E.R. commuter’s tote bags prove popular — but so far, inaccurate

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East Rockaway resident Deirdre Vesce Roddin’s frustrations with Long Island Rail Road delays inspired her to take action about a month ago. Using an online printing company, she created canvas bags that say “Long Island Fail Road” and “Customers should expect delays and cancellations.”

“I just wanted one for myself,” Vesce Roddin said. “It’s a small way to protest. There’s just no accountability, and there’s nothing we can do about it.”

A supporter shared a picture of her first bag, which she ordered from Vistaprint, on the “Long Island FAILroad” Facebook page. The June 19 post attracted comments, including one from Diana Nappi, of Valley Stream, who wrote, “My friend wants one lol where did you get [it]?” The comments encouraged Vesce Roddin, 34, to order more bags and sell them to other dismayed commuters.

“It kind of like blew up a little from there,” she said.

As of press time, Vesce Roddin had sold about 10 bags to commuters for $15 each. She set up an Etsy page on July 17 so customers could purchase them online without having to request one on Facebook. She is not producing the bags to make a profit. “I’m selling it for basically the cost,” she said. “Maybe a few dollars more to round it out.”

Vesce Roddin is one of several commuters who are sporting merchandise with anti-LIRR sentiments. Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials declined a request for comment on the recent anti-LIRR movement.

Vesce Roddin is a communications associate for the New York Philharmonic, and commutes into Penn Station five days a week from the Centre Avenue Station in East Rockaway.

Planned Amtrak construction was expected to impact Long Island commuters this summer because it shut down three LIRR tracks and has forced the MTA to reduce rush-hour service by about 20 percent. The construction includes the replacement of wooden ties, rails and switches. The LIRR will also share tracks with Amtrak and New Jersey Transit trains during the work, which is planned for completion in September.

Last month, Gov. Andrew Cuomo dubbed the construction period a “summer of hell,” in anticipation of widespread delays. State Sen. Todd Kaminsky protested the work, holding a rally with LIRR riders at the Rockville Centre station in May. However, some commuters the Herald interviewed said that the schedule changes have not yet affected them.

Vesce Roddin said she took a vacation from her job last week to judge how Amtrak’s construction in Penn Station would affect her commute. On July 17, she discovered that her first trip to and from the city was not as hellacious as advertised. “Today was really my first commute in, and it was smooth,” she said. “I keep waiting for some massive issue to just derail everyone, but so far it’s been good.”

Other commuters echoed Vesce Roddin’s sentiments. Meg Flordiliza, of Lynbrook, said that her commute has been the same as always. “I’m used to it already,” she said.

East Rockaway resident Jonathan Meneses said he takes a train from Centre Avenue to Penn Station every day at 7:54 a.m., and returns home on the 5:20 p.m. train without issue. “For the most part, besides having to stand and some overcrowding on the morning train, I haven’t had to adjust much,” Meneses said. “I do wake up a few minutes early, and out of an abundance of caution, I check LIRR alerts before I hit the pavement.”