LONG ISLAND RAIL ROAD COMMUTER’S COUNCIL
MINUTES OF AUGUST 9, 2012
A meeting of the Long Island Rail Road Commuter Council (LIRRCC) was convened at 4:30 p.m. on August 9, 2012, in the LIRR East Side Access Readiness conference room at 450 7t6h Avenue, 20th floor, New York, New York.
The following members were present:
Sheila Carpenter Matthew Kessler
Mark Epstein Maureen Michaels (via Phone)
Michael Godino Bryan Peranzo
The following members were absent:
Gerard P. Bringmann Ira Greenberg
Owen Costello Larry Rubinstein
In addition, the following persons were present:
William Henderson-PCAC Executive Director
Janice Wells-PCAC Associate Director
Ellyn Shannon-PCAC Senior Transportation Planner
Angela Bellisio-PCAC Outreach Assistant
Randy Glucksman-MNRCC
Gail Clement-Concerned Citizen
Approval of Minutes
The agenda for the August 9, 2012 meeting was approved. The minutes of the July 12 meeting were approved as amended with clarifications suggested by Maureen Michaels.
Chair’s Report
The Chair’s report is attached to these minutes. In addition, the following items were discussed in the course of the Chair’s report.
Sheila Carpenter said that she would like to help with planning for the Bus Rapid Transit forum.
Bryan Peranzo commented on the potential locations of future Meet the Commuter Council events. He said that the LIRRCC should look at stations with a number of transfers as places where they can interact with the riders. Sheila Carpenter raised the question of what the Council gains from the Meet the Commuter Council events. She said that there are issues raised by riders, but although we raise the issues with the LIRR often nothing happens as a result. Mark Epstein responded that some issues are frustrating, but the Council does get action on some things. He cited the issue of the ticket validity policies as a place where the Council’s input had been a force for change.
Maureen Michaels stated that she had created a master list of issues and discussed it the LIRR as a means of pressing them to address riders’ problems. She said that the Council wants to maintain a database of riders to whom we send information, there should be a schedule established for periodic communications with them.
Mr. Epstein noted that recently the LIRR’s responses to our correspondence have become more pro-forma, and that as a result he believes that it is necessary for the Council to prepare replies to their responses. Ms. Carpenter said that she has been working on broadening the categories for reduced fare eligibility for a year and a half and that she has not made any progress. Mike Godino said that the reduced fare policies would ultimately have to be discussed at the MTA level and pointed out that the card that establishes reduced fare eligibility is the same for all agencies of the MTA. Mr. Epstein stated that reduced fare eligibility is probably ultimately a PCAC issue, since it is applicable to both commuter railroads and NYC Transit.
Mark Epstein stated that legislation providing for regulation of taxis by Suffolk County is currently on the Governor’s desk for his signature. Ms. Michaels discussed the behavior of taxi drivers at Huntington Station. She stated that a driver recently refused to transport a young woman unless she was willing to ride with three men who were going to different destinations. She said that this behavior has started in the last few months. Mr. Epstein said that this is one of the reasons for local regulation of taxicabs. He said that he hopes that Ms. Carpenter will be a part of the Council’s work with the County’s to set up a taxicab commission as well.
Mr. Epstein noted that a visitor was present. She introduced herself as Gail Clement and said that she rides the Oyster Bay branch.
Mr. Epstein stated that he will send out an email on fare hearing positions out by end of next month, in preparation for the public hearings coming up in November.
Mr. Epstein said that he hopes that Mr. Peranzo will remain the Council’s representative on the task force established to look at changes to the PCAC website.
Staff Report
Bill Henderson noted that staff needs members to return website questionnaires so that this feedback can be used in determining new directions. He also noted issues that have been raised by the public in communications with the PCAC office. Mr. Henderson said that it will be important for the Council to focus on what changes it would like to see in fare policy in preparation for the fare hearings, as times when the fare is changed also offer opportunities to make positive changes for riders. Mr. Epstein noted that communication is still a problem with the LIRR.
Member Report
Ms. Carpenter stated that there was a speaker at Ronkonkoma Chamber of Commerce meeting on transportation improvements at the Ronkonkoma Hub.
Presentation on Data Visualization
Senior Transportation Planner Ellyn Shannon presented information from the research that she has been conducting on the use of visualization techniques and technologies to improve the understanding of data. Mr. Peranzo wanted to know if the MTA has access to the data that Ms. Shannon presented. Ms. Shannon responded that there are many databases maintained by the MTA and its agencies that contain the kind of data that she used in her presentation. She said that there are approximately 135 separate databases maintained by the MTA and its agencies.
