Individual Station Report
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Individual Station Report Springdale URBITRANR EPORT CONTENTS: Stakeholder Interview Customer Opinion Survey Parking Inventory & Utilization Station Condition Inspection Lease Narrative and Synopsis Station Operations Review Station Financial Review URBITRAN Prepared to Connecticut Department of Transportation S ubmitted by Urbitran Associates, Inc. July 2003 June 2003 June 2003 June 2003 June 2003 June 2003 June 2003 Customer Opinion Survey URBITRANR EPORT URBITRAN Prepared to Connecticut Department of Transportation S ubmitted by Urbitran Associates, Inc. Task 1.2:Technical Memorandum Customer Opinion Survey Table 29: Talmadge Hill Station – Written-In Customer Comments Comment Comment # Responses % Code 18 Need more parking areas 17 30.4% 66 Lot needs to be paved 7 12.5% 12 Could use benches & protected shelters from rain/snow with heat/air 4 7.1% 49 Overall good comments 3 5.4% 8 Entrances/Exits very difficult 2 3.6% 24 Cleaner platforms 2 3.6% 65 More trains (cars) needed 2 3.6% 76 Meters should have option for metrocard 2 3.6% 85 Only residents should be allowed parking permits 2 3.6% 7 Long wait on parking list 1 1.8% 20 Better pathways to train platform 1 1.8% 22 Cleaner trains 1 1.8% 23 Allow overnight parking 1 1.8% 29 Cell phone use is annoying 1 1.8% 39 Talmadge Hill Station generally fine 1 1.8% 42 Traffic signal not pedestrian friendly 1 1.8% 50 Parking stripes need to be painted on 1 1.8% 53 Talmadge Hill Station needs boarding platforms on both sides of the track 1 1.8% 59 Trains in terrible condition 1 1.8% 63 Snow removal on stairs & walkways 1 1.8% 68 Cleaner restrooms on trains and in stations 1 1.8% 77 Improve landscaping 1 1.8% 87 Parking meters not working properly 1 1.8% 89 Monthly parking passes 1 1.8% Total Comments 56 100.0% Springdale Springdale station experienced a very high response rate of 53% from 113 surveys distributed. As usual, the vast majority of customers surveyed were daily riders (95%), commuting to work (97%), and traveling during the peak periods (100%). Just under two-thirds of those who drove and parked held parking permits and among those who did not, 65% were on a waiting list. Although a slightly lower percentage than seen at the New Canaan and Talmadge stations, males still represented two-thirds of customers surveyed. Consistent with most stations, the dominant age group was 25-64 years, and a considerable majority (76%) of respondents reported incomes over $100,000. Ratings for the station elements were mixed at Springdale. The parking elements generally rated favorably, while the station building and amenities were rated more often ‘fair’ or ‘poor.’ Parking ratings were the highest on the New Canaan Line, but the station building and amenities ratings were the lowest rated out of the same stations. Connecticut Department of Transportation 238 Task 1.2:Technical Memorandum Customer Opinion Survey Among the parking elements, the exits and parking security were rated ‘fair’ or ‘poor’ by more than half of respondents. The remainder of the elements were rated more highly, particularly pavement condition, handicap accessibility, stairways and pathways to the station. Figure 265 shows the parking ratings at the Springdale Station. As noted, the parking ratings were the highest on the New Canaan Line. The highest rated element was the parking lot pavement condition, in stark contrast to the condition at the Talmadge Hill Station, with 97% satisfaction ratings. The exits and parking security were both rated negatively by 57% of respondents, the poorest rated parking elements in Springdale. The station does not have an overpass or an underpass. Figure 265: Springdale Station Parking Ratings Parking Ratings 70 60 50 Poor Fair 40 Good Excellent Responses 30 20 10 0 Parking Lot Stairways Pathway(s) to Parking Parking Entrances Parking Handicap Ease of Car or Parking Exits Parking Underpass Overpass Pavement St at io n Lighting Sign age Maintenance Accessibility Bus Passenger Availability Security Condition Drop-Off Attribute Springdale does not have a station building, so no ratings are listed. However, 3 elements were not rated in any other category, so their responses are presented here. Absence of graffiti was rated positively by 59% of respondents. However, map and schedule availability received only half positive ratings and seat availability received 65% negative ratings. The only station amenity rated favorably by the majority of respondents was the availability of trash containers (81%). Amenities were again rated by only a small number of respondents because the Springdale Station only consists of a platform. Eighty-four percent of respondents were unhappy with the condition of the concession stand, the lowest rated amenity. Figure 266 shows how Springdale