LONG ISLAND RAIL ROAD COMMUTER COUNCIL
MINUTES OF OCTOBER 8, 2015
A meeting of the Long Island Rail Road Commuter Council (LIRRCC) was convened at 4:30 p.m. on October 8, 2015 in the LIRR Transportation Services Conference Room at One Penn Plaza, Penn Station, New York.
The following members were present:
Gerard Bringmann Owen Costello
Sheila Carpenter Mark Epstein
Ira R. Greenberg
The following members participated via phone:
Michael Godino Matthew Kessler
Maureen Michaels Larry Rubinstein
The following members were absent:
Raymond Pagano Bryan Peranzo
In addition, the following persons were present:
William Henderson -PCAC Executive Director
Hector Garcia. -LIRR
Richard Oakley -LIRR
Edward Dumas -LIRR
David Kubicek -LIRR
Approval of Agenda and Minutes
The agenda for the October 8, 2015 meeting was approved and the minutes of the August 13, 2015 meeting were approved.
Chair’s Report
The Chair’s Report is attached to these minutes.
Owen Costello mentioned that on October 6 a public address announcer gave a last call for a train that had not arrived in the station.
The members and LIRR staff briefly discussed that there are no monitors that allow Penn Station Central Control or the ushers to see trains within the station. It was noted that the Rail Road is exploring use of security camera feeds to get some video coverage of the station.
Edward Dumas and David Kubicek said that they are very mindful of safety issues raised by LIRRCC. Mr. Kubicek stated that he will address the issues surrounding video coverage of Penn Station.
Introduction of Richard Oakley, LIRR Chief Program Officer to discuss upcoming capital projects and Edward Dumas, LIRR Vice President, Market Development and Public Affairs to discuss communication with passengers, and David Kubicek, LIRR Senior Vice President – Operations to discuss operational implication of capital work and communications.
Also in attendance from the LIRR were Susan McGowan, Sam Zambuto and Sal Arena.
Gerard Bringmann commented that the problem with luggage onboard is not confined to the Cannonball trains, yet the LIRR’s message is directed towards riders on these trips. He suggested that there be a general announcement about luggage and the need to keep aisles clear.
Sheila Carpenter noted that for trains out of Brooklyn, there is no signage indicating where the train serving Ronkonkoma is located, either on the upper level or the platform. Richard Schulman pointed out that the track for the Ronkonkoma trains is usually shown on the main departures board in the station. Ms. Carpenter responded that on the evening of Sunday, October 4 the main departure board at Atlantic Terminal did not indicate which train would serve Ronkonkoma.
Sam Zambuto commented that, as Hector Garcia had said earlier, if a train does not have a scheduled connection to a given destination, it is not listed with that destination on the signage.
Ms. Carpenter also stated that she did not know whether there would be another train, because there are not trains after a certain hours.
Mark Epstein stated that he hopes that the LIRRCC can get an advance notice of what is coming in terms of capital and major maintenance projects. He said that he hoped that they might have heard of the work on the Cold Spring Harbor station earlier so it could have been completed in a different season.
Hector Garcia replied that this work is a maintenance project and that there are three similar projects completed per year. Some of them have to be underway in the winter.
Richard Oakley showed a color-coded map that displayed new and active infrastructure projects as well as recently completed projects such as the Massapequa station work and the Wyandanch parking facility.
Mr. Oakley said that the Main Line Double Track would be completed through a design build process, and in August the LIRR held a ceremonial laying of the first length of the Second Track’s second phase between Central Islip and Farmingdale. The project is in the 2015 – 2019 Capital Program. He also noted that the Colonial Road Bridge project is underway, with the superstructure in place. It is to be completed by end of 2016.
Escalator replacement projects are planned at six locations on the Babylon Branch, but there are some complications. Some stairs have to be replaced instead of modified in order to replace the escalators.
In the Jamaica capacity improvements project, the platform F and associated track work plans are now out on street for contractors to bid on them.
Mr. Epstein requested that the Council receive more details about what is in projects before they go forward. He said that he did not know what was happening at Cold Spring Harbor before preparatory work was underway.
Mr. Garcia stated that the scope of this project is to renovate bathroom, doing some other maintenance as well. There are no plans drawn up for these kinds of projects. Mr. Oakley said that they have scopes for the projects that they work on and they do and will share them with Council.
Mr. Epstein asked if the LIRR talked to commuters at station. Mr. Oakley said no, but they have held meetings to which people are invited. Mr. Epstein pointed out that many of the meetings are at times riders are not yet.
Ms. Carpenter wanted to know whether the temporary waiting room at Cold Spring Harbor will be open at night. She also mentioned that people waiting for rides from the stations are sometimes forced to wait in the cold. Mr. Oakley replied that they are using wind shelters with heaters, and they do not get locked up.
The Mets/Willets Point platforms will be extended and ADA elevators added. This design was just completed.
Mr. Epstein discussed the Hicksville station. He stated that the waiting room should have been in the scope and that the bathrooms that were redone a few years ago are in bad shape. He said that the Council had also recommended lighting in the tunnels. Mr. Oakley said that they will be adding stairs at the station. Lighting may be a part of that element.
