Postponed from Dec. 16, 2009 as originally planned.

At the RRWG meeting discussion will continue on 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. The current NJ Transit plan to connect the new tunnels into a deep cavern dead end terminal station 175 feet below 34th Street is seriously flawed, and should be modified.

Time permitting, there will be progress reports on other RRWG initiatives:

1. moving forward on the Penn Station Metro-Hub plan
2. Upper Level Loop Alternative for LIRR East Side Access
3. Lower Manhattan Access
4. Light Rail in the Lincoln Tunnel
5. 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.