LONG ISLAND RAIL ROAD COMMUTER COUNCIL
MINUTES OF APRIL 17, 2013
A meeting of the Long Island Rail Road Commuter Council (LIRRCC) was convened at 4:30 p.m. on April 17, 2013 at the LIRR East Side Access Readiness conference room at 450 7th Avenue, New York City.
The following members were present:
Gerard Bringmann Ira Greenberg
Owen Costello Matthew Kessler
Mark Epstein Maureen Michaels
Michael Godino
The following members were on phone:
Sheila Carpenter
Larry Rubinstein
The following members were absent:
Raymond Pagano Bryan Peranzo
In addition, the following persons were present:
William Henderson -PCAC Executive Director
Joe Clift -Concerned Citizen
Iris Levine -Concerned Citizen
Approval of Agenda and Minutes
The agenda for the April 17, 2013 meeting was approved. The minutes of the February 7, 2012 meeting were approved with Maureen Michaels’ edits.
Chair’s Report
Ira Greenberg commented that the problem with the lack of ticket collection on board trains is that riders knew that pickups of tickets were uncertain. An occasional missed ticket collection does not impact behavior, but for some trips people knew that they could stop buying weekly or monthly tickets and pay less for their travel by carrying a single ride or ten-trip ticket and presenting it on the relatively rare cases where tickets were collected.
Ms. Michaels said that she would like to know what the LIRRCC will do about reporting situations when tickets are not collected. She said that if the Council decides to go ahead with reporting non-collection, the reporting system should be opened to all riders and not be limited to Council Members. She indicated concern that a system where only Council members reported collection problems would create an adversarial situation between the LIRRCC and its members and train crews.
Mark Epstein responded that the LIRR has offered to work with the Council to set up a program where members can report ticket collection problems and receive feedback on the results of the Rail Road’s investigation of the reports.
In response to Mr. Epstein’s comments about his meeting with Senator Martins, Owen Costello mentioned that he had recently spoken to Senator Martins, but that he had not raised the issue of encroachments on the Port Washington Branch right of way.
Ms. Michaels commented that she had recently spoken to a person from New Haven who has experience with the New Haven Line of Metro-North. This person said that he was appalled with the debris that he saw along the LIRR’s Port Washington branch.
Board Report
Mr. Greenberg said that Tom Prendergast has been nominated to be the next MTA Chairman. He noted that Mr. Prendergast has served as President of both the LIRR and NYC Transit.
Mr. Epstein said that he had spoken with Senator Lee Zeldin and asked whether the LIRRCC could provide him with potential questions to ask Mr. Prendergast in the course of his confirmation hearings. The Senator responded that he would be willing to pose the Council’s questions to Mr. Prendergast.
Joe Clift commented that the MTA will not spend $10 Billion on ESA without opening Penn Station to Metro-North.
Staff Report
Bill Henderson reported on communications from riders that had been received since the last LIRRCC meeting. The subjects of these communications included the power of LIRR unions and pay of their members, restrictions on reduced fares in rush hours, the reactivation of the Rockaway Beach Line, a report of noise in a section of rails, the process for design of the M9 cars, locking of platform shelters and inquiries about becoming an LIRRCC member.
Ms. Michaels stated that she would like to work with the LIRR on developing a new pricing model for travel on the Rail Road. Matt Kessler noted that due to a recent tariff change military personnel now pay half fare on the train.
Member Reports
Gerard Bringmann commented that he attended a seminar on sustainable transportation where the future of the transportation system was discussed. He also said that the rail freight facility near Yaphank is currently 30 acres in size can be expanded to 200 acres and noted that expansion could have implications for the use of the LIRR for freight movement.
Mr. Kessler said that Community Board 13 is still in a state of pandemonium over the restoration of the A subway line in the Rockaways. He said that people are advocating the restoration of the Rockaway Beach line as well, but that there is also opposition to this plan and other people want to see the line’s right of way turned into a walking trail.
New Business
Ms. Michaels said that she is worried about toxic materials being transported over the LIRR and their potential impact on the communities along the tracks. She said that the siding where an LIRR train was recently stranded, causing delays on the Ronkonkoma and Port Jefferson Branches, is the same location where cars filled with freight are parked.
Ms. Michaels nominated Mr. Epstein to remain as the Council Chair for the two year term commencing after the May LIRRCC meeting. There were multiple seconds to this nomination. Mr. Kessler nominated Larry Rubinstein for Vice Chair for the same term, which was seconded by Sheila Carpenter. Elections will be held at the May meeting.
Mr. Epstein said that he wants to know what will be done with the $40 million in funding above M extra funds for the MTA. He pointed out that he believes that council should be looking for more than service additions, which some groups are advocating.
Ms. Michaels commented that in the recent schedule changes have meant that some trains have had stops removed that were previously added to their schedules. This has resulted in the restoration of express trains have been restored. As a result the 5:06 train from Penn Station now has its first stop in Syosset.
Mr. Bringmann noted that the restoration of hourly service on the Montauk Branch has been a big plus for riders on his branch.
Mr. Clift commented that the lowest hanging fruit for the LIRR as it seeks to improve service is the restoration of off-peak service. The limitations of the system make adding service during the peak periods much more difficult.
Ms. Michaels remarked that there are still service gaps of one and one half hours in for trains departing from Penn Station to Huntington during the midday period. She said that reducing this gap is a clear service need.
Ms. Michaels said that she wanted to talk about security in light of the events in Boston earlier in the week. She said that she is troubled the NYPD went into Yankee Stadium and removed the trash cans there, but that nothing had been done at Penn Station.
The Council discussed the status of security on the Rail Road. Mr. Epstein summarized contacts that he had with police agencies regarding their needs. The members discussed the presence of uniformed officers in transit hubs. Mr. Rubinstein said that riders have to be realistic about the security measures that should be taken. He said that the presence of uniformed security can act as a deterrent, but the Council has to be sure about what is possible and effective before it calls for particular changes in security.
Mr. Epstein asked guest Iris Levine whether she had any comments or questions. She said that she rides the 7:38 am train from Copiague, which used to be an express departing at 7:42. When additional stops were added to the train, there was 4 minutes added to its schedule. Ms. Levine said that these trains are always late and there isn’t enough time built into the schedule for them to make their stops on time. She said that at Copiague there are homeless individuals living upstairs in the outdoor waiting rooms and human excrement on the stairs.
Mr. Kessler commented that he spoke to community activist Claudia Borecky at Nassau County Legislator Dave Denenberg’s forum on the LIRR.
Mike Godino asked what is happening with regard to the riders’ representatives gaining a vote on MTA board. Mr. Epstein commented that he is working on this, but that the process needs to advance before it will be useful for members to speak to their elected representatives about the issue.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 5:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
William Henderson
Executive Director