Free Daily Headlines :

  • COVID-19
  • Vaccine Info
  • Money
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Health
  • Justice
  • More
    • Environment
    • Economic Development
    • Gaming
    • Investigations
    • Social Services
    • TRANSPORTATION
  • Opinion
    • CT Viewpoints
    • CT Artpoints
DONATE
Reflecting Connecticut’s Reality.
    COVID-19
    Vaccine Info
    Money
    Politics
    Education
    Health
    Justice
    More
    Environment
    Economic Development
    Gaming
    Investigations
    Social Services
    TRANSPORTATION
    Opinion
    CT Viewpoints
    CT Artpoints

LET�S GET SOCIAL

Show your love for great stories and out standing journalism
CT VIEWPOINTS -- opinions from around Connecticut

The elephant in the Metro-North station

  • CT Viewpoints
  • by David Moyer
  • January 20, 2021
  • View as "Clean Read" "Exit Clean Read"

Long train, few riders

All over the world, businesses are discussing their revised needs for space as a result of the pandemic. White-collar professionals who have successfully adapted to working from home will have, when they do go to their companies’ offices, fewer of them, with less square footage. Exactly how much is still a matter of debate since the post-pandemic habits of and requirements for in-person face time are still in flux. One thing’s for certain. It isn’t going to increase.

David Moyer

I commuted to New York City from suburban Westchester County, N.Y. and several different towns in Connecticut for decades on Metro-North. Despite the image of “Dashing Dan,” the harried Long Island Railroad commuter and the reality of cold platforms on snowy mornings, late trains and iffy heat, I loved it. Before cellphones and laptops took over I read the Times and Journal on the way in and Shakespeare, Freud and Nelson DeMille on the way out. I napped on the late trains and occasionally drank in the bar car. It was a great way to prepare for the work day ahead and decompress from the day behind. There were unwritten codes (no talking in the morning) and protocols (the order in which seats would be taken) and a culture of shared experience. I walked to the station, so my automobile rarely moved from Sunday night to Saturday morning. My carbon footprint was tiny.

Over time, I paid more attention to transit policy and developments. I cheered when Metro-North added service, most of which was quickly matched with increased ridership. I longed for extension of service to tracks beyond current terminals. I debated the pros and cons of capital projects.

But after February 2020, I took only one trip on Metro-North, during the July trough in COVID cases. The few other times I went to NYC I drove, which I normally loathe. Whole years go by when my tires never touch Manhattan. I’m not alone of course. Our town’s train station has 200 parking spaces. I pass it frequently and the highest number of cars I’ve seen parked there over the past ten months is six.

This is the Danbury line, a spur off the main New Haven line. It isn’t electrified, it’s slow, there’s only one track for most of its 24-mile length and it serves just seven stations. The state tried to close it some years ago as route “Super 7” was being designed along a largely parallel route. I like the line and have defended it in conversations. Super 7 wasn’t built and the DBL lives on.

But now there’s an elephant in the room and its name is low ridership. The money that’s been poured into this and other spur lines let the state increase the number of daily trains and those that ran direct to Grand Central. Welcome changes but now frighteningly expensive, especially for a state whose financial condition is poor. Will CT Rail continue to run three-car and seven-car consists, as they do now, for only a handful of passengers? Should it pay a conductor to collect fewer tickets than cover his wages for the trip? Why does a locomotive burning two gallons of diesel fuel each mile get high environmental marks when that consumption is only divided among a dozen passengers? The state runs buses along much of the route as well, why do both? It would be cheaper to send an Uber for every passenger. Heck, at this rate, it would be cheaper to send stretch limos!

I don’t want to see the branch lines abandoned. Reducing frequency of service past a certain point kills ridership disproportionately. But Connecticut shouldn’t keep pouring money into long trains and excess staff. Politicians who want to save money are usually accused of wanting to cut programs altogether. Keeping services but making them more efficient gets only lip service. This is the time to make some decisions on the state’s thinly used passenger rail lines.

“Let’s wait and see how much ridership recovers post-pandemic” is a dodge, and an expensive one. It’ll be tough to negotiate with unions regarding more rational staffing. There may be technical issues as well as capital costs to using one-car self-propelled trains. Critics will raise “safety issues” without regard to cost per life saved, perspective or reason. But every candidate runs on a platform of “being able to make tough decisions” so let’s call them on it.

The tough decision that would serve Connecticut residents and taxpayers best would be more frequent trains, that are a lot smaller, staffed by fewer people. But at this point, I’d settle for them being able to have tough discussions. Our train stations are ghost towns, with the only occupant a pachyderm who the governor and legislators are pretending isn’t there.

David Moyer lives in Wilton.

CTViewpoints welcomes rebuttal or opposing views to this and all its commentaries. Read our guidelines and submit your commentary here.

Sign up for CT Mirror's free daily news summary.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

SEE WHAT READERS SAID

RELATED STORIES
Connecticut should work to reduce rates of inmate calling services 
by David Lamendola

Many telecommunications issues are really complicated and only interesting to a handful of policy-oriented folks. But once in a while an issue arises that has easily understandable implications for all of society. High rates for inmate calling services (ICS) is one of these issues. The way it usually works is that an incarcerated person make collect calls from detention facilities, and their family pays the bill. Unfortunately, some providers charge extremely high rates for these calls – a 15 minute phone call to a loved one costs an incarcerated person $5 in Connecticut.

