Cuts to Metro-North could impact more than commutes
By Kat Russell, Reporter
Stamford Advocate
January 22, 2018
http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/local/article/Cuts-to-Metro-North-could-impact-more-than-12516146.php
STAMFORD — For Glenbrook resident Scott Hollas, an architect who commutes daily to New York City, having a train station so nearby was one of the main reasons he and his family decided to move to the neighborhood seven years ago.
“We chose Glenbrook because of its proximity to the train station,” he said. “We only have one car for our family, so I take the train into the city and my wife uses the car, and there are many times when we would opt to take to train to the airport or to see a show in the city, and occasionally, I have to go into work on the weekend.”
But with the Connecticut Department of Transportation’s proposed fare hikes and service cuts on many of Metro North’s auxiliary lines, including the New Canaan branch that services Springdale and Glenbrook, Hollas worries those services might not be there.
“It would definitely have a negative impact on us,” he said, adding that had the proposed changes been made when he and his family were looking to move to the area, they likely would have chosen to go elsewhere.
“We rely on having some sort of public transportation that is easily accessible to us,” he said. “Had this been going on when we were looking to move, we probably would have moved to White Plains, or Norwalk, or closer to downtown Stamford where we’d have had access to the New Haven line.”
Earlier this month, the DOT announced its proposal to raise fares by 10 percent, beginning in July, followed by additional 5 percent increases in 2020 and 2021.
Additionally bus fare would increase by 25 cents, weekday off-peak rail services would be reduced on the Shoreline East, Danbury, Waterbury and New Canaan branch lines, and weekend service would be eliminated.
Since the announcement, many have expressed concern that the proposal will negatively impact local economies and property values, as well as potentially make people think twice before traveling - or moving - to Connecticut.
“Any potential cutbacks would negatively affect the Springdale area, because there are many people who utilize the train in that neighborhood,” said city Rep. Mary Fedeli (R-17), whose district covers Springdale.
“One of the things that keeps the property values consistent and makes neighborhoods like Springdale or Glenbrook desirable is the fact that you can walk to a station and jump on a train heading into the city or elsewhere in the state,” she said. “So, if that service was diminished, then yes, I believe it would have an effect on home prices or people’s desire to move into the area.”
Fedeli said the Springdale station is “heavily used,” noting there is a “huge waiting list” for permitted parking spots and the daily parking spots are always full.
And a fare increase for less service, she said, would be “ridiculous.”
In addition to the predicted rail commuter woes, some have also noted the DOT’s proposal could have a significant impact on traffic traveling on both state and city roadways.
All commuters
“If the state moves forward with this plan, more people are going to have to make their commute into the city by car or drive into Stamford or Norwalk to catch a train on the New Haven line,” said Jim Gildea, chair of the Connecticut Commuter Rail Council.
More cars on the road, Gildea said, means more traffic, longer commute times, increased air pollution and added wear and tear on roadways and bridges.
“This is something that would impact all commuters, not just those riding the trains,” Gildea said.
“If we cut train services, where are people going to go?” asked Jeff Maron, a member of the CT Commuter Rail Council and a local commuter. Maron said he could not speak on behalf of the council, however as a commuter he had plenty to say.
“They’re going to drive, which will increase traffic on the Merritt and Interstate 95,” he said. “We already don’t have enough space on the highways today, and the state has cut back on many of the projects that were supposed to repair and improve those roadways.”
Economic impact
As someone who commutes daily into New York City, Maron said his working hours do not conform to the typical 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. work day. There are many days when he takes a train into the city at 6 a.m. and doesn’t return home until late at night.
“I can’t see this having anything other than a negative impact,” he said.
“Cuts to off-peak and weekend services assume that people are working typical hours, Monday through Friday,” he said. “They’re not taking into account that those who commute on the weekends, or work night shifts, might lose their mode of transportation. And what about those who may have bought their home near a train station thinking they could take the kids into the city whenever they wanted? Now that’s being taken away from them.”
Maron said he is most concerned for those who earn lower wages, saying they will likely be hit the hardest by the change.
“For people who have very little discretionary income, between the fare increases, the federal tax increases and everything that is happening with this economy, the fact that they’re now losing access to New York during non-prime hours for working is going make things difficult,” he said.
But individual commuters aren’t the only people who are going to feel the pinch, Gildea said.
“Many of these train lines run right through downtown areas, and local and small businesses depend on those lines to bring people into the area,” he said. “If people can’t get to them, these businesses are really going to feel that impact.”
The potential impact to tourism, particularly on the Shoreline East line is also a concern, Gildea said.
“The impact on tourism is clearly going to be tremendous,” he said. “People want to go to places that are not only nice vacation spots, they also want there to be reliable and accessible transportation. And there are many businesses, particularly along the coast in the southeast part of the state, that depend on that tourism and are really going to feel the pinch as a result of the loss of services.”
