[GeoffD]

Originally Posted by jxzz

Sure, everyone loves high ridership on public transportation like commuter rail. But CTrail should not be compared to MBTA. MBTA trains are within greater Boston metro area. CTrails are for rural suburban towns and cities, not part of NYC or Boston metro area. In CT, only Metro North are in similar situation as MBTA commuter rails. New haven or Hartford, are not Boston, nor New York city, let's be realistic about that.

As public policy, I'm a bit dubious about spending large on a low ridership system like CT Rail when the giant New Haven line is such a mess. 2,000 passengers per day is only 1,000 each way. You can do that with buses at pennies on the dollar. If there were infinite dollars in the state budget, sure. I-91 doesn't have the traffic congestion issue of I-95/Merritt. With infinite money in the budget, sure.

[RunD1987]

Not sure why they just can't toll I-95 from NY to New Haven and I-91 from Meriden to Massachusetts. Have electronic toll readers at the off ramps or on ramps.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

As public policy, I'm a bit dubious about spending large on a low ridership system like CT Rail when the giant New Haven line is such a mess. 2,000 passengers per day is only 1,000 each way. You can do that with buses at pennies on the dollar. If there were infinite dollars in the state budget, sure. I-91 doesn't have the traffic congestion issue of I-95/Merritt. With infinite money in the budget, sure.

The problems on the New Haven line are primarily due to construction issues that will go away in the near future as projects are completed and new rolling stock is implemented.

Shoreline East has also seen these issues. It’s ridership was much higher (I believe double that) and growing before that. It will be the same with CTrail. It starts out low and builds with time. Give it time. Jay

[jxzz]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

As public policy, I'm a bit dubious about spending large on a low ridership system like CT Rail when the giant New Haven line is such a mess. 2,000 passengers per day is only 1,000 each way. .

Bus is not train. There were also report of Hartford Line rejecting U-PASS riders last year. CTrail Hartford Line does not sounds like "empty trains". I rode it twice to Springfield, not empty either in both times.

Disagree with the statement that Metro North New Haven line is "mess". MNR trains are now 5 to 10 minutes slower, but mostly on time. I am not going to complain about 50 minutes verses 1 hour ride between Stamford/New Haven. I am happy with the experience and job opportunities it opens up.

You sounds like trying to pit Fairfield county against rest of CT state. There is no need for that. There are only 30% of CT population live in fairfield county, the rail infrastructure of CT is going to work for all CT residents equitably. CTrail is great for that working for majority of residents across state.

Having said that, I do think CT is putting MNR as top priority over other two CTrail lines. M8 trains designed for SLE went to NNR new haven line because of ridership surge, which it should be. The priority is obvious, MNR first, SLE next, HL last, that makes sense too on ridership and economic importance.

Fairfield county highways, road, bridges, and in CT generals road/bridges are in mess, that I agree. It would probably cost a fortune for CT to repair/replace them. In the meantime, CTrail provides alternative to car driving that all the rest of CT residents, majority of CT new englanders who live outside of Fairfield county would enjoy, this is extremely important.

From past posts, it seems that you are from MA. It is obviously MA has Boston centered mind set on infrastructure while western mass almost get nothing on rails. In comparison, CT has balanced approach across all regions of CT equitably. We do not have NYC centered or fairfield county centered mind set on rails, which is great.

[JGBigGreen]

How often do you ride MNR? I used to take it into Manhattan from New Haven 4-5 times a month and delays were very common- far more common than MNR's own reported rate. Maybe the on-time rate is better for daily commuters?



I've moved away but was just back up for business and took the train from GCT to NH. There was a 50 minute delay spent just sitting on the track.

Originally Posted by jxzz

Bus is not train. There were also report of Hartford Line rejecting U-PASS riders last year. CTrail Hartford Line does not sounds like "empty trains". I rode it twice to Springfield, not empty either in both times.

Disagree with the statement that Metro North New Haven line is "mess". MNR trains are now 5 to 10 minutes slower, but mostly on time. I am not going to complain about 50 minutes verses 1 hour ride between Stamford/New Haven. I am happy with the experience and job opportunities it opens up.

You sounds like trying to pit Fairfield county against rest of CT state. There is no need for that. There are only 30% of CT population live in fairfield county, the rail infrastructure of CT is going to work for all CT residents equitably. CTrail is great for that working for majority of residents across state.

Having said that, I do think CT is putting MNR as top priority over other two CTrail lines. M8 trains designed for SLE went to NNR new haven line because of ridership surge, which it should be. The priority is obvious, MNR first, SLE next, HL last, that makes sense too on ridership and economic importance.

