RECORD OF MEETING

FREIGHT TASK FORCE

DATE/TIME/PLACE: October 18, 1993; 3 PM; Selkirk Rail Yards

ATTENDANCE: George Macfarlane (UPS), Chuck Samuels (Conrail), Tom Magliocca (Port of Albany), John Newman (John T. Newman Associates), Chungchin Chen (CDRPC), Dick Carlson (NYSDOT Region 1), John Lemmerman (NYSDOT Commercial Transport Division), Gus Lapham (Hudson Valley AAA), Carl Belke (CP Rail), Kristina Younger (CDTC)

DISCUSSION SUMMARY:

Minutes of Previous Meeting - No changes.

Task Force Membership - Doug Bley has left Gardenway - suggestions for another shipper to include were made.

Status of Data Collection - REEBIE DATA: No update available yet. RAILROAD GRADE CROSSINGS: Results of small group meeting were discussed. The concept of early involvement and a comprehensive program was supported. It was noted that Traffic Safety Boards are potential allies in a goal to eliminate grade crossings. ADDITIONAL DATA NEEDED: Highway clearance, load posting, and turning radii inventories are another important piece of information needed to establish priorities for future improvements. Documentation of designated truck routes would also be useful. Question of Reebie data accuracy still outstanding.

Project Eligibilities - The materials enclosed in the packet were reviewed. The Federal Highway Administration has the final word on project eligibilities. There are examples from other places, notably Pennsylvania, where in the interest of jobs and economic development, wholes sale programs of clearance improvements for railroads have been undertaken with state or local funds. The general sense of the railroads present at the meeting is that the direction set by ISTEA is correct -- even if the money for railroad projects isn't there yet - and they are willing to keep working within the process to improve the overall transportation system.

Future of Commercial Transportation/December Conference preparations - The majority of the meeting time was spent on this topic. Much of the discussion is reflected in the revised presentation outline and draft "white paper" included in this mailing. Note was made of the inherent conflict between high speed passenger trains and freight activity on the same lines. The issue arises because maintenance tolerances are considerably less in high speed operation, and freight operating windows are smaller, particularly with single track operations. A whole host of issues - ranging from allowable curves and grades, track alignment, track gauge, bridge clearances and operating protocol - arise when this future scenario is played out.

Freight use of magnetic levitation trains would seem to be limited to time sensitive goods - a growing market. Air freight would be hurt the most, and UPS, Federal Express, and similar companies would be expected to be the largest users.

UPS noted the current imbalance of its shipments. It has a subsidiary company that moves produce from west to east to address this imbalance.

Local delivery restrictions and lack of provision of freight access in site design were noted as outstanding issues. The need for a freight gate at the back of the airport was particularly noted.

ACTION ITEMS:

* NEXT MEETING: Monday, November 15, 1993, 3 - 5 P.M. AT the offices of the Hudson Valley Automobile Club, 618 Delaware Ave, Albany

* Agenda to focus exclusively on the December conference presentation and paper

* Highway sufficiency data and truck route designations, REEBIE accuracy are still outstanding.

* John Lemmerman to bring Intermodal Management System inventory back to the Task Force when it is closer to completion.

* Kristina to follow up on membership of Transworld Music (shipper).