Train Station Delay: DOT Officials on Hot Seat

Department of Transportation (DOT) officials fielded numerous questions this week as they tried to answer for the multitude of delays in the opening of the northbound side of the Branford Train Station. At a meeting at Fire Headquarters they addressed the concerns of state legislators, town officials, and the public.

Ultimately, the delays came down to site problems, manufacturing problems, and the tangled web that is MetroNorth, Shoreline East, and Amtrak. Amtrak emerged as one of the key factors in the ongoing delays of the project, which is now scheduled to open for two-way rail service on Sept. 30th.

State Sen. Ted Kennedy Jr. (D‑12th District) organized the meeting in response to questions he’s received from constituents about the delays. ​“Many communities would die to have the type of train service we have,” he said. But that did not mean that all worked well in getting a two-way rail system up and running in good time.

Kennedy also questioned overlapping train traffic between Metro North and Amtrak, which runs Shoreline East. ​“How can we improve the relationship with Amtrak for future high-speed projects? How will we ever experience one-hour train service between New Haven and New York?”

State Rep. Lonnie Reed (D- Branford) said: ​“I can’t believe the problems we’re having.” Eileen Ego, assistant district DOT engineer, replied: ​“They’re not accountable. Amtrak is running the show.”

The good news is that despite the years of delay in creating a two-way system, commuter service was maintained with zero delays and that parking at the Branford Train Station will remain free – at least for the time being.

The Branford Eagle has reported continuously on the project since 2008. The announcement was made that the station will become two-way eight years ago, back in August 2008.

First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove opened the meeting. ​“The train station is an asset. We’re reviewing the economic benefits and looking at a TOD (Transit-Oriented Development) study grant based in the area of the train station.” The study is expected to project future growth.

State Reps Lonnie Reed and Sean Scanlon also attended the meeting, as well as First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove.

Connecticut DOT officials included Rich Jankovich, assistant rail administrator; Mark Fullerton, chief inspector and Ego, an assistant district engineer. (pictured)

Factors Leading to Delays

A Powerpoint presentation outlined the four factors contributing to the delays.

The project was awarded on Feb. 14, 2013, with a start date of July 30, 2013, and a work schedule of 543 days. The first delay concerned a ​“right to enter” permit, which prevented steel fabrication measurements. That pushed the completion forward by 69 days, to Jan. 2, 2015.

Next came a design change order adding maintenance closets and cabinets, which required a 35-day extension to Feb. 6, 2015.

Then there was the redesign of a ​“spread footing” retaining wall on the north side of the tracks, which had to be changed to a pile-supported foundation because the soil was not stable enough. That resulted in a 318-day extension to Dec. 21, 2015.

Finally, the most recent delay has been with the Train Approach Messaging Systems (TAMS), a visual warning safety system, which is being installed in both Branford and Guilford. The existing system was not compatible with the new system, which was expected to be in place by mid-June. ​“We specified what we thought was compatible,” said Ego. Jankovich added there was ​“an interface problem” with the parts.

There was also a delay in the order from the manufacturer and as a result, the new parts, when available, will be installed in Guilford, and the parts currently in Guilford will be used in Branford. That delay cost the project 222 days, leading to now-expected Sept. 30 completion date.

Without the TAMS, said Ego, trains would have to sound their horns, which would disturb residents, and they ​“didn’t want to make the system worse.” TAMS is an Amtrak requirement. 

Not mentioned at the briefing was the delay in obtaining parts from Europe for the Kone elevators. DOT Transportation Engineer Paul Andruskiewicz (pictured) said after the meeting that weather was also a factor in the delays, ​“If there’s rain, you can’t operate a crane.”

Yet another factor was the large amount of snow during winter 2015. 

Legislators Fire Questions

Kennedy asked about Rizzo and its liability for the cost of the project. Ego replied that the cost increased from $10 million to $11 million and the claim releases are okay with Rizzo. ​“The delays were not the contractor’s fault,” she said.

Scanlon questioned the lack of accountability. ​“No one questioned the timing? As a taxpayer, I’m outraged!”

You can’t control late trains,” said Ego, adding that it was a matter of ​“Amtrak bureaucracy.”

Fullerton added, ​“It’s inherent in the work. The contractor (Rizzo) realized delays were inevitable.”

“I can’t believe the problems we’re having,” said Reed. Ego responded, ​“They’re not accountable. Amtrak is running the show.”

The Public Weighs In

“Three years doesn’t make sense,” said Charles Maniglia from the audience, adding the Jordan’s furniture in New Haven was completed in a lot less time.

Fullerton said that you have to work within a window. Late trains, Amtrak linesmen not showing up, and scheduling of power outages to accommodate the work on the line all made for short workdays.

Jankovich noted that there are only 35 flagmen on the line throughout the state. ​“You’re juggling resources. There are projects up and down… it’s an active railroad.” He added, ​“Safety had to be number one on the railroad. We have to protect people out there.” He mentioned recent fatalities, including Deputy Fire Chief Ronald Mullen, whose death on the tracks was ruled a suicide.

“What was your oversight? What would you have done differently,” asked another member of the audience.

“Folks did the best with what we had,” said Ego.

A lack of transparency was cited by another member of the audience. Ego directed people to contact Judd Everhart, director of communications at the DOT.

Free Parking at Risk?

One of the biggest assets of the Branford Train Station is its free parking. It’s so popular that it was expanded back in 2011. The high gas prices of several years ago had driven the expansion.

Jankovich said that the parking lot is a ​“costly operation.” He added that snow removal has improved, but that costs are going up. ​“The state budget is tough,” he said. ​“But it’s still free.”

Light at the End of the Tunnel

Jankovich said that when the north side is finally open, it will open up a number of stops. ​“It will be an added service to commuters,” he said. ​“We’ll get the kinks ironed out.”

The number of stops will be increased, not the number of trains.

Testing will be done at night to avoid delays, he said.

Some 80 trains pass through the station including the Acela and some freight trains. 

###