Ms. Michaels commented that the technologies that Ms. Shannon presented are a beautiful way of making sense of data. She asked whether other transit agencies are using visualization to help riders and others understand their operations. Ms. Shannon replied that there are many examples of the use of visualization by state departments of transportation and others in the public sector, while transit agencies have been slower to adopt the technology and are just getting started.
Mr. Godino questioned whether the data that is used in visualization will be available in an accessible format. Ms. Shannon replied that much of the data is publically accessible now and can be used in various ways by applications. Mr. Godino also asked what impact the rise of mega data will have. Ms. Shannon said that existing data structures are not set up to handle the volume of data that is available. In addition, there are personnel limitations as the people that deal with agency data generally view this work as a sideline to their primary jobs.
Old Business
The Council discussed Sam Schwartz’s presentation to the PCAC and the position that the Council would take on his proposals. It was agreed that the Council is not currently in a position to support Mr. Schwartz’s proposals. Mr. Henderson asked whether the members wish to express their view of capital project priorities if additional funding is available. Ms. Michaels said that she felt a need for additional information on the proposals. Mr. Epstein said that he believed that the Council’s existing capital improvement priorities would apply to Mr. Schwartz’s proposals. Ms. Michaels said that electrification of the LIRR system throughout Long Island is a project that would yield positive results, in spite of its expense.
New Business
Mr. Epstein suggested that the members discuss potential non-fare revenues that could benefit the system. The Council discussed station area development projects that are proposed and in progress. Ms. Carpenter stated that in Ronkonkoma the concept is to provide commuter services in connection with the development. At Farmingdale, she noted, customers want services at the station, but they are not provided to them.
Mr. Epstein asked whether something could be done with regard to ticketing that would be more efficient. He suggested that if commuters could buy tickets in new ways, the cost of selling them could be reduced. Matt Kessler noted that at the Great Neck station there is an empty office. He said that it took $1million to renovate it and it has since only been used for a public information center for a few days. Ms. Carpenter commented that in England there are call boxes installed that riders can tap to get information.
Ms. Michaels said there is a need to reexamine the fare zones and the fare structure. She said that there is a dramatic increase in cost as people go farther out on Long Island and said that ticket pricing is such that if multiple people are traveling you can’t buy tickets for the group that make it economically advantageous to ride the LIRR rather than driving.
Ms. Carpenter suggested that one way to reduce costs is to rely more heavily on proof of payment systems. She said that she understands that there would be opposition to this direction from labor. Mr. Epstein suggested that allowing commuters to pay in advance for a one year commutation ticket could cut costs. Mr. Peranzo said that the pilot test of Coo Coo’s ticketing system at the Barclay’s golf tournament was all about reducing costs.
Mr. Epstein commented that the Council needs to advocate that new ways of raising non-fare revenue be found. Mr. Peranzo asked why the LIRR isn’t selling food and drinks to be bought onboard. Mr. Epstein suggested we need to keep thinking about new ways of raising revenue.
Ms. Michaels stated that she would like to continue to stay involved in the issues of alcohol being confiscated on the trains and the MTAPD being involved in DWI checkpoints operated by the Suffolk County Sheriff. Mr. Epstein recommended that the Council invite the new Chief in charge of the MTAPD on Long Island to come to a Council meeting.
Ms. Michaels commented that at Jamaica Station the weeds are 4 to 5 feet tall around the Jay Tower. She also stated that there is electrical equipment covered by 4 to 5 foot tall weeds. She asked what is going on with the maintenance of way and that she had never seen the situation with the weeds this bad. Ms. Michaels suggested that the Council investigate the situation.
Respectfully submitted,
William Henderson
Executive Director
Long Island Rail Road Commuters Council
Chair’s Report
August 9, 2012
Since we last met, the most prominent MTA news has been the release of the MTA’s preliminary 2013 budget and the plans for restoration of some of the LIRR service that was cut in 2010. Ira won’t be at this month’s meeting, so to summarize the service restorations that were presented to the Board; we will begin to see improvements as Ronkonkoma Branch off peak service will be increased from hourly to half hourly westbound on weekend mornings and eastbound on weekend afternoons, as well as westbound on weekdays following the post-AM peak period. This new service extends only to Farmingdale, however, so it does not cover many Ronkonkoma Branch riders.
