Minutes
Connecticut
River Estuary Metropolitan Planning Organization
March 10, 2010
Attendance:
Chester: -------------
Clinton: -------------
Deep
River: Dick Smith
Essex: Phil Miller
Killingworth:
Cathy Iino
Lyme: Ralph
Eno
Old
Lyme: -------------
Old
Saybrook: Mike Pace
Westbrook: Noel Bishop
Guests: Stephen Livingston, DOT
Joe
Comerford, ETD Executive Director
Paula
Ferrara, Estuary Council of Seniors, Inc.
Paul
Nonnenmacher, CRRA
Rep.
Jamie Spallone
Jeff Nelson, Governor Rell’s Representative
Rep.
Brian O’Connor
Rob
Bradway, Operations Manager, Valley Rail Road
Ed
Dombrowski, Chairman of Valley Rail Road Board
Bob
Bell, President of Valley Rail Road
Christine
Nelson – Old Saybrook Town Planner
CRERPA
Staff: Linda Krause, Jean
Davies, Janice Ehle-Meyer
1. Call to Order:
Chairman Mike Pace convened the meeting 8:15 a.m. in the CRERPA Conference Room
in Old Saybrook CT.
2. Minutes:
Ralph Eno moved and Cathy Iino seconded a motion to approve the February
meeting minutes. All members were in
favor.
3. MPO Business:
A. Steve Livingston of CONNDOT
reported that a second round of stimulus funding is not being received. All of the money for Stimulus #1 was
obligated and there is no money left.
B. Jean Davies reported that
towns should instead include their ‘Shovel Ready” projects in the regional TIP
for urban project funds.
C. Mike Pace asked about the
prohibitive new insurance requirements for contractors on such projects and
asked Steve to look into them.
4. Discussion
of Valley Railroad participation in TIGER Grant application:
State Representative Brian O’Connor,
staffer at the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce introduced representatives from
the Valley Railroad and thanked the MPO for the opportunity to talk about the
grant application. Bob Bell of VRR stated
that the CONNDOT asked VRR to prepare an application for freight lines to
upgrade the Southern portion of the tracks, north to the Haddam Bridge, to be
submitted as part of a state-wide request for federal funding under the TIGER
program to upgrade seven areas of freight lines in Connecticut. VRR had about two weeks to prepare the
application.
Mr. Bell stated that Valley RR
does not own property, but has a long term lease with the state. The grant was
looked at as a way to get money to do upgrades to the existing line. He noted
that all work done becomes the property of the State. The lease says that at
any time the State may open up the lines for freight. The lease expires June 30, 2027.
Phil Miller said he would like to
see the VRR continue up to Haddam Meadows.
He suggested that VRR hold public hearings when decisions need to be
made about changes to the railroad line, to assure that local citizens are
informed
5. Valley Rail Road discussion continued:
Mike Pace stated that the area at
the southern end of the VRR lease is occupied by equipment and parts from the
Railroad Museum of New England. This
area is unsightly and a source of possible pollutants. Both the Town of Old Saybrook and VRR have
sought for several years to have the area cleared, including any contamination
that has occurred. Linda Krause was
requested to write a letter on behalf of LCVSA to DOT and DEP emphasizing the
need for site remediation.
The need for better communication
between the VRR and the MPO was stressed.
All significant transportation improvements within the region are
subject to review by the MPO. The TIGER
application was not discussed between VRR and CREMPO. This should not happen in the future. The VRR must be involved in regional long
term planning for transportation, since it is potentially an important link for
the future. Several area First Selectmen
expressed strong concern about the actual TIGER grant. Mike Pace and Paul Nonnenmacher CRRA stated
that the application projected activities by CRRA that were never under
consideration, creating a negative atmosphere for CRRA. Paul said studies were done on the
feasibility of using the rail to move ash or solid waste, which found that this
was not cost affective unless traveling 500 miles or more.
Jean Davies stressed the
importance of including all regional projects in the Unified Work Program,
which is subject to planning priorities, public outreach and public
hearings. Area projects must be listed
in the UWP and TIP to be eligible for state and federal funding. Ralph Eno added that stakeholders must have
control over the outcomes and concerns of members of the public must come
through the towns. Old Saybrook Planner
Christine Nelson said there are issues of accessory uses, such as new loading
areas, passenger rail parking and that must go through the towns, and may
require zoning and other land use approvals.
Dick Smith stated that several
towns through which the railroad line passes are strongly opposed to freight
service on the Railroad line. In
particular, Chester, Deep River and Haddam have registered strong
opposition. Many people were angered by
not having any knowledge of the TIGER proposal.
The argument put forth in the application was inflammatory. If there are to be significant plans for
changes to the use of the railroad right-of-way, the implications and
possibilities must be thoroughly aired in advance.
Steve Livingston, DOT Field
Coordinator, asked that questions for DOT be put in writing and sent to Jean
Davies at CRERPA, who will send them to him.
This will give Steve time to ask for a response from appropriate people
within the DOT.
It was agreed that Linda Krause
will draft a letter to all parties, including CONNDOT and DEP, saying that this
March 10 discussion has resulted in an agreement between VRR and the MPO to
cooperate closely in future transportation planning and assure that the
planning process is open. to write a letter saying that there is an agreement
that MPO is working with Valley RR making a Bob Bell agreed to send a copy of
the VRR lease and the TIGER grant application to CRERPA for distribution to MPO
members. It was agreed by all that VRR
needed to be part of the long range planning process.
6. Estuary
Transit District
ETD Director Joe Comerford brought
copies of the new ETD schedules, effective February 2010. He reported that approval was pending for a
direct express route to New London from Old Saybrook. The ETD will be receiving considerably more
stimulus money than previously thought.
ETD will be purchasing buses and hopes to get approval to purchase one
hybrid. One bus will be sized for 20
passengers, as they are reaching capacity on some routes. They also need to
update their computer hardware. They
have new software which will include GPS for all the buses. Nine bus shelters
are ordered and the first one will be installed in Deep River.
7.
Unified Planning and Work Program:
Jean had distributed a draft of
the URWP in February and hoped that the MPO could pass a resolution approving
the UPWP at this meeting. She reported
that the professional town planners in this region have agreed to work together
with CRERPA staff on the revision to the regional transportation plan. Discussion focused on the importance of
including communication with the Valley Railroad in the long range planning
process. Several members insisted that
the language be neutral on support for future improvements to the tracks and
right-of-way, since some had reservations about major changes in use. Jean will modify the language as discussed.
Linda stated that CRERPA staff
may be involved in a project to inventory boat traffic on the Connecticut River
this summer. Mike Pace noted that
silting is becoming more of a problem in the Connecticut River. He said the River is an asset to all towns
along it and nearby. Linda reported that
the Connecticut Maritime Commission, of which she is a member, has been very
involved with dredging issues. Very
little funding has been allocated to dredging in the federal budget.
Jean wished to add language
concerning trail planning to the UPWP.
With the changes discussed, Dick Smith moved and Noel Bishop seconded a
motion to adopt the resolution as modified.
The motion was approved unanimously.
The
CREMPO meeting was adjourned, followed by a short break to allow guests to
depart.
Respectively submitted,
Janice Ehle/Meyer