They Wouldn't Dare!

Railfan brothers(and any sisters that may be out there). Please, brace yourselves for what you are about to read. Actually, some of you may seriously want to consider having paramedics on hand. If this really is true, this could be by far the worst news any LIRR fan could ever recieve.

From Newsday:

MTA seeks LIRR fare increase, service cuts

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Joie Tyrrell
Staff Writer

July 29, 2004, 11:55 AM EDT


The Metropolitan Transportation Authority today proposed Long Island Rail Road fares by 5 percent and reducing off-peak service to help close its multimillion-dollar budget deficit.

In a meeting in Manhattan this morning, MTA Executive Director Katie Lapp released details of the 2005 financial plan as well as budget projections for 2005 to 2008. Among the options under consideration are fare hikes for the commuter rails, which include the LIRR and MetroNorth, and LIRR schedule changes that could mean combining a number of trains, according to a source familiar with the plan. The railroad also may cut back on train service during the non-rush hours.

The MTA also proposed reducing the cleaning of train cars and stations.

But in a sign of how dire the agency's finances may be, it's proposed far more draconian and unprecedent cuts for 2006. They include:

Ending service on the West Hempstead, Oyster Bay, Montauk and Greenport lines, ripping up the tracks and selling them for salvage.


Ending weekend service on the Oyster Bay, Far Rockaway, Port Jefferson and West Hempstead branches.


Closing ticket windows at 16 stations.


Combining 30 peak and off-peak trains.


Closing the train car washes.


Possibly a fare increase on top of that.

In addition, the abandoned proposal to combine the LIRR with Metro-North is back on the table.

The agency also has floated raising the costs of discounted multi-use MetroCards -- but not the $2 base fare -- to raise money. The MTA raised LIRR fares by an average of 25 percent last year and the subway fare to $2. The MTA also increased tolls by 25 cents to $1 on nine city-area bridges and tunnels. MTA officials are looking at raising those tolls again.

MTA officials declined to comment yesterday on the proposals but Lapp had directed LIRR officials earlier this year to look into cutting "internal inefficiencies and other matters" to close a gap of $540 million in 2005 that could grow to more than $1 billion in 2006.

"If I were Long Island Rail Road riders, I would be on guard," said Gene Russianoff, lead attorney for the Strap- hangers Campaign. The MTA's gaps are due to rising debt service on bonds to pay for increased borrowing, plus growing pension, benefit and employee health costs, Lapp has said.

Beverly Dolinsky, executive director of the LIRR Commuter's Council, said she expects MTA officials to detail different scenarios as they have done in former budget presentations.

"I think they will say, 'If you have to cut your budget by this much or this much or this much, what does that mean?'" she said. "This will give the public a chance to have input and let the powers that be see what it is."

The board will vote on a final 2005 budget in December. MTA officials are also expected to unveil the 2005 to 2009 capital plan, which likely includes funding for East Side Access linking the LIRR to Grand Central and a third track on the LIRR's Main Line from Bellerose to Hicksville.
Copyright © 2004, Newsday, Inc.



Absolutely unbelieveable.

Honestly, I don't think LIRR would really even do this though....it's gotta be just some silly scare tactic, I hope.

Don't worry, it's probably just scare tactics. They do this so that when they raise fares, and not cut service, everyone breathes a sigh of relief.

And if it's not, your handle will become "NIMBYLover", as the NIMBY's or rather the YIMBY's will be out in force to stop this. NIMBYism works both ways.

Scare tactic... However, no time like the present to whip out the pen and let your politicians know your feelings about the MTA's actions and your strong support for continued service as actively voting, long suffering commuters. Let them know what good is ESA or the third mainline track if there is no tracks for them to go to. How lovely would the LIE and the parkways be with all of that additional traffic. The pen is mighty, mighty indeed especially with Souzzi and Levy looking for some good news to spread, and eager to demonstrate their power over the forces of evil.

There were attempts, serious attempts in the past to do things such as closing the West Hemptead, or stations such as Glen St., and some letter writing and arm twisting of your local politicos saved them.

This ploy is succeeding in upsetting the public, which was all it was meant to do. Disenfranchinsing such a thickly populated area from rail service, particularly in light of the severe pollution and congestion cause by private automobiles, flies in the face of every quality of life initiative ever put before the American public. It is universally agreed that rail service is the single most efficient method for moving large groups of people from one location to another. This is "bull_hit" at it's most aggressive, and it will not survive a public debate.

It may well be scare tactics as you say. But whatever you do, DON'T TAKE IT FOR GRANTED!
I speak from experience. Here on Cape Cod, we had a popular rail service in the nineteen eighties that ran for four seasons. In 1989, the state cut the subsidy because of budget cuts, not ridership, as some of our local officials would have one believe today.
Despite the fact that millions of tax dollars were spent to improve the tracks and stations, we still have been devoid of trains since then.(The pro-highway, anti transit Governor Romney doesn't help either.)
We also have a "silent majority" of people who want the trains, but like unprotesting kittens, they refuse to write, call, or e-mail our local officials and governor.
I would hate to see happen to you guys on Long Island what happened here on the Cape.
Don't let them close even one route down. That will make it easier for them to close other routes down and before you know it, the LIRR starts to look as diminutive as the MBTA commuter rail. True, the "T" commuter rail is a fine operation, but policy makers have made it difficult for the system to expand beyond the I-495 perimeter. The result is that many places, including resort areas, lack needed rail service.
I'm sure you wouldn't want to see Montauk, Greenport, or the Fire Island connections reduced or eliminated. Once a rail line is removed, it becomes almost impossible to put back, even if it's "railbanked."
Improved station facilities are no guarantee for continued service.(read above)
Make sure that your elected officials realize that if they want to remain elected officials, they must follow the will of the people and not only preserve but improve rail service.

Be polite, but be assertive, and you'll win!

Al.