Connecticut Commuter Rail Council

The Connecticut Public Transportation Council is an independent state board that acts as an advocate for commuters on the Metro-North, Hartford Line, and Shore Line East railroads as well as transit commuters that use buses like CT Transit in the state of Connecticut.

The Council holds regular, public meetings once a month (except in the summer) with Metro-North and Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT) officials to discuss concerns of commuters. The Council also solicits complaints from riders, issues annual reports on rail and bus service and lobbies on behalf of commuters before state boards, offices, the governor and the Connecticut Legislature.

Activities
Board meetings are held communities across the state as well as an annual meeting held at Grand Central Terminal in New York City.

The Council advises the Legislature as well as ConnDOT. ConnDOT meets with the council quarterly with an annual visit from the Commissioner.

The Council receives monthly reports of operation data from ConnDOT and the MTA on rail and bus transit in Connecticut.

Membership
From the Connecticut law establishing the commuter council (Sec. 13b-212b. Metro North New Haven Rail Commuter Council established):

(a) There is established a Connecticut Commuter Rail Council which shall consist of fifteen members, all of whom shall be (1) commuters who regularly use the transportation services of the New Haven commuter railroad line which includes the New Canaan, Danbury and Waterbury branches of such line, (2) commuters who regularly use the transportation services of the Shoreline East railroad line, or (3) residents of a municipality in which the Commissioner of Transportation has proposed a new rail line or which has commenced operation after July 1, 2013. Members shall be appointed as follows: (A) The Governor shall appoint four members, one of whom shall be the chief elected official of a municipality located on an operating or proposed new rail line; (B) the president pro tempore of the Senate shall appoint three members; (C) the speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint three members;  (D) the minority leader of the Senate shall appoint one member;  (E) the minority leader of the House of Representatives shall appoint one member;  (F) the chairpersons of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to transportation shall each appoint one member, one of whom shall be from a municipality in which the Commissioner of Transportation has proposed a new rail line or which has commenced operation after July 1, 2013, and one of whom shall be from a municipality in which a station for the Shoreline East railroad line is located; and (G) the ranking members of said committee shall jointly appoint one member who shall be from a municipality served by the Danbury or Waterbury branches of the New Haven commuter railroad line. Each member shall serve for a term of four years commencing on August 1, 2013. All initial appointments to the council shall be made by August 1, 2013. Any vacancy shall be filled by the original appointing authority by appointment for the unexpired portion of any term. Members of the council shall serve until their respective successors are appointed and approved by the General Assembly.

Current members
The following members were appointed to the Council for the year 2022
 * Jim Gildea – Chair
 * Jeffrey Maron - Vice Chair
 * Blaize Levitan – Secretary
 * Jessica Bremner
 * Marcellus Edwards
 * Ashlee Fox
 * Mitch Fuchs
 * Douglas Hausladen
 * Melissa Kane
 * Julia McGrath
 * Sue Prosi
 * Zell Steever
 * Kate Rozen
 * (Vacant)
 * (Vacant)