Also included in the service changes are restorations of a Long Beach AM peak train, late night service to Atlantic Terminal, a Port Jefferson PM peak train from Hunterspoint, three evening scoot trains between Babylon and Patchogue or Speonk, and one summer PM peak train from Hunterspoint to Montauk. The weekend Ronkonkoma Branch improvements will begin in November 2012, and all other improvements besides the summer Montauk train will begin in March 2013. The Montauk summer service improvement will begin in May 2013. We as a Council should remain aware that, although the announced service restorations are positive steps, there are remaining service cuts that we should fight to restore. In your packet today is our press release responding to the service restorations.
Last month I attended a Long Island Regional Economic Development Council meeting. As you know, expansion of rail freight is seen as a need by many in the business community, and at this meeting I questioned the impact that rail freight expansion would have on commuters. Unfortunately, discussion of this topic was cut short when an LIRR representative stated flatly that the LIRR could accommodate freight without adverse impacts on service. I believe that there are issues, such as potential accidents, that must be explored and will continue to push for a full consideration of benefits and risks.
I have had some preliminary discussions with our Federal elected officials about working with them to bring together a public meeting to explore what we must do to ensure the security of our railroads and transportation facilities. This meeting would involve Members of Congress and their staffs, federal Homeland Security officials and security and law enforcement personnel. If any member wants to help with the planning for this event, please let me know.
Planning for the Bus Rapid Transit Symposium, which is tentatively set for October 5, 2012 in Hauppauge, is continuing. We discussed being a co-sponsor of this event, along with the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, at our last meeting. Presently, Tri-State is working on tying down a keynote speaker for the symposium.
We also need to discuss what kind of Meet the Commuter Council events that we want to hold in the next year. We have several options, including more events in terminals in the evening rush or holding events at major stations on Long Island. If we go to the Long Island stations, members will have to commit to be there, since one or two people can’t do it all alone. We can discuss this under new business.
At our last meeting, we spoke briefly about the presentations from Sam Schwartz on his FAIR plan that was made at the June PCAC meeting. As you may remember, Mr. Schwartz has asked the Councils to help him develop a list of needed projects that could be funded from the revenue generated by the plan. I want to emphasize that we would not be endorsing the FAIR plan by adding our input, and we will talk about the projects that we want to include under old business.
Last month, we sent another letter to LIRR President Williams on the right-of-way encroachments on the Port Washington Branch, which we have been dealing with for over a year. A copy of the letter is included in your packet today. We will not stop pressing to have this issue resolved, and we are currently awaiting further information on what has been done by the Rail Road and the Town so that we can take the appropriate next steps.
We also received responses from Joe Calderone to two letters that we wrote to Helena Williams. While these letters were sent several weeks apart and involved different service disruptions, the fundamental concern that we expressed in both of these letters was that the LIRR is failing to adequately communicate with commuters during these incidents. Unfortunately, the responses that we received were little more than a discussion of the LIRR’s standard procedures and how the Rail Road had implemented them in each case. Communication failures have been a primary concern of this Council for many years, and it seems that the LIRR has still not fully embraced the philosophy that in times of service disruption the Rail Road is responsible for making sure that riders understand the situation and their options. Copies of our original letters and the responses are in your packet today.
The second of these letters to which I just referred discussed problems with taxicab fare gouging and the failure of the LIRR to take steps to eliminate it. I do have some good news on this front. The State legislation that would permit Suffolk County to regulate taxicabs and limousines has gone to the Governor to be signed into law, and we have written the Governor to urge him to approve these new powers so that they may be used to protect commuters.
Don’t forget that on the morning of August 27 members and staff are scheduled to tour the East Side Access project. For any members who now find that they are able to go, speak to Bill and he will make sure that you have the release that is needed from all participating in the tour.
I also want to remind you to mark your calendars for the September 6 PCAC meeting. It will be a lively meeting, as we’ll be discussing our position on the upcoming fare increases and our guest will be MTA Chief Financial Officer Robert Foran. Mr. Foran will outline for us the preliminary 2013 MTA budget that was released at the July MTA Board meeting and respond to our questions.
Finally, everyone should have received a questionnaire about the PCAC website in a recent email. If you have not done so, staff would greatly appreciate your responses so we can consider them in the redesign of the website. If you don’t want to respond electronically, see Jan and she will give you a paper copy of the questionnaire to fill out.