Mr. Bringmann asked if building standards have been established for stations. Mr. Oakley responded that they have, including radiant heaters with motion detectors and LED lighting.
Mr. Bringmann mentioned a problem at Hicksville with repairing the station doors. Mr. Oakley stated that he could not use other doors in inventory to replace them because the original station doors were not standard. Mr. Kubicek pointed out that they are undertaking a maintenance effort along with Hicksville improvements
Mr. Oakley added they are documenting lessons learned after every project. He gave as an example that they have learned to us full length piano hinges on doors. Also, they are using a more modular approach. He also said they are trying to slow down deterioration of platforms from ice and snow.
Mr. Epstein pointed out that there is a problem with canopies directing water onto the platform, which refreezes. Mr. Kubicek responded that there are restrictions on what they can do because of clearance. Mr. Oakley added they use gutters to take water away.
Mr. Costello asked about the pigeons in stations. Mr. Garcia responded that they use electronic systems to simulate birds of prey. Mr. Kubicek added that they use special types of surfaces to discourage pigeons from landing.
Mr. Oakley stated they also engaged a bird expert to tell the LIRR how to discourage pigeons. They recently have installed netting and it is working, where some previous installations have not. Mr. Kubicek said that they have had issues with putting up netting at the request of the local community and that LIRR forces are now being very methodical in their approach.
Ira Greenberg commented on the Long Island City yard. He wanted to know if there is anything that can be done to reduce impact on neighboring residential building. Mr. Garcia responded that a study was conducted, but little can be done. Mr. Kubicek stated that they are curbing excessive idling of locomotives.
Mr. Kubicek noted that the mid-Suffolk yard is another planned project. In addition the Nostrand Avenue Station will be given a new look.
Mike Godino asked if the key station concept is out of the Rail Road’s plans and if all stations are being made ADA complaint. Mr. Oakley responded that full accessibility is the goal and all major improvements must include ADA accessibility.
Ellyn Shannon asked if there are any projects that can increase capacity. Mr. Oakley noted that the Main Line third track is one of these projects, but it is not in the Capital Program. Mr. Kubicek stated lengthening platforms can move trains through the system more quickly, but eventually you will need the third track.
Mr. Bringmann asked if the Massapequa pocket track is still planned. Mr. Oakley said that it is and that it is under construction now.
Communications
Ed Dumas stated that as they went through service disruptions recently he was not sure what riders’ major communication issues were.
Maureen Michaels said that there is a problem with alerts and with a lack of onboard updates to riders on what is going on. She said there is no clear policy on what riders should be told. Ms. Michaels stated that in the UK there is constant communications by onboard personnel when there is a delay and that there needs to be a policy created and retraining of personnel. She said that when a yard train derails, trains disappear from the departures board without explanation.
Larry Rubinstein said the on-board crew members go and hide during service disruptions. He stated that there needs to be some process for getting better information and that he received more information from his cellphone than from the crew. Mr. Bringmann pointed out that even with LIRR promises to issue cellphones to crew members, the crews do not have the information that is on the online system. Ms. Carpenter stated that she has seen crews try to do something to inform passengers, but they do not seem to have information. Mr. Zambuto commented that the Public Information Office sends information out to crews.
Mr. Kubicek stated that, in all fairness to conductors, they work hard and are courteous in general. Some technology that they have is not 21st Century. He stated that they are in negotiations with LIRR unions over equipping crews with new technology. This is a negotiation over work rules. Also he stated that the LIRR does not have centralized control, but works with towers. If a conductor calls the tower, the tower operator has to go to the Public Information Office who goes to the central bridge to verify the situation. This takes time and reduces communication.
Mr. Kubicek also said that they are putting out the message that we should communicate when there is an incident. He said they will improve communications in the M9 and M9A equipment. They are looking at a way to do scrolling information from a central command center on board trains. He stated that they are looking for a five to ten minute cycle of communication from conductors, with five to eight minutes between announcements. When there is a new control center, all communications will be centralized.
Ms. Michaels stated that only 25 percent of riders are signed up for alerts. This puts the burden back on crew and terminal personnel. She said that there are people who process information differently and the LIRR has to realize this. Mr. Zambuto stated that there are people sharing alerts with others, including crew who relay it to riders, so their reach is multiplied.
Ms. Michaels stated that there is only a one and a half day notice of weekend disruptions. Mr. Kubicek asked if the seat drops do any good in informing riders.
Mr. Epstein responded that they are only good for first run of the day.
Mr. Bringmann wanted to know if LIRR keeps statistics on missed platforms. He stated he has never received a response on whether a missed platform was reported. He stated he had been on fifteen or sixteen trains with missed
platforms. He said fortunately the doors were generally protected. He stated that there has to be some way to check on this.
Mr. Kubicek stated that the problem is self-reporting and engineers and conductors do not always communicate. He said he will look at these issues including opening doors on the wrong side and missed platforms.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 6:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
William Henderson
Executive Director