the track shouldn't be
replaced.  While this is not presently budgeted, Mr. Harris conceded that the
track would, in all likelihood, ultimately have to be replaced.

With sincere thanks to Council members, CDOT and Metro North
representatives,
              

Respectfully submitted,

Edward H. Zimmerman
Secretary

 

 

In Attendance

Rodney Chabot, Chairman            

Edward Zimmerman, Secretary    

Jim Mohs, Council member
Peter S. Myers, Council member       
Jeff Maron, Council member

Stephanie Harwood, Council Member
Carl Leaman, Council Member
Peter Millard, Council member

Joe McGee, SACIA, Council Member

Harry Harris, CDOT             

Jon M. Foster, CDOT        

Dennis M. Murphy, CDOT         

John Tierney, Transit Center
Mike Donnarumma, CDOT          

Eugene J. Colonese, Metro North    

George Okvat, Metro North      
Ted Bowen, Metro North         

Moe Kiniry, Metro North        

Scott Crosby, Noroton Heights            
Larry Schwartz, Weston 
Scott Griswold, WICC
Tandi Wilder, National Public Radio
Joe McGee, SACIA, Council Member   

Naomi Starobin, National Public Radio      
James O'Keefe, The Advocate
Lisa Braxton, News 12, Cablevision