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MNRCC Statement – July 17, 2018 – NJT Board

NJ TRANSIT Board Meeting – July 17, 2018

Good Morning:

I am Randy Glucksman, Metro-North Railroad Commuter Council Chair and MTA Board Member.

This past Thursday, I was invited to see a demonstration of PTC on Metro-North’s Hudson Line. This testing was performed between Tarrytown and Croton-Harmon aboard a test train with several other MTA Metro-North Committee members, Metro-North staff and its consultants who explained the various tests that were being performed. I came away feeling comfortable that Metro-North would be in compliance this year.

Madam Chair, turning to this side of the Hudson River, as I have reported, monthly PTC updates are provided to the MTA Board as well as the public. This is the most recent version of the dashboard, which can be found on page 63 of the June 18, 2018 report. An updated version is expected shortly, prior to next week’s board cycle. My question to you is, if you have such information, why are you not sharing it with the public? All we have been hearing is that trains have had to be canceled to install PTC and our customers are suffering with this reduction of service.

One last thing, it would be very much appreciated if you would please direct your staff to begin process of developing a better Severe Weather Schedule to replace the one that was implemented last year, and remains in effect. Speaking as one of the rail advocates who suggested this, it was our hope that there would be more peak hour service because as I have previously stated, our customers don’t go to work in these types of weather conditions because they want to, they do it because they must, and the service that we all provide must measure up to accommodate their needs. Simply adding one more train in the AM and PM peak hour just doesn’t cut it.

Thank you for the opportunity of speaking to you.

Download here: 071718GlucksmanNJTBoardMTG