LONG ISLAND RAIL ROAD COMMUTER COUNCIL
MINUTES OF OCTOBER 10, 2013
A meeting of the Long Island Rail Road Commuter Council (LIRRCC) was convened at 4:30 p.m. on October 10, 2013 in the LIRR East Side Access Readiness Conference Room, 450 7th Avenue, 20th Floor, New York.
The following members were present:
Gerard Bringmann Mark Epstein
Sheila Carpenter Michael Godino
Owen Costello Ira R. Greenberg
Raymond Pagano Bryan Peranzo
The following members participated via phone:
Maureen Michaels
Larry Rubinstein
Matthew Kessler
In addition, the following persons were present:
William Henderson -PCAC Executive Director
Ellyn Shannon -Senior Transportation Planner
Hector Garcia -LIRR
Rich Oakley -LIRR
Paul Dietlin -LIRR
Tony Costa -Concerned citizen
Stephen Quigley -Concerned citizen
Ron Troy -Concerned citizen
Approval of Agenda and Minutes
The agenda for the October 10, 2013 meeting was approved and the minutes of the August 8, 2013 meeting were approved as amended. Ira Greenberg’s statement with reference to a change in the diesel equipment to be used on the Oyster Bay Branch was clarified in the approved minutes.
Chair’s Report
The Chair’s Report is attached to these minutes. Mr. Epstein elaborated on Assemblyman Lavine’s meeting on the potential use of scoot service for the Oyster Bay Branch. He said that LIRR representatives at the meeting described the plan to use scoot trains on the branch as being in its early planning stages, but he noted that the riders at the meeting wanted more dual mode service that can travel directly to terminal stations.
Mr. Epstein also commented that Senator Schumer’s press conference about commuter representation on the Amtrak Board has had many good effects. He said that he received a letter from Amtrak that acknowledging the LIRRCC. The press conference also resulted in a planned meeting with Mark, the Chair of Amtrak’s Board, Amtrak senior staff, and the MTA Chair.
Board Report
Ira Greenberg reported that the 20 Years Needs Assessment has been released. He said that during the briefing process for the MTA Board he asked why then 3rd Track was project was not in the document and did not receive much of an answer. Mr. Greenberg said that there are efforts underway to generate support for the third track.
Mr. Greenberg noted that in the Needs Assessment, there is language about a re-estimate of schedule and budget for the East Side Access project. He said that at its September meeting the MTA Board also received an overtime report, which showed all agencies being above their overtime budgets and noted the important role of seniority in the assignment of overtime at the LIRR, so that the financial impact of overtime at the Rail Road is magnified.
Staff Report
Bill Henderson reported on comments received and issues raised by LIRR riders and stakeholders with the PCAC staff. These included comments on the LIRRCC’s statement on compensation for service disruptions, a request for additional train service, a communication from a homeowner about a longstanding noise issue the LIRR is working to address, a report on a restroom issue that the LIRR reports has now been addressed, and a comment on Senator Schumer’s call for a commuter rail rider on the Amtrak Board.
Member Report
Bryan Peranzo stated that he gave the LIRR several recommendations on the beta test version of the LIRR smartphone app. These recommendations included those addressing usability and design issues, buttons that should be added, and requirements for cached data to allow its use without an active data connection. He said that the LIRR accepted all of the recommendations and that these will be implemented in the new version prepared for release or a second release of the app. Mr. Peranzo questioned why the MTA is conducting contests to design apps at the same time its operating agencies are working on developing apps.
Ray Pagano announced that he has been appointed a Co-Chair under Governor Cuomo’s New York Rising Community Reconstruction Zones program. This program addresses rebuilding after Superstorm Sandy and will develop recommendations for increasing storm resiliency. It will include consideration of transportation and his zone committee will be meeting with the LIRR to form its recommendations.
Mike Godino said that he has been asked to address concerns about signage in Penn Station. When signs have train information posted high, it makes it difficult for low vision customers to read this information. Also, he said that the talking kiosks near Track 15 are no longer working.
Sheila Carpenter noted that the Ronkonkoma waiting rooms close at 7:30pm on weekends and that this is too early to meet customers’ demand for sheltered space. On a recent weekend, there were crowds wanting to get into the waiting room and when she knocked on the door to get the attention of LIRR personnel inside of the waiting room they did not respond to her.
