MINUTES MATTER Travel Time and Frequency of Train Service to Grand Central Terminal the Metro-North Railroad System 1976-2017 Executive Summary The Business Council of Fairfield County One Landmark Square, Suite 300 Stamford, CT 06901 www.businessfairfield.com March 30, 2017 The Business Council of Fairfield County 1
March 30, 2017 The Business Council of Fairfield County 2
Why business cares Minutes Matter Travel Time and Frequency on the Metro-North Railroad System 1976-2017 The New Haven Line operates on one of the busiest sections of the northeast corridor. There are multiple operators who have varying and competing interests and each operator vying for any available capacity on the New Haven Line. Connecticut has little ability to bring about substantial improvements in New Haven Line service under current conditions. The backlog of state of good repair projects on the New Haven Line threaten its reliability and resiliency and focuses attention on catching up on the backlog rather than looking forward and planning ahead for a 21 st Century rail system that reflects its position in the global economy. The Connecticut economy has been plagued by slow job creation over the last 20 years in fact the slowest in the nation. The building blocks of economic growth and job creation are directly linked to Connecticut s investment in both human and physical infrastructure The literature suggests that improved rail travel times boost the economy as well as home values [1]. We are not competitive with our neighbors who enjoy better access to rail service and who have plans to substantially increase service and reduce travel times. Connecticut must begin to drastically increase spending on the New Haven Line and strategically invest in rail service that will distinguish the New Haven Line from other train service in the region. Reduced travel times, by increasing speeds or implementing operational improvements or capital improvements are ways to accomplish that. [1] The ARC Effect How better transit boosts home values & local economies, Regional Plan Association, July 2010, http://www.rpa.org/publication/arceffect-how-better-transitboosts-home-values-and-local-economies How the Long Island Rail Road Could Shape the Next Economy, Regional Plan Association, 2013. http://www.rpa.org/article/how-long-island-rail-road-could-shape-next-economy The Effect of New Midtown Direct Service New Jersey Transit in Northern New Jersey, RPA, http://www.nec-commission.com/economy_projects/theeffect-of-new-midtown-directservice/ March 30, 2017 The Business Council of Fairfield County 3
There are huge transportation infrastructure projects occurring in the New York Metropolitan Area that will dramatically improve travel times, reliability, and resiliency for our neighbors in Long Island and New Jersey. Connecticut should not settle for a state of good repair transportation system but rather work with the North East Corridor to bring about a transformative rail transportation that supports a growth economy in a context sensitive manner. Connecticut s vision for the North East Corridor must look to the possibility of a new rail compact for the tri-state region that works for its economic goals of its constituent parts. March 30, 2017 The Business Council of Fairfield County 4
