The monthly meeting of the Regional Rail Working Group focus on our efforts to advance ARC Penn Station First — a plan for connecting the new Hudson River passenger rail tunnels directly into existing tracks and platforms at Moynihan/Penn Station. This is a central feature of a plan for a truly regional rail system with frequent service, integrated fares and thru-running. A subsequent phase would be to connect Penn Station with Grand Central Terminal, adding many new opportunities for regional transit travel.

Time permitting, there will be progress reports on other RRWG initiatives:
1. regional rail equipment compatibility issues
2. Upper Level Loop Alternative for LIRR East Side Access
3. Rockaway Cut-off – one-seat ride Midtown Manhattan-Aqueduct Racino-JFK Airport and Rockaway Peninsula
4. Lower Manhattan Access
5. Light Rail in the Lincoln Tunnel
6. Regional Rail Freight and Intercity rail passenger issues

The purpose of the working group is to develop and advance plans for converting the region’s commuter rail lines into a regional rail system, with fast, frequent service and affordable, integrated fares. The group also considers changes to rapid transit and light rail transit that are "regional" in scale.

The Working Group includes:

• Empire State Passengers Association
• NJ Association of Railroad Passengers
• Lackawanna Coalition
• Five Towns Rural Transit, Inc.
• Committee for Better Transit
• Institute for Rational Urban Mobility
• Sane Aviation for Everyone, Inc. (SAFE) (our newest participant)