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Fast-Tracking New Rail Cars
Legislators ask state to accelerate Metro-North solutions
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Business New Haven
2/16/2004
By: BNH
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STAMFORD - In an effort to ameliorate service delays and breakdowns stemming from Metro-North's aging fleet of passenger coaches, a number of legislators from New Haven and Fairfield counties have asked the state to accelerate purchasing new rail cars for some 2,000 commuters.
In a letter to state transportation officials, 42 lawmakers also seek to create more parking at train stations and faster progress on long-term construction projects on I-95.
About 30 percent of cars on Metro-North's New Haven line have been sidelined in recent weeks as a result of cold weather, snowfall and age-related deterioration. The problems have resulted in crowded conditions and frequent train cancellations.
"We are greatly concerned that there is inadequate attention being paid to the very grave transportation problems in southwest Connecticut," the letter asserts.
The 20 new rail cars would cost about $59 million. State officials have said they hoped to order the new equipment some time during 2004, but were trying to make up a funding gap of about $10 million.
House Speaker Moira K. Lyons (D-146) of Stamford said funding was available for more parking at train stations, but some towns have resisted such projects, citing concerns over traffic congestion.
The new rail cars would not begin operating for two years after the order is placed, officials said. The 20 new cars would represent only a fraction of the 343 cars in the New Haven fleet, a majority of which are roughly three decades old.
In addition, Gov. John G. Rowland's proposed budget is seeking a 5.5-percent fare increase for riders on Metro-North and the Shore Line East Railroads.
Slated to take effect July 1, the fare hike would be the second in two years, last year's being a 15-percent jump, according to the Connecticut Rail Commuter Council (CRCC), which has lobbied state lawmakers for funding for improved commuter rail equipment, including passenger coaches.
About 180 new train cars are on the way for the Hudson and Harlem lines in New York, and efforts are under way to accelerate the purchase of another 120 cars for those lines.
Jim Cameron, vice chairman of the CRCC, blamed the legislature for not providing the money for new train cars.
Cameron's group planned a transportation summit for February 14 at Norwalk City Hall (after this edition of BNH went to press). Harry Harris, chief of the state Department of Transportation's Bureau of Public Transportation, was to receive public comments and answer questions.
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