Introduction The purpose of this study is to review service frequency and travel times on the Metro- North Railroad s east of Hudson service over the past forty years. Specifically, how do travel time and service levels on the New Haven Line compare to service on the Harlem and Hudson Lines? Has travel time improved or lengthened over the past forty years? Do we have more frequent service? Because accurate scheduling is key to both customer satisfaction and operating efficiency of passenger carriers, changes in scheduled travel time are a strong indication of the change in actual travel time experienced by travelers in a given period (USDOT, 2003:1). The New Haven Line is integral to the economic vitality of Fairfield and New Haven Counties. The service is operated by Metro- North Railroad under a contract with the State of Connecticut. Metro-North Railroad was founded in 1983 when the MTA assumed control of Conrail commuter operations in the states of New York and Connecticut. Metro- North Railroad is a subsidiary of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Today, with 384 route miles and 775 miles of track, Metro-North provides service to 124 stations distributed in seven counties in New York State - Dutchess, Putnam, Westchester, Bronx, New York (Manhattan), Rockland, and Orange - and two counties in the state of Connecticut -New Haven and Fairfield. The three lines comprising the east of the Hudson service are the Hudson, the Harlem, and the New Haven Lines. They operate out of Grand Central Terminal in New York City. The Hudson Line extends 74 miles from Grand Central Terminal to Poughkeepsie; the Harlem, 82 miles to Wassaic; and the New Haven, which also has three branch lines, the New Canaan, Danbury, and Waterbury, 72 miles to New Haven. Note Similar studies using scheduled travel time have been conducted by the : Bureau of Transportation Statistics, USDOT. Many Intercity Travelers Face Longer Travel Schedules, Issue Brief, Number 7, October 2003. Connecticut Department of Transportation, Danbury Branch Improvement Program AA/DEIS, Existing Conditions Report, October 2009, p.46 RPA, The ARC Effect: How Better Transit Boost Home Values and Local Economies, July 201o. RPA, How the Long Island Railroad Could Shape the Next Economy, January 2013. David Harrison, Train Journeys take longer than they did a decade ago, The Telegraph, July 2009, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/roaand-rail-transport/5663009/train-journeys-take-longer-than-a-decade-ago.html March 30, 2017 The Business Council of Fairfield County 5
Methods We selected stations on the New Haven Line and compared service frequency and travel time with stations on the Harlem and Hudson Lines. Stations on the New Haven Line were selected if they were located in communities having one or more of the following characteristics in common: major institutions of higher education; major healthcare/medical centers, employment centers, and experiencing transformative redevelopment within its borders. Stations that were at the end of the line were also selected (New Haven, New Canaan, Danbury and Waterbury). Stations on the Harlem and Hudson Lines that were of similar distances from Grand Central were selected and paired with a station on the New Haven Line.. The table below shows which New Haven Line Stations were selected as well as stations of similar distances from CGT on the Hudson and Harlem Lines. New Haven Line Main Line New Haven Branch Lines Hudson Line Poughkeepsie Harlem Line Bridgeport Branchville Cold Spring Southeast Fairfield Cannondale Garrison Brewster South Norwalk New Canaan Peekskill Katonah Stamford Croton - Harmon Greenwich Danbury Waterbury Chappaqua Philpse Manor Hawthorne New Hamburg Pawling March 30, 2017 The Business Council of Fairfield County 6
