1. One of the major issues facing the New Haven Line has been replacement of the aging and unreliable rolling stock. Now that the process of acquiring 342 new rail cars and constructing a major new maintenance facility for servicing these cars has begun, are you satisfied with the schedule that has been laid out for implementing these improvements?

2. In your view, has the acquisition of the rail cars from Virginia Railway Express proceeded as you envisioned and have you seen any positive benefit for Shoreline East service from it yet?

3. What needs to be done for the three branch lines, and in particular the Danbury and Waterbury branches, to achieve some of their potential? Where does electrification of one or both of the branch lines fit into the scheme of things?

4. What value do you see in possibly extending the Danbury branch line service to New Milford?

5. Is commuter rail service in Connecticut being marketed innovatively enough? Are there things you would like to see Metro North, Amtrak, and the DOT do that are not being done now?

6. What “quality of life” issues for rail riders (for example, quiet cars, cleanliness, adequate seating, on-time performance) do you think are most in need of addressing right away?

7. What problems does train overcrowding create for the attractiveness and effectiveness of the rail service?

8. Are there changes to the New York side of the service that you would like to see made to improve service quality and efficiency?

9. Now that DOT has completed the rail governance study, what station and parking ownership issues do you think it raised that the council should have a role in addressing?

10. New Haven-Hartford-Springfield rail commuter service seems to be slowly moving toward realization. Do you think the proposed level of service is adequate to make it successful? If not, what service level would you want to see implemented? How would you like to see it integrated with the New Haven and Shoreline East services? Who should provide the service for the state?

11. Station parking issues are among the most difficult to resolve for the New Haven Line service. If the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield service comes to pass, what do you think needs to be done differently with respect to parking along the line that might avoid the pitfalls experienced along the New Haven line? What role do you think the council can play in resolving some of the issues between the municipalities and the state that seem to make it so difficult to solve parking issues?

12. Besides the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield rail proposal, others have proposed a new rail service for eastern Connecticut from Groton/New London to Worcester. Is Connecticut undergoing a rail “renaissance” or are there limits to what commuter rail should be expected to produce?

13. Assuming one or more of these new services come to pass, what do you feel rail users would like to see happen around the stations or rail lines in terms of development and amenities to enhance their commuting experience?

14. What can you suggest for improving conditions for passengers during breakdowns, delays, and power outages?

15. What input do you think the council should have on pending and future planning and decision making for proposed new stations? Are more train stops or express train services needed?

16. Does Amtrak's agreement with the Department of Environmental Protection with respect to the maximum number of trains it can run on the shoreline because of the movable bridges represent a threat to the future viability and expansion of the Shoreline East?

17. Proposals at the federal level suggest some major changes to the way Amtrak provides intercity rail service, including who would be responsible for the infrastructure on the Northeast Corridor and who would run certain key services. What implications do you think this might have for services like Shoreline East? If Connecticut must accept a greater responsibility in this area, what do you think it should get in return?

18. By establishing the Connecticut Transportation Strategy Board in 2001, the legislature has embarked the state on what could be a sweeping new approach to linking the state's economic and transportation decisions. Each of five transportation regions has developed corridor plans for consideration in developing an overall state transportation strategy. How do you think the council should be best integrated into this process and the board's deliberations?

19. What are your views on rail service security issues? Do you see the need for additional security procedures for protecting rail passengers?

20. Are improvements in feeder bus or other types of station-to-employment circulation capabilities along the Shoreline East- Metro North corridor being effectively implemented? Where must this be accelerated?

21. Can anything more be done to make the rail commuting system more user friendly for bicyclists who want to use the “park-and-ride” mode for getting to and from the trains?

22. The council's statutory charge is to study and investigate all aspects of the daily operation of the New Haven commuter line, monitor its performance, and recommend changes to improve service efficiency and quality. Are you satisfied with this role or do you believe the council could play a different or expanded role? If so, what would this be?

23. Do you think the Shoreline East service is adequately integrated into the state's commuter rail concepts and operations? If not, what would you suggest?

24. Do you believe Connecticut functions as an equal partner in its relationship with New York and the MTA? In what ways do you think Connecticut's role in this partnership can be strengthened? Would you like to see Connecticut pursue getting a seat on the MTA?

25. What do you perceive as the most important issues for commuter rail service in Connecticut—parking availability, station quality, service quality, cost, or something else?

26. Are you satisfied with how Metro North and MTA are responding to the council's input?