Statement of the Long Island Rail Road Commuters Council
Before the MTA Board Long Island Committee
January 25, 2010
I am William Henderson, Executive Director of the Long Island Rail Road Commuters Council. The LIRRCC, which was established in 1981, is the legislatively mandated representative of Long Island Rail Road riders.
We are very concerned with the service reductions that were reduces last week We appreciate the work that went into preparing the service reduction book that was released last week; this is a positive step toward making the process of difficult choices more transparent. Nonetheless, the Council remains very concerned by the service cut package. While we understand the aim of affecting the lowest number of riders per dollar of savings, this package is a real diminution of the system as a whole. Removing service in off peak hours makes it more difficult for the riders to rely on the system as their means of mobility and will ultimately have long lasting impacts, even if some service is restored.
Maintaining a twenty four hour system is necessary for this City. While prospects for additional resources do not appear to be favorable, we ask that this committee explore every responsible option before these reductions, which threaten to affect the region in the long term as well as in 2010, are put into effect. We appreciate the opportunity to present our views. Thank you for your time and attention.
Statement of the Metro-North Railroad Commuter Council
Before the MTA Board Metro-North Committee
January 25, 2010
I am William Henderson, Executive Director of the Metro-North Railroad Commuter Council. The MNRCC, which was established in 1981, is the legislatively mandated representative of Metro-North Railroad riders.
The Council is understandably very concerned by the proposed service reductions released last week. We recognize that Metro-North management faces a difficult situation and have made a major effort to minimize the number of riders affected by service cuts. We appreciate the work that obviously went into the decisions that were made in balancing the maintenance of acceptable levels of service quality and the desire to minimize reductions in choices available to riders.
Beyond the number of individuals affected by the proposed changes, we are concerned about the impact of these changes on the robustness of the transportation network. It is important for the system to provide options to meet a range of travel needs, and these proposals diminish the options available to riders. We see this in larger headways and the loss of a West of Hudson train that makes the Railroad no longer a viable option for those who start work at an early hour.
While prospects for additional resources do not appear to be favorable, we ask that this committee explore every responsible option before these reductions, which threaten to affect the region in the long term as well as in 2010, are put into effect. We appreciate the opportunity to present our views. Thank you for your time and attention.
Statement of the New York City Transit Riders Council
Before the MTA Board NYC Transit Committee
January 25, 2010
I am William Henderson, Executive Director of the New York City Transit Riders Council. The NYCTRC, which was established in 1981, is the legislatively mandated representative of New York City Transit riders.
We appreciate the work that went into preparing the service reduction book that was released last week; this is a positive step toward making the process of difficult choices more transparent. Nonetheless, the Council remains very concerned by the service cut package. While we understand the aim of affecting the lowest number of riders per dollar of savings, this package is a real diminution of the system as a whole. Removing service in off peak hours makes it more difficult for the riders to rely on the system as their means of mobility and will ultimately have long lasting impacts, even if some service is restored.
Maintaining a twenty four hour system is necessary for this City. While prospects for additional resources do not appear to be favorable, we ask that this committee explore every responsible option before these reductions, which threaten to affect the region in the long term as well as in 2010, are put into effect. We appreciate the opportunity to present our views. Thank you for your time and attention.