Metro-North Railroad timetables for various points in time were collected. Timetables that were used for this study included: 1976 New Haven Line Timetable effective January 12, 1976, MTA/CDOT. Hudson Line Timetable effective January 12, 1976, MTA. Harlem Line Timetable effective June 28, 1976, MTA 1993 New Haven Line Timetable effective April 3, 1993 through October 30, 1993, Metro-North Railroad. Hudson Line Timetable effective April 3, 1993 through October 30, 1993, Metro-North Railroad. Harlem Line Timetable effective April 3, 1993 through October 30, 1993, Metro-North Railroad. 2013 New Haven Line Timetable effective April 7 through November 2, 2013. Metro-North Railroad. Hudson Line Timetable effective April 7 through November 2, 2013. Metro- North Railroad. Harlem Line Timetable, effective April 7 through June 2, 2013. Metro-North Railroad 2014 New Haven Line Timetable effective May 11, 2014. Metro-North Railroad. Hudson Line Timetable effective May 11, 2014 Metro-North Railroad. Harlem Line Timetable, effective May 11, 2014. Metro-North Railroad 2015 New Haven Line Timetable effective April 26, 2015. Metro-North Railroad. Hudson Line Timetable effective April 26, 2015 Metro-North Railroad. Harlem Line Timetable, effective April 26, 2015 Metro-North Railroad March 30, 2017 The Business Council of Fairfield County 7
2015 New Haven Line Timetable effective October 4- November 15, 2015. Metro-North Railroad. Hudson Line Timetable effective October 3- November 15, 2015 Metro-North Railroad. Harlem Line Timetable, effective October 4, 2015- April 2, 2016 Metro-North Railroad 2016 New Haven Line Timetable downloaded June 8, 2016 Metro-North Railroad Hudson line Timetable downloaded June 8, 2016 Metro-North Railroad Harlem Line Timetable downloaded June 8, 2016 Metro-North Railroad 2016 New Haven Line Timetable Effective October 2, 2016, Metro-North Railroad Hudson line Timetable Effective October 2, 2016 Metro-North Railroad Harlem Line Timetable Effective October 2, 2016, Metro-North Railroad 2017 New Haven Line Timetable Effective April 2, 2017-June 3, 2017, Metro-North Railroad Hudson line Timetable Effective April 2, 2017- June 3, 2017, Metro-North Railroad Harlem Line Timetable Effective April 2, 2017- June 3, 2017, Metro-North Railroad. The following information was derived from the timetables: the number of inbound weekday trains operating in the peak and off peak period, travel times for all inbound trains during weekdays in the peak and the off peak period. Travel times were calculated for all inbound weekday trains from selected stations to GCT during peak and off peak periods. The average or mean travel time was calculated for the peak and off peak periods and used to compare travel time over the forty year period as well as travel time for station cohorts. The best travel time was reported for the peak and off-peak period. March 30, 2017 The Business Council of Fairfield County 8
Frequency of Service Dramatic increase in the amount of train service on all three lines: New Haven, Harlem, and Hudson during the peak period and off peak period. Service frequency on the New Canaan Branch Line, Danbury Branch Line and Waterbury Branch Line is limited in comparison to their main line peers. Waterbury Branch line train service is extremely limited with 8 weekday trains. Travel Time Peak Period Over the forty year period average peak period travel time weekdays to Grand Central Terminal increased from all New Haven Line stations examined in this study. Average peak period travel times weekdays to Grand Central Terminal improved at all Hudson Line stations with the exception of the Philpse Manor station and at all Harlem Line stations. Best peak period travel times to GCT weekdays increased from all New Haven Line Stations. Best peak period travel times to GCT weekdays from all Harlem Line and Hudson Line stations improved over the 40 year period. Off Peak Period Average travel time in the off peak period weekdays to GCT from all New Haven Line stations increased over the forty year period. In contrast, average travel time in the off peak period weekdays to GCT from Harlem and