Hundreds blast MTA, LIRR changes during hearing

Not even the wild storm that blew through New York City and Long Island last week kept people from attending the MTA’s public hearing in Garden City on fare increases.

Although the topic of the night was supposed to be proposed fare hikes, hardly any of the hundred-plus people in attendance addressed the matter. Most blasted the transit agency for instituting service cuts and schedule changes on the Long Island Rail Road, threatening the existence of Long Island Bus and proposing cuts to Able-Ride, paratransit bus service for people with disabilities.

Many of the night’s speakers, including Malverne Mayor Patricia McDonald and Nassau County Legislator Dave Denenberg, delivered impassioned — if not angry — speeches, often eliciting applause and, on occasion, standing ovations.

But the six members of the MTA’s 17-member board who were present sat expressionless. They listened quietly as several Able-Ride users pleaded with them to keep the paratransit service, explaining that without it, they would be confined to their homes and unable to work. They said it would substantially diminish their quality of life.

The MTA panel, which did not include LIRR President Helena Williams, continued to sit silently as McDonald, who echoed Able-Ride users' sentiments, spoke of schedule changes on the LIRR’s West Hempstead branch — implemented on Sept. 13 — that would disrupt commutes for hundreds of Malverne residents. The mayor presented board members with a petition signed by more than 600 Malverne commuters demanding that the MTA return the schedule to its previous version.

According to McDonald and several Malverne commuters, the new schedule is illogical, pushing train departure times so far ahead or behind that commuters would be significantly inconvenienced. One example, provided in an email sent to the Herald by Malverne commuter Robert Powers, is the rescheduling of the 7:23 a.m. train from West Hempstead. “The 7:23 was great because it got you in for 8:30 and you could get the subway and be at your office by 9,” Powers wrote.

With the new schedule, Malverne commuters would have to catch a 7 a.m. or 7:44 a.m. train into Manhattan, which would make them extremely early or late to work, according to Powers.

Diane McDermott, also a Malverne commuter, complained about losing the 7:16 a.m. train from West Hempstead that arrived at Penn Station at 8:05 a.m. It was rescheduled to 8:07 a.m., with a 9:02 a.m. Penn Station arrival time. The change, McDermott told the Herald, “will result in all commuters on this train scheduled for an 8:30 or 9 a.m. start to their work day being late.”

The new schedule will likely force many commuters to catch the 6:53 a.m. or 7:36 a.m. trains. The former will likely be overcrowded, while the latter would cause tardiness, especially in the case of a delay.

“There is a difference of 23 minutes,” McDermott said, “which may not seem like a lot. But when you have children to get ready for school, prepare medication, breakfast for elderly parents, etcetera, that 23 minutes is a very big deal.”

An LIRR spokesman said the agency “will be monitoring the changes in the new timetable and will make schedule adjustments, as necessary, based on additional ridership and possible crowding on trains.”

For more information about scheduling changes, service cuts and MTA or LIRR matters, visit mta.info/LIRR.

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