The Fairfield County Legislative Caucus today called on top state transportation officials to accelerate the purchase new rail cars for 2,000 commuters and make other urgent transportation improvements that the legislature authorized last year.
The area legislators expressed great concern over this winter's shortage of commuter rail cars, frequent train cancellations and overcrowded rail cars as a result of cold weather and aging equipment. In a letter to state Transportation Commissioner James F. Byrnes, Jr., and Transportation Strategy Board Chairman R. Nelson "Oz" Griebel, the legislators said, "The fact that 30% of the existing aging cars are out of service is unacceptable. "
The legislators said, "We are greatly concerned that there is inadequate attention being paid to the very grave transportation problems in southwest Connecticut. By every measure (traffic volume, fatalities, injuries), traffic challenges are far worse in southwest Connecticut than in other areas of the state. We ask that you promptly move to address this issue."
The legislators also demanded action to expand parking at train stations and speed up the progress of long-running construction projects on I-95.
"Parking must be greatly expanded," they said. "We recognize that parking has been expanded at the Stamford station and plans are in place for expansion at Fairfield. However, additional parking is needed at virtually all the other stops."
They added, "The problems caused by the construction on I-95 should be addressed by accelerating I-95 improvements construction."
The text of the letter follows:
Re: Southwest Connecticut
Dear Jim and Oz:
We are greatly concerned that there is inadequate attention being paid to the very grave transportation problems in southwest Connecticut. By every measure (traffic volume, fatalities, injuries) traffic challenges are far worse in southwest Connecticut than in other areas of the state. We ask that you promptly move to address this through the following:
(1) Rail Cars - The Transportation Strategy Board mandates and requires that you acquire and put into service 2,000 additional rail seats. There are equipment, engineering and design problems in achieving this but these must be overcome. The fact that 30% of the existing aging cars are out of service is unacceptable.
(2) Parking at Railroad Stations - Parking must be greatly expanded. We recognize that parking has been expanded at the Stamford station and plans are in place for expansion at Fairfield. However, additional parking is needed at virtually all the other stops. If each town blocks parking through a "NIMBY" approach we will never achieve increased parking and expanded rail usage.
(3) Breakdown Lane - The breakdown lane should not be used for travel. This lane is for disabled vehicles and they will have nowhere to go and will cause even more problems if this lane is not available. Second, fire, police and emergency medical services need the breakdown lane to access accidents and save lives. Third, the breakdown lane is presently linked with exits and entrance ramps, with the result that using the breakdown lane would lead to the dreaded "X" maneuver, whereby cars traveling in the breakdown lane would cross with the traffic using the entrance and exit ramps.
(4) I-95 - The problems caused by the construction on I-95 should be addressed by accelerating I-95 improvements construction.
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