Old Business
Mark Epstein said that the proposed agreement for the LIRRCC to use Nassau County office space at 1 West Street in Mineola has been approved by the County Executive’s Council and will be signed soon by the County Executive, as he was not in the office the day of the approval. Mr. Epstein asked the members for suggestions of public officials to be invited and help gathering them at the space for a ceremonial ribbon cutting.
Mr. Epstein announced that the next Meet the Council session will take place on November 13 in Penn Station. Mr. Garcia said that the current issue of Train Talk is full, but that the Council may be able to be included in a November issue that would be distributed before the event. He said that the Council should follow up with Joe Calderone on this subject.
Hector Garcia said that he has been researching the LIRRCC’s question about shipment of radioactive materials over LIRR tracks, but there has been none of this material shipped for some time. He also said the Lower Montauk Line needs substantial repair to continue in passenger service, so the LIRR intends to remove passenger traffic from the line and use it for freight only.
Mr. Garcia did not have an update on the LIRR’s efforts to replace missing seating. Mr. Greenberg said that the M9 cars will be designed with more seats per car than the M7’s, which will help more riders find seats.
Sheila Carpenter stated that luggage space is also a concern with the design of the new cars. She said that the luggage space provided in the M7 cars will not accommodate many bags used by riders.
Owen Costello asked Mr. Garcia to prepare a report on the reason for delay in repairing the easternmost stairwell leading to Penn Station track 17, including a projected completion date for the project. He also asked Mr. Garcia why the LIRR announces a departing train on Penn Station’s narrow platforms 15, 16, and 17 before an arriving train with passengers has arrived at the platform and discharged its passengers. He said that when attempting to board the 5:44 pm train from Penn Station to Port Washington it is difficult to get to the train because departing passenger are attempting to leave their train and climb stairs to the concourse and bumping into outbound passengers headed for their train.
Mr. Costello noted that other LIRRCC members have previously raised this issue as a safety concern. He said that, while the LIRR has responded that announcing a train before passengers arriving on that train have disembarked and left the platform makes for faster boarding, the LIRRCC members do not believe this to be true, and he asked when the LIRR had last studied this topic.
Guests– Paul Dietlin and Rich Oakley of the LIRR to discuss System Improvement Projects
Mr. Dietlin briefly discussed the work that is planned for Hicksville Station. He said that the work will include new elevators, escalators, signage and a canopy. The design of the new elements will match the architecture of the ground floor of the station. Mr. Epstein said that he has heard complaints of problems with lights in the station’s tunnels going out. Mr. Dietlin said that the project will involve new lighting and staircases for tunnels, along with security cameras, and that the lighting would be designed with dual circuits so there is still some light if one circuit is out of service.
Mr. Epstein asked whether additional restroom facilities could be included as part of the work, as the current facilities are heavily used and often unkempt as a result of the demands on them. Mr. Dietlin said that the work at the station is on the upper level except for elevators and escalators and as a result would not include restrooms. Mr. Epstein suggested that the LIRR investigate building restroom facilities at track level, which would be a great convenience for riders and reduce the pressure on the downstairs facilities.
Mr. Dietlin also noted several station improvement projects that are moving forward on Long Island’s South Shore, including a major project at Massapequa and other planned improvements at Wantagh and Seaford stations. He briefly discussed projects affecting the Main Line, including the Ellison Avenue Bridge, Wyandanch parking and station improvements, a mid-Suffolk yard, and the Hicksville project that he had previously discussed. On the Port Jefferson line, Mr. Dietlin continued, planned improvements mainly consist of track replacement work, while at Jamaica there is major work planned in creating Platform F to handle service to Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn and Johnson Avenue Yard improvements.
Owen Costello asked the status of the Port Washington parking lot expansion. Mr. Garcia replied that the project is on hold because of public opposition.
Mike Godino wanted to know about the ADA accessibility. Mr. Dietlin said that there are only 19 LIRR stations that are not ADA accessible and that making many of these accessible will require elevators to reach elevated platforms. Ms. Carpenter asked how the LIRR determines which stations are made ADA accessible. Mr. Dietlin responded that if major improvements are made to a station the LIRR includes creating accessibility as part of the work. He said that the LIRR has a new team in place to work with existing elevators and escalators and that while not all problems have been eliminated, they are doing better in keeping these units in service.
