August 2008
The LIRRCC Joins the Long Island Transit Coalition

On July 16, the newly formed Long Island Transit Coalition held a press conference at MTA Headquarters urging state elected officials to fully fund public transportation projects that would benefit Long Island residents and transit riders. 

The Coalition is made up of over a dozen diverse organizations from across the metropolitan area, including the LIRRCC, Long Island Federation of Labor, the Long Island Contractor’s Association, Long Island Mid-Suffolk Business Association, the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, Regional Plan Association, Vision Long Island, Sustainable Long Island, New York League of Conservation Voters, Long Island Progressive Coalition, the Long Island Regional Planning Board, the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island, and Long Island Neighborhood Network.

The coalition is calling on state elected officials to fully fund projects in the LIRR’s capital program, including the Grand Central Terminal East Side Access project and the LIRR Third Track.  When completed, East Side Access will bring approximately 160,000 weekday riders directly to and from the east side of Midtown Manhattan and shave approximately 40 minutes off current round trip commute times.  The LIRR Third Track project is necessary for Long Islanders to reap all the benefits of the East Side Access project.  The Third Track project will enable more intra-Island transit trips, facilitate reverse commutes for workers on Long Island, increase express service and reduce delays on the Ronkonkoma line.

Gerry Bringmann, Chair of the LIRR Commuter Council, points out the significance of this group forming: “With MTA’s financial condition rapidly eroding and capital projects critical to LIRR’s future, such as East Side Access and Third Track, now in jeopardy, the Coalition’s voice should be viewed as a wake-up call to Albany:  Ridership is increasing and the funding must be in place to make the necessary investments to accommodate this growth.”

“We will not stand silent while vital transit projects like the Third Track project are potentially delayed,” said Kate Slevin, executive director of the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, a non-profit organization working toward a more balanced, transit-friendly and equitable transportation system in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. “At a time of record gas prices, our elected officials must move transit projects forward, not allow them to derail.”

Source: MTA

August 2008
LIRRCC Calls on Governor Paterson to Appoint a “Rider of the System” to the MTA Board

In response to the disingenuous comments of MTA Board member David Mack, about riding the LIRR (see July 2008 Council news), the Council wrote to Governor Paterson and requested that he require a future appointment to the Board to be a frequent user of the system:

 July 14, 2008

The Honorable David A. Paterson
Governor
The Executive Chamber
State Capitol
Albany, NY  12224

Dear Governor Paterson:

With the recent death of MTA Board Member Frank Powers you have the considerable responsibility of selecting a successor to serve out the unexpired portion of Mr. Powers’ term on the Board, which continues until June 30, 2009.  As the legislatively mandated representative of Long Island Rail Road users, the Long Island Rail Road Commuter’s Council (LIRRCC) calls upon you to include in your selection criteria for this and any future MTA Board appointments a requirement that Board Members be regular users of mass transportation.

A primary qualification for membership on the LIRRCC is regular ridership of the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR).  My fellow Council members and I believe that the experiences that we gather through use of the LIRR are invaluable in our advocacy for the interests of the Rail Road’s riders.  While experience riding mass transportation should by no means be the only qualification for service, and we want those who serve on the MTA Board to bring with them a range of skills and abilities, we feel strongly that a Board Member can only fully understand the issues confronting riders by confronting those issues as a rider.

We believe that adopting this policy on appointments would be a powerful way for you to bring positive change to the MTA Board, and ultimately the entire organization, in the present and for many years to come.  We appreciate the interest that you have shown in public transportation issues in your first months as Governor and look forward to working with you in the future.

Sincerely,

Gerard P. Bringmann
Chairman