“This decision is really short sighted on the part of our legislators,” he added. “Any money the service cuts save or the fare hikes raise is going to pale in comparison to the cost these changes could generate in regard to our state and local roadways and bridges, as well as the potential negative impact on local economies.”
kat.russell@stamfordadvocate.com
“We chose Glenbrook because of its proximity to the train station,” he said. “We only have one car for our family, so I take the train into the city and my wife uses the car, and there are many times when we would opt to take to train to the airport or to see a show in the city, and occasionally, I have to go into work on the weekend.”
But with the Connecticut Department of Transportation’s proposed fare hikes and service cuts on many of Metro North’s auxiliary lines, including the New Canaan branch that services Springdale and Glenbrook, Hollas worries those services might not be there.
“It would definitely have a negative impact on us,” he said, adding that had the proposed changes been made when he and his family were looking to move to the area, they likely would have chosen to go elsewhere.
“We rely on having some sort of public transportation that is easily accessible to us,” he said. “Had this been going on when we were looking to move, we probably would have moved to White Plains, or Norwalk, or closer to downtown Stamford where we’d have had access to the New Haven line.”
Earlier this month, the DOT announced its proposal to raise fares by 10 percent, beginning in July, followed by additional 5 percent increases in 2020 and 2021.
Additionally bus fare would increase by 25 cents, weekday off-peak rail services would be reduced on the Shoreline East, Danbury, Waterbury and New Canaan branch lines, and weekend service would be eliminated.
Since the announcement, many have expressed concern that the proposal will negatively impact local economies and property values, as well as potentially make people think twice before traveling - or moving - to Connecticut.
“Any potential cutbacks would negatively affect the Springdale area, because there are many people who utilize the train in that neighborhood,” said city Rep. Mary Fedeli (R-17), whose district covers Springdale.
“One of the things that keeps the property values consistent and makes neighborhoods like Springdale or Glenbrook desirable is the fact that you can walk to a station and jump on a train heading into the city or elsewhere in the state,” she said. “So, if that service was diminished, then yes, I believe it would have an effect on home prices or people’s desire to move into the area.”
Fedeli said the Springdale station is “heavily used,” noting there is a “huge waiting list” for permitted parking spots and the daily parking spots are always full.
And a fare increase for less service, she said, would be “ridiculous.”
In addition to the predicted rail commuter woes, some have also noted the DOT’s proposal could have a significant impact on traffic traveling on both state and city roadways.
All commuters
“If the state moves forward with this plan, more people are going to have to make their commute into the city by car or drive into Stamford or Norwalk to catch a train on the New Haven line,” said Jim Gildea, chair of the Connecticut Commuter Rail Council.
More cars on the road, Gildea said, means more traffic, longer commute times, increased air pollution and added wear and tear on roadways and bridges.
“This is something that would impact all commuters, not just those riding the trains,” Gildea said.
“If we cut train services, where are people going to go?” asked Jeff Maron, a member of the CT Commuter Rail Council and a local commuter. Maron said he could not speak on behalf of the council, however as a commuter he had plenty to say.
“They’re going to drive, which will increase traffic on the Merritt and Interstate 95,” he said. “We already don’t have enough space on the highways today, and the state has cut back on many of the projects that were supposed to repair and improve those roadways.”
Economic impact
As someone who commutes daily into New York City, Maron said his working hours do not conform to the typical 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. work day. There are many days when he takes a train into the city at 6 a.m. and doesn’t return home until late at night.
“I can’t see this having anything other than a negative impact,” he said.
“Cuts to off-peak and weekend services assume that people are working typical hours, Monday through Friday,” he said. “They’re not taking into account that those who commute on the weekends, or work night shifts, might lose their mode of transportation. And what about those who may have bought their home near a train station thinking they could take the kids into the city whenever they wanted? Now that’s being taken away from them.”
Maron said he is most concerned for those who earn lower wages, saying they will likely be hit the hardest by the change.
“For people who have very little discretionary income, between the fare increases, the federal tax increases and everything that is happening with this economy, the fact that they’re now losing access to New York during non-prime hours for working is going make things difficult,” he said.
But individual commuters aren’t the only people who are going to feel the pinch, Gildea said.
“Many of these train lines run right through downtown areas, and local and small businesses depend on those lines to bring people into the area,” he said. “If people can’t get to them, these businesses are really going to feel that impact.”
The potential impact to tourism, particularly on the Shoreline East line is also a concern, Gildea said.
“The impact on tourism is clearly going to be tremendous,” he said. “People want to go to places that are not only nice vacation spots, they also want there to be reliable and accessible transportation. And there are many businesses, particularly along the coast in the southeast part of the state, that depend on that tourism and are really going to feel the pinch as a result of the loss of services.”
“This decision is really short sighted on the part of our legislators,” he added. “Any money the service cuts save or the fare hikes raise is going to pale in comparison to the cost these changes could generate in regard to our state and local roadways and bridges, as well as the potential negative impact on local economies.”
kat.russell@stamfordadvocate.com
