CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NEWS RELEASE 2800 BERLIN TURNPIKE P.O. BOX 317546 NEWINGTON CONNECTICUT, 06131-7456

FOR RELEASE: January 6, 2009

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS TELEPHONE: (860) 594-3062 FAX: (860) 594-3065 WEB SITE: www.ct.gov/dot

Bike Racks on Metro-North Trains Unveiled

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT) and MTA Metro-North Railroad (MNR) today offered the first views, at Grand Central Terminal in New York, of the prototype bicycle mounting devices that could be used on the new M-8 rail car fleet.  Following a request by Governor M. Jodi Rell and ConnDOT, MNR recently installed the prototype devices on a pair of M-7 train cars as part of an on-going effort to review and encourage bicycle opportunities and options on the railroad.

          The Department and MNR met with bicycle stakeholders in 2008 to develop options for transporting bicycles on the new M-8 rail fleet.  Highlights include an expansion of current policy to allow cyclists to transport folding bicycles aboard all trains, including peak service; expansion of bike storage at all New Haven main line stations with at least one bike rack at each train station; and additional bike storage at Shore Line East stations. 

“Bicycle travel is another form of transportation that the Department supports and wants to see expanded. Working with stakeholders over the past year, we have made taken steps to improve the transport of bikes on trains and to expand locations for bike storage.  We now look for input from the bicycle community on these prototype hooks and, if agreed upon, will plan to have them installed at the factory for the new M-8 fleet,” said ConnDOT Commissioner Joseph F. Marie. 

ConnDOT and MNR are seeking feedback from the cycling community on the hooks, ease of use, placement and other topics as needed.  MNR will make available an electronic comment card that customers can complete and email back to the railroad.  MNR will present results to the Department in the coming months.

The M-7 bicycle pilot program duration will be determined over the next several weeks.  The goal of the project is to finalize the design in time for factory installation for the M-8’s, currently under construction by Kawasaki Rail Car, Inc.  The first M-8 prototypes are expected to arrive in the last quarter of this year.

“We are excited about the arrival of the new M-8’s and are proud to lead the way to incorporate every amenity possible in the new rail fleet,” said Commissioner Marie.