Mr. Dietlin said that the Main Line Double Track project is substantial and will be done in two phases. He said that the LIRR has received proposals for phase 1. He also explained that the work on Jamaica Platform F is being done to provide for scoot service to Brooklyn that will eliminate conflicting moves in front of the interlocking at the station. He said that without Platform F, the LIRR will not have enough capacity to go to both Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal and that the LIRR did a study that indicates 70 percent of current riders to Brooklyn will change their destination to the terminal at Grand Central once it is open.
Mr. Epstein said that he has questions about the Wyandanch parking improvements. He asked whether there will be security cameras, what is meant when it is said that the facility will accept automated payment, and whether monthly passes can be purchased. Mr. Garcia responded that installation of security cameras is standard in these projects, that automated payment would likely be similar to the system at Mineola, but that this system and whether monthly passes would be available would be the decision of the parking operator.
Mr. Epstein asked whether the Pinelawn station will be made accessible. Mr. Garcia stated that as part of the double track project, the station will be replaced and that the replacement station would be accessible. Bryan Peranzo noted that it will be some time until the project is complete and asked whether there is a short term solution until that time.
Mr. Godino wanted to know if replacement elevators could include a talking feature. Mr. Dietlin said that he would bring that idea back to his team.
Mr. Peranzo asked what impact the Hicksville project would have on parking. Mr. Dietlin responded that there would be very little impact on parking, but some short term disruptions are possible.
Ron Troy said that a significant need at Hicksville is to have more information displayed for riders and Mr. Peranzo agreed. Mr. Dietlin said that the project would include informational displays in conformance with the LIRR’s current standard. He said that the Rail Road is now using more speakers putting out less volume to improve audio quality. Ms. Carpenter said that there are many agencies in the area that work with persons with developmental or visual disabilities.
Mr. Garcia said that there will also be improvements made to the Flushing station and that they are currently in the design phase. These improvements will include elevators. He also noted that improvements at the Queens Village station, including ADA elevators, had been completed and that a ribbon cutting would be held October 29.
Mr. Garcia also said that the Colonial Road Bridge project is about to move forward.
Ellyn Shannon asked why the design for the second track project is as expensive as it is when it will be constructed on existing right of way. Mr. Garcia said that some of the project is going through wetlands and that many retaining walls need to be built. Mr. Dietlin said that there is also a lot of signal work involved and that cost estimates have been provided to the independent engineer for review.
Mr. Garcia said that there is also a project that has been in the works for the last two years to repair deteriorating platforms at Great Neck. As a part of the project, the LIRR is installing temporary platform extensions to close a part of the platform under repair. The project has received complaints from its immediate neighbors and now work on the project cannot proceed in overnight hours. Mr. Costello observed that a few local people can cause major changes to projects.
New Business
Mr. Garcia announced that the LIRR will hold a ribbon cutting to commemorate the completion of its Jamaica Station exterior renovation at 11:00 am on October 23. He asked to be informed of any members who wish to attend.
Mr. Epstein stated that there have been increasing complaints of homeless individuals in waiting rooms. He asked what has happened to cause this change. Mr. Garcia said that the MTA has a program called Connections and that this program is working with relevant County agencies to improve services to homeless persons in the stations. Mr. Epstein stated that stations without vendors have more issues with homeless persons, as there is no consistent presence in the station. Ms. Carpenter stated that she has been in many stations and has not found a large number of homeless people. She noted that some users of the station may not be dressed as well as others, but may not be homeless.
Mr. Troy said that it would be nice if headrests on future cars were usable and not rock hard. The policy of evaluating preliminary designs by the use of focus groups did not work well with the M7 cars. He also said that presentations to the MTA Board at its meetings should be made accessible on the internet.
Tony Costa noted that there is a blatant disregard for the no-smoking regulations on station platforms. He cited the Merrick station as a particular problem area and said that the smokers include commuters in the morning and youth in the evening.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 6:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
William Henderson
PCAC Executive Director