A meeting of the Long Island Rail Road Commuter’s Council (LIRRCC) was convened at 4:30 p.m. on February 10, 2011 in the Transportation Services conference room at Penn Station, New York City.
The following members were present:
• Gerard P. Bringmann
• Ira Greenberg
• Owen Costello
• Matthew Kessler
• Sheila Carpenter
• Maureen Michaels
• Mark Epstein
• Larry Rubinstein
No members were absent.
In addition, the following persons were present:
• William Henderson -PCAC Executive Director
• Jan Wells -PCAC Associate Director
• Hector Garcia -LIRR
Approval of Agenda and Minutes
The agenda for the February 10, 2011 meeting was approved. The minutes of the January 13, 2011 meetings were approved as amended.
Chair’s Report
The Chair’s Report is attached to these minutes.
Maureen Michaels noted that Hector Garcia of the LIRR has offered to provide a table for the LIRRCC at the next Meet the Managers event on February 15.
Ms. Michaels remarked that in the recent snowstorms it is evident that there is a disconnect between the LIRR’s statements and the reality of communication at the LIRR. She said that the LIRR should not be sending people to a website that can’t handle the traffic.
Larry Rubenstein said that problems with snow are continuing, as he had seen a situation at his station where cars were trapped because of the remaining snow in the parking lot. Ms. Michaels said that there is still too much snow in lots, and a shortage of spaces. She said that the Suffolk County Police are ticketing cars that had to park in no parking areas because no place else to park, but that the letter that she had sent to those responsible for maintaining the lots had put everyone on notice that commuters are angry.
Mark Epstein asked why towns don’t use contractors to plow their parking lots. Ms. Michaels responded that some towns use contractors, but that practice varies from place to place.
Ms. Michaels said that we need to better understand who is riding the Rail Road.
Sheila Carpenter asked whether the survey will include the Reverse Commute. Ms. Michaels said that the reverse peak market doesn’t really exist it’s only a few crowded trains due to track availability. She said that in her opinion, LIRR does a good job surveying
Board Report
Ira Greenberg gave the Board report. He referred to the LIRR/MNR Board committee agenda book, which he brought to the meeting and pointed out that the Mean Distance Between Failures of diesel locomotives is only 18,000 miles. He said that the MTA railroads must try to meet riders’ legitimate expectations and that he had sent an email on the topic to members. Mr. Greenberg said that Board members Pat Foye and Mark Page are supportive of this point of view, but Board Chairman Jay Walder said that this was oversimplifying the matter.
Mr. Greenberg pointed out that the Board committee agenda book presents reports from the LIRR and Metro-North in the same format and that this allows readers to better see the contrasts between them. Farebox Operating Ratio is one area where there is a notable contrast, in that the figure for the LIRR is substantially lower than that for Metro-North. On the other hand, this comparison is not the whole story, as the structure of pension costs between the two railroads is very different, and if the LIRR did not have its unfunded pension liabilities its figure would be considerably higher. However, this does give the MTA the incentive to challenge the LIRR unions in this area
Mr. Greenberg again noted that the diesel fleet continues to be a problem, and that diesel equipment on Metro-North is not delivering the performance expected of it either. He said that new Board member Charles Moerdler has also made some good points on the Board, bringing up the need for the LIRR second and third track projects.
Staff Report
Bill Henderson said that Ellyn Shannon is working on the issue of standees on the LIRR and will be distributing a report on the subject of programmed standees. He said that it is critical for the LIRRCC to work on the issue of funding the MTA capital program this year, as the program is not fully funded after 2011. He said that this will require that we meet with State legislators and that the staff will arrange for meetings with them in Albany. He said that the membership and leadership of key committees is just getting settled.
Mr. Greenberg said that the Council should focus on projects and tie this effort to the districts that they most greatly benefit. Mr. Henderson said that this will be a long term effort as in the absence of further resources capital funding will not begin to tighten until the spring of 2012 and that they may not address capital funding until April 2012 or later. Ms. Michaels said that the LIRRCC should have a campaign strategy spanning 12 months. Mr. Henderson said that the LIRRCC has a good opportunity to make an impact as Long Island, Queens, and Brooklyn are well represented on State legislative committees that deal with MTA issues. Ms. Michaels said that the Council should have a position paper that outlines the actions that it believes are important and that this should be a priority. She said that the Council also should have a plan for outreach and who should be targeted.
Hector Garcia said that the LIRR is currently the café space at the Great Neck Station to reach out to the community on the Colonial Bridge project. He said that the Rail Road would also be reaching out to legislators and other key persons in the community to advance projects that the LIRR feels are critical. Ms. Michaels said that the Council would independently support projects that it finds to be a priority and asked Mr. Garcia to inform the LIRRCC of the meetings that the LIRR is planning. Mr. Epstein said that the second track between Ronkonkoma and Farmingdale should be a priority.
Mr. Henderson distributed a discussion of the LIRRCC members’ blog that he has set up. He said that members should look for invitations to join the blog in their email and that once registered, they can begin to post articles. Mr. Henderson noted that staff will moderate comments posted in response to member entries, but that the blog is intended as a forum for members and that staff would not be producing its content.
New Business
Owen Costello cited an article in the Port Washington Patch that said that it costs the LIRR $2.75 to refund a ticket. He asked whether there a secondary market to sell tickets and whether there are any restrictions on the resale of tickets. Larry Rubinstein said that people are currently selling unused tickets near the ticket windows in Penn Station. Mr. Henderson said that he would find out whether resale of LIRR tickets is permitted.
Gerry Bringmann said that News 12 is currently working on a story about the LIRR’s failure to collect fares. He said that News 12 had requested estimates of uncollected tickets that conductors turn in to the LIRR through the Freedom of Information Law process. Ms. Michaels said that to her knowledge, the story had not yet been aired. Mr. Costello said that tickets are not collected whenever there is a problem on the Port Washington line. Mr. Bringmann said that in snowy weather this winter he had been on trains where there had been no ticket collection.
Mr. Costello said that he wanted the Council to monitor the status of improvements to the Port Washington train station. He said that he has heard of a possible expansion to the station. Mr. Garcia said that there have been discussions on improving parking, but in general when localities realize that their residents will not have preference in accessing new parking they are not interested in the projects.
Ms. Michaels said that the parking issue is endemic to Long Island stations and there is a need to establish a think tank to work with the Rail Road to develop new approaches to parking. She said that most lots have no surplus parking and questioned what will happen once the economy and employment begins to improve.
Ms. Michaels noted that MTA Board member Mitch Pally is now the CEO of the Long Island Builders Institute, a construction industry trade association. She questioned whether this association would result in conflicts with Mr. Pally’s position on the MTA Board and with other organizations with which he is involved
Old Business
No Old Business was discussed.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Deborah Morrison
Administrative Assistant