Fairfield county highways, road, bridges, and in CT generals road/bridges are in mess, that I agree. It would probably cost a fortune for CT to repair/replace them. In the meantime, CTrail provides alternative to car driving that all the rest of CT residents, majority of CT new englanders who live outside of Fairfield county would enjoy, this is extremely important.

From past posts, it seems that you are from MA. It is obviously MA has Boston centered mind set on infrastructure while western mass almost get nothing on rails. In comparison, CT does not. We do not have NYC centered or fairfield county centered mind set on rails, which is great.

[jxzz]

Every week over past three years. 1 year, 4 days week from New Haven to GCT, recently two years, 3 times a week round trip from New Haven to Stamford. The delay of 20 minutes or more was rare in memory.

Originally Posted by JGBigGreen

How often do you ride MNR? I used to take it into Manhattan from New Haven 4-5 times a month and delays were very common- far more common than MNR's own reported rate. Maybe the on-time rate is better for daily commuters?



I've moved away but was just back up for business and took the train from GCT to NH. There was a 50 minute delay spent just sitting on the track.

[jxzz]

Originally Posted by RunD1987

Not sure why they just can't toll I-95 from NY to New Haven and I-91 from Meriden to Massachusetts. Have electronic toll readers at the off ramps or on ramps.

The latest plan from Lamont is for tolls on 18 CT bridges. No tolls on highways.

[OyCrumbler]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

As public policy, I'm a bit dubious about spending large on a low ridership system like CT Rail when the giant New Haven line is such a mess. 2,000 passengers per day is only 1,000 each way. You can do that with buses at pennies on the dollar. If there were infinite dollars in the state budget, sure. I-91 doesn't have the traffic congestion issue of I-95/Merritt. With infinite money in the budget, sure.

The line has only been in existence for about sixteen months and it takes time to make people aware of this as an option and work it into their commute or just in general. In the meantime, it’s driven some transit-oriented development which has made some of the communities along that line attractive to some and will likely build up even more ridership as time goes by.

The Hartford Line also has two ancillary benefits for MNR riders. The more direct one is that there is now an easy and frequent single-transfer trip for people living off of MNR stations to get to stations off of the Hartford Line. The other is that by having more of the state have usable rail service, voters in those areas would be more likely to support improving rail transport and mass transit in general.

CT also has a potentially good thing going in that M8s eventually making their way to SLE means that the current SLE rolling stock can be taken out of service without disruption and being given a refurbishing to be put on the Hartford Line. It’s nice.

[jxzz]

Originally Posted by OyCrumbler

The line has only been in existence for about sixteen months and it takes time to make people aware of this as an option and work it into their commute or just in general. In the meantime, it’s driven some transit-oriented development which has made some of the communities along that line attractive to some and will likely build up even more ridership as time goes by.

The Hartford Line also has two ancillary benefits for MNR riders. The more direct one is that there is now an easy and frequent single-transfer trip for people living off of MNR stations to get to stations off of the Hartford Line. The other is that by having more of the state have usable rail service, voters in those areas would be more likely to support improving rail transport and mass transit in general.

CT also has a potentially good thing going in that M8s eventually making their way to SLE means that the current SLE rolling stock can be taken out of service without disruption and being given a refurbishing to be put on the Hartford Line. It’s nice.

transit-oriented development is big. There is trickle down economics working here. Without train, there is no way for most CT residents outside fairfield county to work in Stamford for 9-5 jobs. i-95, Merritt Parkway or any local road in fairfield county is totally messed up in weekday rush hours. 15 minutes drive can easily becomes 45 minutes to 1 hour drive.

With MNR trains, + 2 CTrails, folks in CT along the rail lines can look for jobs in fairfield county on trains. Why not? the salary is generally higher, the cost of housing from New Haven - New London- Hartford along rail lines are cheaper.

It is very difficult to convince a business to relocate office from Manhattan to New Haven, but a lot easier to Stamford and CT has large pool of talents too along the three rail lines that can fill new jobs.

[JP Nutmegger]

Originally Posted by jxzz

The latest plan from Lamont is for tolls on 18 CT bridges. No tolls on highways.

You put those tolls on bridges, and you can bet your bottom dollar (if taxes don't take 83 cents of it) that tolls on highways will follow soon thereafter. Give them an inch... And, like the "temporary" state income tax, they won't be temporary until the bridges are rehabbed or rebuilt. Plenty of wasteful spending that can be cut elsewhere, but I digress.