respondents rated amenities. Connecticut Department of Transportation 239 Task 1.2:Technical Memorandum Customer Opinion Survey Figure 266: Springdale Station Amenities Ratings Station Amenities Ratings 60 50 Poor Fair 40 Good Excellent 30 Responses 20 10 0 A vailability of Tras h Cans Phones News/Magazine Stand Bus Drop-Off/Pick-Up Taxi Stand Concession Stand Attribute Finally, the platforms at Springdale received considerably more favorable marks, including favorable ratings for overall condition, handicap accessibility, lighting, and cleanliness. Eighty- one percent of respondents were pleased with the overall condition of the platform, making it the highest rated platform element at Springdale. Again, more people rated the platform elements because the station only consists of a platform. Once again, the platform element most often rated ‘fair’ or ‘poor’ was the shelter. Seventy percent of respondents rated the shelters negatively. Figure 267 shows the platform ratings in Springdale. Figure 267: Springdale Station Platform Ratings Platform Ratings 70 Poor 60 Fair Good Excellent 50 40 Responses 30 20 10 0 Overall Condition Cleanliness Platform Lighting Handicap Accessibility Platform Maintenance Working Condition of Shelters Public Address System Attribute Connecticut Department of Transportation 240 Task 1.2:Technical Memorandum Customer Opinion Survey Change Change ratings in Springdale were generally a lot lower than the ratings of the current situation. Of the conditions that received ratings, 21 elements were thought to have worsened over the past 2 years by a majority of respondents. Parking elements received reasonably good change ratings from respondents. Overpasses and underpasses were not rated because they do not exist in Springdale. Figure 268 shows how Springdale respondents perceived change in the parking situation over the previous couple of years. Parking lighting, lot pavement condition, and stairways were thought to have improved by more than 80% of respondents. Parking signage and handicap accessibility was thought to have improved by 100% of respondents. At the other end of the scale, parking security was thought to have worsened by 71% of respondents. Figure 268: Springdale Station Change in Parking Conditions Change in Parking Conditions Handicap Access ibility Parking Signage Parking Lighting Parking Lot Pavement Condition Stairways Pathway(s) to Station Parking Maintenance Improved Entrances Worsened Attribute Parking Availability Ease of Car or Bus Passenger Drop-Off Exits Parking Security Overpass Underpass 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% % Response Concerning the 3 building elements mentioned where no station exists, the general view of the trend was negative. No one rated absence of graffiti and all of the respondents who rated the availably of maps/schedules and seating rated them as ‘worsened.’ As was the case with the building elements, many of the amenities listed do not exist at the Springdale Station. Figure 269 shows how respondents rated change in amenities at the Springdale Station. All of the amenities were thought to have worsened except for the availability of trash cans, which were thought to have improved by 86% of respondents. Connecticut Department of Transportation 241 Task 1.2:Technical Memorandum Customer Opinion Survey Figure 269: Springdale Station Change in Amenities Conditions Change in Amenities Conditions Availability of Trash Cans Phones Bus Drop-Off/Pick-Up Improved Worsened Amenity Taxi Stand Concession Stand News/Magazine Stand 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% % Response The Springdale Station actually has a platform, so these ratings were more reliable. Four elements were thought to have worsened by a majority of respondents. Figure 270 displays the platform change situation in Springdale. Two-thirds of respondents thought that the overall condition of the platform had worsened over the previous 2 years. Three-quarters of respondents said that the shelters had worsened. Surprisingly, the working condition of the public address system was one of the most improved platform elements with two-thirds improvement ratings. Handicap accessibility also received two-thirds improvement ratings. Figure 270: Springdale Station Change in Platform Conditions Change in Platform Conditions Working Condition of Public Address System Handicap Acces sibility Platform Maintenance Improved Cleanliness Worsened Attribute Platform Lighting Overall Condition Shelters 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% % Response Responsible Agencies Similar to most stations, the highest percentage of respondents thought that Metro-North was responsible for most station elements. Respondents also thought that the local municipality was responsible for some of the elements. A significant contingent