Locals pan MTA’s cuts

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority passed its 2010 operating budget last week, which includes among its massive service cuts the elimination of weekend service on the Long Island Rail Road's West Hempstead branch.

The line also serves Malverne, Lakeview and Valley Stream, among other areas.

MTA officials said they are aiming to close a $383 million budget deficit with the proposed $11 billion spending plan for 2010 to 2013, which passed unanimously by the MTA board on Dec. 17.

Jeremy Soffin, a MTA spokesman, explained that the West Hempstead branch became one of the lines on the service chopping block after LIRR officials determined that, on average, about 360 commuters use the branch on weekends. That figure, according to the MTA, is low when compared with other train lines such as Long Beach and Hempstead, which have more than 500 riders on weekends.

The MTA board must still hold a public hearing on the proposed budget and take another vote to adopt it. If service cuts are approved, they could take effect as early as next July.

"The service cuts are not final because the MTA board has to vote again on the specific cuts and the budget," Soffin said. "A public hearing has not been scheduled yet, but we expect to hold a hearing about the budget in early 2010."

The MTA's decision to pass its preliminary spending plan, however, has angered elected officials and residents alike, who say that the authority needs to explore all options before slashing service. The preliminary budget includes service cuts to eight Long Island Bus routes as well.

"This latest decision by the MTA is really a big disappointment," said Malverne Mayor Patricia McDonald. "I don't understand why the MTA will not try other options like reducing weekend trains at stations across the board, so that one branch's service does not have to be knocked out entirely."

Rosalie Norton, president of the West Hempstead Community Support Association, shared similar sentiments, contending that the weekend service cut to the West Hempstead line shows a lack of intelligent financial planning by the MTA.

"Completely eliminating weekend service at the West Hempstead branch is simply poor accounting because the MTA will be losing customers, so how is that saving money?" said Norton, who expressed opposition to the service cuts at a MTA public hearing 11 months ago. "How can the MTA increase its ridership and get more tax revenues if it continues to cut back on service?"

A loss of weekend service could force riders to use nearby train stations such as Lynbrook, Hempstead and Garden City to get to New York City, a possibility that has some people asking whether these areas have enough parking to accommodate additional traffic. Some residents believe the service disruption will prompt riders to just drive to Queens and Manhattan.

"While I recognize the need for the MTA to operate mass transit in a fiscally responsible manner, the elimination of weekend service on the West Hempstead branch may have a devastating effect on the communities served by that branch," said Rabbi Art Vernon, who leads the Jewish Community Center of West Hempstead. "Access to transportation is a key factor in the decision to move to a particular community, and I am certain that the MTA did not consider the full impact of its decision."

"The loss of weekend service shows a true lack of vision and common sense for mass transportation in the New York metro area," added Malverne resident Tom Grech, a Malverne Civic Association board member. "It has always seemed wasteful to have a four- to six-car train run on any line during slow periods with only a handful of users. Enough data should exist on historical usage to allow one- to two-car trains to service LIRR lines throughout Long Island during off hours."

For West Hempstead residents, the loss of weekend service may have an impact on much more than transportation. The West Hempstead station is next to the crime-ridden Courtesy Hotel on Hempstead Avenue, which is slated to be replaced with a 150-unit luxury apartment complex next year. To many residents, however, the elimination of weekend trains would hurt the community's efforts to attract renters to the complex, especially since the building’s proximity to the LIRR was a major selling point.

"So much for 'transit-oriented development' in West Hempstead," resident Seth Bykofsky said. "The MTA ... has once again shown that it has about as much regard for the commuting public as it does the ability to manage a budget. This is no way to run a railroad, let alone revitalize a community."

News alert:

The following Long Island Rail Road stations on the West Hempstead line, among others, will lose its weekend service if the MTA adopts its proposed 2010 budget:

- Malverne station

- Westwood station in Malverne

- Lakeview station

- Hempstead Gardens station in West Hempstead

- Valley Stream station

Comments about this story? DWilliams@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 205.