RECORD OF MEETING
FREIGHT TASK FORCE
DATE/TIME/PLACE: Monday, January 27, 1997; 2 PM;
CDTC Offices, Colonie
ATTENDANCE: Ted Thompson (NYSDOT Region 1), Jack Earl
(NYSDOT Freight and Economic Development Division), Tom Magliocca (Port), Roger
Bergeron, Phil Brake, and Tom Matais (Boston & Maine), Pat McLaughlin
(UPS), Dick Corp (NYSTA), Kristina Younger (CDTC)
DISCUSSION SUMMARY: Welcome and
introductions started the meeting.
Status Reports: NYSDOT Region:
Ted Thompson reported on recent activities, including an update to the
grade crossing inventory for the region.
NYSDOT Main Office: Jack Earl gave a status report on HR1135 --
the $350 M Economic Development Program.
The earliest that a proposed program would be released would be as part
of the budget process. THRUWAY: Capital program for the next two years has
been adopted. It includes no toll
increases and a "pay as you go" philosophy. EZ Pass is now accepting applications from
commercial accounts, and UPS is expected to get their tags as early as
February. Mr. Corp also cited the recent
opening of the West Morland Tandem Center in Herkimer as a positive public/private
partnership example that demonstrates how quick things can get done when
motivated. UPS: Larry Arnold, a local manager, will be taking
Pat McLaughlin's place on the task force, starting next meeting.
ISTEA Reauthorization
Position: Consistency of CDTC practice with the
majority of the IANA position was noted.
Major discrepancy is Policy Board membership by freight interests. NYSDOT and CDTC official reauthorization
positions were noted and characterized as, "It's basically working, but
some tinkering is warranted."
Conrail Merger: CDTC's
resolution was briefly discussed, with our interest being primarily in insuring
competition in the rail industry in our region and providing good shipping
rates for local industry. Another
particular interest is in corridor preservation of any abandoned lines, and the
possible creation of a rail network attractive to a short line operator. Ted Thompson discussed the NYSDOT position,
which is quite similar to CDTC's, and the state-wide implications of the merger.
Status of CDTC TIP
Update, New Visions Plan: The Draft New Visions Plan is now in its
public comment period, which ends on February 14. Task force members were encouraged to submit
written comments, and to particularly address whether or not they felt the task
force recommendations had been satisfactorily incorporated into the Plan. The basic tenets of the Plan and its position
on "major" investments were highlighted.
The significance of the
New Visions budgets was related to the current update to the capital program,
called the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The candidate pool, the schedule, and the
basic evaluation criteria were reviewed, and questions regarding specific
projects answered.
Presentation by the
Port of Albany: Tom Magliocca handed out year-end tonnage
figures for 1996 and 1995 (for comparison) and a Times Union article
entitled "Albany port work hits 3-year low". He discussed the various commodities and the
factors influencing their shipping through the Port. Video clips of various aspects of Port
operations provided information regarding shipping practices, labor
requirements, the facilities available at the Port, and typical cargo. Numerous questions about the Port operations
were answered.
ACTION ITEMS: CDTC staff
will continue to monitor the Conrail merger proceedings. It was suggested the impact of the merger
might be a good topic for the Fall Roundtable, with shipper and railroad
panels.
* UPS to share its position on reauthorization.
* NEXT MEETING: Monday,
April 14, 1996, 2 - 4 PM, UPS Facility on Wade Road. Agenda to include: Tour of UPS facility, member updates, status
of New Visions and the TIP update relevant to freight projects.