The public health bill no one is talking about, but should be
by Brian Festa

On February 16,  the legislature's Public Health Committee conducted a public hearing on two bills, S.B. 568 and H.B. 6423, both of which would eliminate the religious exemption to mandatory vaccinations for Connecticut schoolchildren.  The hearing was capped at 24 hours, depriving nearly 1,500 members of the public who had registered for the hearing their opportunity to be heard.  The vast majority of those who did testify, and who submitted written testimony, opposed the bill.  The committee is expected to vote on the bill as early as  today. 

Students need more resources, fewer officers
by Tenille Bonilla

"School resource officer" is just a nice way to say cop. But what students really need is more resource and less officer.

The Board of Regents’ changes must not shortchange its students or faculty
by Carrie Andreoletti, PhD

As a university professor and a lifespan developmental psychologist, I tend to approach my work from a developmental perspective. This means I aim to foster a lifelong love of learning and to help others find a sense of meaning and purpose, as well as confidence in their ability to reach their goals. My approach to higher education is shaped by my desire to provide the best possible education for my students. This is why the recent Board of Regents’ proposed changes at the four state universities have me worried.

How to close schooling opportunity gaps created by the pandemic
by Carol Gale

We ask school district leaders to trust your public servants whose daily work life involves assessing student needs and planning or modifying instruction to meet those needs. Listen to their voices, as we have, and allocate precious resources on interventions that will offer increased opportunities for Hartford students to succeed.

Support Our Work

Show your love for great stories and outstanding journalism.

$
Select One
  • Monthly
  • Yearly
  • Once
Artpoint painter
CT ViewpointsCT Artpoints
Opinion The public health bill no one is talking about, but should be
by Brian Festa

On February 16,  the legislature's Public Health Committee conducted a public hearing on two bills, S.B. 568 and H.B. 6423, both of which would eliminate the religious exemption to mandatory vaccinations for Connecticut schoolchildren.  The hearing was capped at 24 hours, depriving nearly 1,500 members of the public who had registered for the hearing their opportunity to be heard.  The vast majority of those who did testify, and who submitted written testimony, opposed the bill.  The committee is expected to vote on the bill as early as  today. 

Opinion Students need more resources, fewer officers
by Tenille Bonilla

"School resource officer" is just a nice way to say cop. But what students really need is more resource and less officer.

Opinion The Board of Regents’ changes must not shortchange its students or faculty
by Carrie Andreoletti, PhD

As a university professor and a lifespan developmental psychologist, I tend to approach my work from a developmental perspective. This means I aim to foster a lifelong love of learning and to help others find a sense of meaning and purpose, as well as confidence in their ability to reach their goals. My approach to higher education is shaped by my desire to provide the best possible education for my students. This is why the recent Board of Regents’ proposed changes at the four state universities have me worried.

Opinion How to close schooling opportunity gaps created by the pandemic
by Carol Gale

We ask school district leaders to trust your public servants whose daily work life involves assessing student needs and planning or modifying instruction to meet those needs. Listen to their voices, as we have, and allocate precious resources on interventions that will offer increased opportunities for Hartford students to succeed.

Artwork Grand guidance
by Anne:Gogh

In a world of systemic oppression aimed towards those of darker skintones – representation matters. We are more than our equity elusive environments, more than numbers in a prison and much more than victims of societal dispositions. This piece depicts a melanated young man draped in a cape ascending high above multiple forms of oppression. […]

Artwork Shea
by Anthony Valentine

Shea is a story about race and social inequalities that plague America. It is a narrative that prompts the question, “Do you know what it’s like to wake up in new skin?”

Artwork The Declaration of Human Rights
by Andres Chaparro

Through my artwork I strive to create an example of ideas that reflect my desire to raise social consciousness, and cultural awareness. Jazz music is the catalyst to all my work, and plays a major influence in each piece of work.”

Artwork ‘A thing of beauty. Destroy it forever’
by Richard DiCarlo | Derby

During times like these it’s often fun to revisit something familiar and approach things with a different slant. I have been taking some Pop culture and Art masterpieces and applying the vintage 1960’s and 70’s classic figures (Fisher Price, little people) to the make an amusing pieces. Here is my homage to Fisher -Price, Yellow […]

Twitter Feed
A Twitter List by CTMirror

Engage

  • Reflections Tickets & Sponsorships
  • Events
  • Donate
  • Newsletter Sign-Up
  • Submit to Viewpoints
  • Submit to ArtPoints
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Commenting Guidelines
  • Legal Notices
  • Contact Us

About

  • About CT Mirror
  • Announcements
  • Board
  • Staff
  • Sponsors and Funders
  • Donors
  • Friends of CT Mirror
  • History
  • Financial
  • Policies
  • Strategic Plan

Opportunity

  • Advertising and Sponsorship
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Use of Photography
  • Work for Us

Go Deeper

  • Steady Habits Podcast
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Five Things

The Connecticut News Project, Inc. 1049 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105. Phone: 860-218-6380

© Copyright 2021, The Connecticut News Project. All Rights Reserved. Website by Web Publisher PRO