Showing Love for Staples Swimming and Diving Seniors ahead of FCIACs
After their final home meet tonight against New Canaan, the Staples Wreckers Swimming and Diving Team honored their Class of 2022 members with chocolates and flowers in a true Valentine’s Day moment of appreciation. The teams will be heading to the FCIAC championships beginning on March 1st.
Pictured L-R: Jacob Lee (captain), Richard Campbell, Max Tanksley (captain), Coach Todd Gordon, Brendan McGinley (captain), Matt Lott and Brennan Herold. Contributed photo by Debbie McGinley for WestportLocal.comGovernor Activates Severe Cold Weather Protocol
Governor Ned Lamont today announced that as severe cold conditions are anticipated to impact Connecticut over the next couple of days with wind chill values dipping as low as zero, he is directing the state’s severe cold weather protocol to be activated beginning at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, February 14, 2022, and remaining in effect through noon on Wednesday, February 16, 2022.
The purpose of the protocol is to ensure that the most vulnerable populations receive protection from the severe cold conditions, which could be life threatening if exposed to the elements for extended periods of time. While enacted, a system is set up for state agencies and municipalities to coordinate with United Way 2-1-1 and Connecticut’s network of shelters to make sure that anyone in need can receive shelter from the outdoors, including transportation to shelters.
Anyone in need is urged to call 2-1-1 to get connected to these services. Safety measures have been enacted at shelters and warming centers throughout Connecticut to adhere to the needs of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“When temperatures drop this low, it can be very dangerous to be outdoors for extended periods,” Governor Lamont said. “Shelters and warming centers are available across Connecticut. Anyone in need can call 2-1-1 to get connected to a nearby location, and they can even provide transportation if necessary.”
The following actions are implemented while the protocol is enacted:
The Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection’s Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security activates its WebEOC communications network, which is an internet-based system that enables local, regional, and state emergency management officials and first responders to share up-to-date information about a variety of situations and conditions. The system is used to monitor capacity at shelters across the state, enabling 2-1-1 to act as a clearinghouse to assist in finding shelter space for those who need it. Local officials, working through WebEOC, can alert 2-1-1 and the state when they open temporary shelters or warming centers.
The Connecticut Department of Social Services, Connecticut Department of Housing, and Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services coordinate with 2-1-1 and the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness, along with community-based providers, to provide transportation for people seeking shelter.
For emergency management news and resources, visit the state’s CTPrepares website at ct.gov/ctprepares or download the CTPrepares app to mobile devices at the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.
Talking Transportation: Fares, WiFi, and Masking
Transportation Tidbits
This week, updates on a few interesting developments in transportation:
PEAK FARES:
On March 1st Metro-North will again start charging peak fares during rush hours. But the railroad will also offer new discounts: 10% off a monthly pass and discounted 20-trip tickets. On the subways and buses they’ll give passengers free rides for the week after they pay 12 one-way fares via the new OMNY scanners. They’re calling it “fare capping”, giving frequent riders free rides after paying $33.
ADDED SERVICE?:
The railroad says it’s evaluating adding more service, speeding up express trains etc. But no plans have been announced. Bottom line: rush hour passengers will pay more but get no faster nor more frequent trains.
RIDERSHIP FLAT:
Many NYC businesses have finally called their employees back to the office at least a few days each week. Station parking lots are filling up again, but weekday ridership is still only about 40 – 45% of pre-pandemic numbers, far below the railroad’s consultants’ expectations thanks to Omicron.
CATHERINE RINALDI:
With this past week’s surprise retirement of LIRR President Philip Eng, Metro-North’s CEO Catherine Rinaldi has been named interim-President of the Long Island Railroad. Rinaldi’s career started on the LIRR and she is widely respected in the industry, if now spread a bit thin.
FREE TRANSIT:
We should closely watch Boston’s experiment with free bus fares on its three most heavily traveled routes. Something like 100,000 daily riders will see faster service as they can now board by all doors, speeding up dwell time at stops. The experiment furthers Boston Mayor Michele Wu’s dreams of free transit city-wide and is being paid for with $8 million in COVID relief money from DC. (NYC already offers 50% discount on MetroCards for low income residents.)
CRUMBLING CONCRETE:
Crumbling infrastructure at Darien Station. Jim Cameron contributed photoDarien’s train station saw 200 feet of the NY-bound platform closed for safety reasons this week when inspections found the decades-old concrete structure was crumbling. The station was already planned for a $34 million platform replacement program, apparently not implemented in time to avoid this situation.
WI-FI ON METRO-NORTH:
You can “surf” on planes, many buses and even Amtrak. But you can’t find Wi-Fi on Metro-North as the railroad seems uninterested in investing in the tech, and probably with good reason. But now Governor Lamont is offering to invest $30 million in onboard Wi-Fi, just as 5G cellphone technology is being rolled out, possibly making Wi-Fi obsolete. No response yet from the railroad on the Governor’s plan.
LAMONT’S BUDGET:
Given that it’s an election year and the state is enjoying a record surplus, the Governor kicked off the short legislative session with a number of big spending ideas. Backed by $1 billion in federal infrastructure spending for the state, Lamont has doubled-down on expanding service on the Danbury and Waterbury branch lines. And yes, he’s still pretending it’s feasible to cut 30 minutes running time each way between New Haven and NYC.
IS COVID DONE?:
Masks are coming off (but not yet on transit, per the Feds) and things seem to be reopening. Still, Connecticut is averaging about 19 deaths a week from COVID. Half of those hospitalized with COVID are vaccinated break-thru cases. So is COVID done or are we just done with it?
About Jim Cameron:
Jim Cameron has been a commuter advocate for over 30 years, with a special focus on the Metro North railroad. He spent nearly two decades on the Connecticut Metro North Commuter Council, and most recently founded The Commuter Action Group. Jim Cameron’s Talking Transportation was a popular column on the former WestportNow.com prior to its cessation, and joins The Westport Local Press and several other online community organizations. A resident of Darien - he serves on its Representative Town Meeting and is Program Director of the town government TV station, DarienTV79. He can be reached at CommuterActionGroup@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter: @CTRailCommuters