Hudson Line stations improved, with two exceptions Philpse Manor and Croton Harmon. Access Some 75 percent of Westchester County municipalities have mainline type service that is provided by three major rail lines: New Haven, Harlem and Hudson. In stark contrast, 26 percent of Fairfield County and New Haven County municipalities have access to mainline type rail type service provided by the Metro North Railroad s New Haven Line. Another 22 percent of Fairfield and New Haven County municipalities have access to very limited branch line service (e.g. Danbury Branch Line and Waterbury Branch Line). March 30, 2017 The Business Council of Fairfield County 9
Metro-North Railroad Frequency of Weekday Train Service to GCT Station Total Trains Peak Period Trains Off Peak Period Trains 1976-2017 1976-2017 1976-2017 1976 2017 # % 1976 2017 # % 1976 2017 # % New Haven 23 42 19 83 8 16 8 100 15 26 11 73 Poughkeepsie 15 31 16 107 5 13 8 160 10 18 8 80 Bridgeport 23 47 24 104 8 20 12 150 15 27 12 80 Branchville 7 14 7 100 3 5 2 67 4 9 5 125 Cold Spring 15 26 11 73 5 10 5 100 10 16 6 60 Southeast n.a. 41 n.a. n.a. n.a. 17 n.a. n.a. n.a. 24 n.a. n.a. Fairfield 20 43 23 115 8 16 8 100 12 27 15 125 Cannondale 3 14 11 367 3 5 2 67 0 9 9 n.a. Garrison 22 26 4 18 8 10 2 25 14 16 2 14 Brewster 15 40 25 167 5 16 11 220 10 24 14 140 Danbury 7 14 7 100 3 5 2 67 4 9 5 125 New Hamburg n.a. 31 n.a. n.a. n.a. 13 n.a. n.a. n.a. 18 n.a. n.a. Pawling 9 12 3 33 2 4 2 100 7 8 1 14 South Norwalk 25 48 23 92 10 20 10 100 15 28 13 87 New Canaan 20 20 0 0 6 5-1 -17 14 15 1 7 Peekskill 23 28 5 22 9 10 1 11 14 18 4 29 Katonah 15 38 23 153 5 14 9 180 10 24 14 140 Stamford 59 100 41 69 18 40 22 122 41 60 19 46 Croton Harmon 23 71 48 209 9 29 20 222 14 42 28 200 Chappaqua 27 41 14 52 15 16 1 7 22 25 3 14 Greenwich 38 61 23 61 11 22 11 100 27 39 12 44 Philpse Manor 24 35 11 46 8 16 8 100 16 19 3 19 Hawthorne 22 35 13 59 8 11 3 38 14 24 10 71 Waterbury 4 8 4 100 1 2 1 100 3 6 3 100 March 30, 2017 The Business Council of Fairfield County 10
Metro-North Railroad Travel Time to Grand Central Terminal Weekdays 1976-2017 Peak Period Average Travel Time Best Travel Time Peak Period Off Peak Period Average Travel Time Best Travel Time Off Peak Period 1976 2017 # % 1976 2017 # % 1976 2017 # % 1976 2017 # % New Haven 106 114 8 8 93 106 13 14 106 118 12 11 98 110 12 12 Poughkeepsie 113 101-12 -11 108 93-15 -14 119 110-9 -8 114 100-14 -12 Bridgeport 84 89 5 6 74 79 5 7 85 92 7 8 82 84 2 2 Branchville 94 100 6 6 90 94 4 4 100 115 15 15 95 100 5 5 Cold Spring 87 77-10 -11 83 75-8 -10 93 85-8 -9 88 77-11 -13 Southeast n.a. 85 n.a. n.a. n.a 81 n.a. n.a. n.a 89 n.a. n.a. n.a 85 n.a. n.a. Fairfield 76 80 4 5 67 71 4 6 77 83 6 8 71 75 4 6 Cannondale 86 94 8 9 82 87 5 6 0 109 109 n.a. 0 94 94 n.a. Garrison 83 73-10 -12 79 71-8 -10 89 81-8 -9 84 73-11 -13 Brewster 91 82-9 -10 87 78-9 -10 92 86-6 -7 88 82-6 -7 Danbury 118 123 5 4 114 117 3 3 129 137 8 6 118 120 2 2 New Hamburg n.a 91 n.a. n.a. n.a 83 n.a. n.a. n.a 100 n.a. n.a. n.a 90 n.a. n.a. Pawling 113 100-13 -12 110 98-12 -11 122 113-9 -7 115 107-8 -7 South Norwalk 62 67 5 8 56 61 5 9 62 68 6 10 58 61 3 5 New Canaan 68 70 2 3 66 66 0 0 69 80 11 16 67 77 10 15 Peekskill 70 61-9 -13 67 60-7 -10 77 69-8 -10 72 62-10 -14 Katonah 75 68-7 -9 71 62-9 -13 75 71-4 -5 74 68-6 -8 Stamford 53 56 3 6 45 48 3 7 58 61 3 5 46 50 4 9 Croton Harmon 56 53-3 -5 52 46-6 -12 59 60 1 2 50 47-3 -6 Chappaqua 60 55-5 -8 57 51-11 -19 60 57-3 -5 60 55-5 -8 Greenwich 47 51 4 9 41 42 1 2 55 56 3 6 53 43-10 -19 Philpse Manor 43 47 4 9 40 40 0 0 52 57 5 10 52 48-4 -8 Hawthorne 50 49-1 -2 47 45-2 -4 50 50 0 0 50 48-2 -4 Waterbury 142 152 10 7 142 150 8 6 145 153 8 6 145 144-1 -1 March 30, 2017 The Business Council of Fairfield County 11