rain, fog, record warmth
Rainy day and warm. As I walked out of Whole Foods Market. As I left the market, I turned to the woman walking beside me and commented about the weather. Her reply: "I'm going to the beach tomorrow."
Stopped by Greenwich Time and Greenwich Post offices. A story about the Greenwich express train proposal appeared in the December 28th Greenwich Post. It appears below.
Greenwich Post Thursday, December 28, 2006 7A
Area man's transportation proposal could mean faster trains to New York
By Ken Borsuk
Staff Reporter
A New Canaan man's proposal could have a big impact on Greenwich Metro-North customers.
Richard Stowe, of the Rail Transportation Excellence Coalition, is advocating converting the New Canaan to Stamford shuttle services to direct, seamless service to Grand Central Terminal in New York City. He said doing this would have several advantages, including creating a "Greenwich express train" throughout the day, which would feature trips to Stamford in seven minutes and allow for trips to Grand Central in only 40 minutes. It would also connect New Canaan and Greenwich all day long.
"The Greenwich Avenue station is one of the highest passenger boarding stations on the whole Metro-North New Haven line, which is one of the most heavily patronized corridors in the nation," Mr. Stowe said. "Twice as many ride it daily than they do Amtrak national at the Greenwich station, it seems that Metro-North patronage at the Greenwich station, it seems that Metro-North should provide a quicker express service."
Mr. Stowe, a longtime transportation and environmental advocate, said converting the service would allow more people to take the trains, increasing business for Metro-North, as well as getting more cars off the already congested highways. With shorter travel times would better serve commuters and benefit area businesses.
He added the change would eliminate the need for passengers to change trains when going from Grand Central to New Canaan, which, he said, has created potential challenges for the elderly, physically disabled and those carrying luggage or packages.
"Since employees and train cars are already assigned to the New Canaan branch line, additional costs, crews and cars needed to establish the Greenwich Express train are incremental." Mr. Stowe said in a letter he had sent to Stamford Dannel Malloy and other elected representatives. "No expensive infrastructure investments are needed."
According in Mr. Stowe, his proposal has met with a lot of support wherever he's brought it. On Dec. 13, he addressed the Connecticut Commuter Rail Council, a state authorized organization representing commuters, in Bridgeport and has been invited to come back for its Jan. 17 meeting in Stamford. He said he's also gotten good feedback from the state Department of Transportation's Department of Rail.
"I'm seeing a lot of interest in this," Mr. Stowe said.
Mr. Stowe would appear to have a supporter in the legislature in State Sen. William Nickerson. Mr. Nickerson, who represents Greenwich and New Canaan, said his office receives many transportation proposals, but agreed with Mr. Stowe's call for increased service.
"We need to improve transportation services, improve scheduling and we need to build the new railroad with the new rail cars as soon as possible," Mr. Nickerson said. "It will be a benefit both to our citizens' convenience. Richard is an important part of the dialogue abut this as a transportation advocate and I certainly enjoy hearing from him."
Mr. Nickerson has made improving rail service a legislative priority and has worked with Gov. M. Jodi Rell to secure financing for new rail cars.
"The concept of providing more service on Metro-North is one I certainly support," Mr. Nickerson said. "There's no question that the future of transportation in Fairfield County is train service and not just from Fairfield to New York City, but in the growing trend of people from New York City to the job centers in Stamford and Greenwich."
More information about the Rail Transportation Excellence Coalition is available by calling 966-4387 or e-mailing bike.rail.politics@gmail.com.
kbosuk@acorn-online.com
Stopped by Greenwich Time and Greenwich Post offices. A story about the Greenwich express train proposal appeared in the December 28th Greenwich Post. It appears below.
Greenwich Post Thursday, December 28, 2006 7A
Area man's transportation proposal could mean faster trains to New York
By Ken Borsuk
Staff Reporter
A New Canaan man's proposal could have a big impact on Greenwich Metro-North customers.
Richard Stowe, of the Rail Transportation Excellence Coalition, is advocating converting the New Canaan to Stamford shuttle services to direct, seamless service to Grand Central Terminal in New York City. He said doing this would have several advantages, including creating a "Greenwich express train" throughout the day, which would feature trips to Stamford in seven minutes and allow for trips to Grand Central in only 40 minutes. It would also connect New Canaan and Greenwich all day long.
"The Greenwich Avenue station is one of the highest passenger boarding stations on the whole Metro-North New Haven line, which is one of the most heavily patronized corridors in the nation," Mr. Stowe said. "Twice as many ride it daily than they do Amtrak national at the Greenwich station, it seems that Metro-North patronage at the Greenwich station, it seems that Metro-North should provide a quicker express service."
Mr. Stowe, a longtime transportation and environmental advocate, said converting the service would allow more people to take the trains, increasing business for Metro-North, as well as getting more cars off the already congested highways. With shorter travel times would better serve commuters and benefit area businesses.
He added the change would eliminate the need for passengers to change trains when going from Grand Central to New Canaan, which, he said, has created potential challenges for the elderly, physically disabled and those carrying luggage or packages.
"Since employees and train cars are already assigned to the New Canaan branch line, additional costs, crews and cars needed to establish the Greenwich Express train are incremental." Mr. Stowe said in a letter he had sent to Stamford Dannel Malloy and other elected representatives. "No expensive infrastructure investments are needed."
According in Mr. Stowe, his proposal has met with a lot of support wherever he's brought it. On Dec. 13, he addressed the Connecticut Commuter Rail Council, a state authorized organization representing commuters, in Bridgeport and has been invited to come back for its Jan. 17 meeting in Stamford. He said he's also gotten good feedback from the state Department of Transportation's Department of Rail.
"I'm seeing a lot of interest in this," Mr. Stowe said.
Mr. Stowe would appear to have a supporter in the legislature in State Sen. William Nickerson. Mr. Nickerson, who represents Greenwich and New Canaan, said his office receives many transportation proposals, but agreed with Mr. Stowe's call for increased service.
"We need to improve transportation services, improve scheduling and we need to build the new railroad with the new rail cars as soon as possible," Mr. Nickerson said. "It will be a benefit both to our citizens' convenience. Richard is an important part of the dialogue abut this as a transportation advocate and I certainly enjoy hearing from him."
Mr. Nickerson has made improving rail service a legislative priority and has worked with Gov. M. Jodi Rell to secure financing for new rail cars.
"The concept of providing more service on Metro-North is one I certainly support," Mr. Nickerson said. "There's no question that the future of transportation in Fairfield County is train service and not just from Fairfield to New York City, but in the growing trend of people from New York City to the job centers in Stamford and Greenwich."
More information about the Rail Transportation Excellence Coalition is available by calling 966-4387 or e-mailing bike.rail.politics@gmail.com.
kbosuk@acorn-online.com
posted by Richard Stowe at 5:31 PM
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