Summary of MTA Board - Long Island Rail Road Committee Meeting - 1/25/2010

The January 25, 2010, MTA Board Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) Committee meeting focused primarily on service reductions, operational performance, financial reports, and responses to recent severe weather impacts.

Key Points:

  1. Public Comments and Concerns:
    • Ira Greenberg, a board member, highlighted concerns about proposed service cuts, especially reductions in maintenance and their implications.
    • There was notable discussion about the sharp increase in Power Transit ridership, which contrasted with flat or declining ridership on fixed-route buses.
    • Suggestions were made to consider alternative funding mechanisms, such as surcharges, to preserve certain services despite low ridership.
    • The Long Island Railroad Commuter Council expressed worry that proposed cuts represent a fundamental shift in the railroad’s mission, citing specific service reductions like Greenport and overnight Brooklyn service, which could undermine community revitalization efforts.
  2. Long Island Bus Service and Financial Overview:
    • November bus service performance was strong with high on-time rates and improved fleet reliability, notably an 87% increase in mean distance between failures (MDBF) compared to the previous year.
    • Ridership trends showed a decline in fixed-route ridership but an increase in Power Transit ridership.
    • Financially, farebox revenue was slightly below forecasts for fixed-route but significantly above for Power Transit.
    • Non-competitive procurement for Kronos hardware/software support was approved.
    • Capital projects included completion of the Hempstead Transit Center upgrade and the installation of a new bus wash at Power Transit.
    • New natural gas buses (Orion models) are planned for delivery in 2010, replacing aging vehicles.
  3. Proposed Service Reductions on Long Island Bus:
    • The MTA faces a significant budget shortfall partly due to lower-than-expected mobility tax revenues, requiring service cuts totaling $6.3 million in 2010 and $11 million in 2011.
    • Proposed cuts focus on underutilized routes or parts of routes, including entire route discontinuations, reductions in service span, and route streamlining.
    • Examples include eliminating the lightly used N53 route, midday service on the N14 Rockville Center Loop, and discontinuing a low-ridership branch of the N23 route, with a focus on maintaining core network integrity.
    • The committee acknowledged the difficulty of these decisions, especially given the lack of reasonable alternatives for many Nassau County riders.
    • Public hearings are planned to gather feedback, and the MTA encourages community input on service criteria and priorities.
  4. Long Island Rail Road Ridership and Financials:
    • Preliminary year-end 2009 ridership was about 83 million, down 4.8% from 2008, with commuter ridership falling 6.4%, likely due to regional job market declines.
    • Financial reports showed total revenue on forecast but farebox revenue slightly unfavorable by $5.8 million.
    • Operating expenses were favorable to forecast by 3%, with labor and non-labor expenses closely managed.
    • The farebox recovery ratio was 48% for November, exceeding forecast by nearly four points.
  5. Response to December 2009 Blizzard:
    • The December 19-20 blizzard was the worst since 1996, causing significant service disruptions.
    • One train was stranded for about three hours due to engine failure from snow ingestion and frozen couplers, leading to customer discomfort and media attention.
    • Investigations revealed communication challenges, delayed police response, and inadequate equipment protections.
    • The LIRR plans to improve emergency protocols, including earlier police deployment, better communication tools (issuing cell phones to standby crews), and protective measures for couplers.
    • They are also adopting a policy of double-ending diesel locomotives to provide backup power.
    • Additional snow removal equipment was procured to improve track clearing.
    • The LIRR will formalize a winter storm operating plan that includes switching from third rail electric to diesel power when heavy snow accumulates, as well as clear communication strategies for customers.
    • Recovery efforts after the storm were generally successful despite challenges posed by Suffolk County’s plowing conditions.
  6. Operations and Safety:
    • The LIRR set new records for on-time performance in 2009, with over 95% overall punctuality.
    • Fleet reliability reached record levels, especially for diesel equipment.
    • The MTA Police reported a 22% decrease in major felonies for December and successful security deployments during the snowstorm and New Year’s Eve.
    • The ban on alcohol during New Year’s Eve was credited with reducing incidents.
  7. Capital Projects:
    • The Atlantic Terminal rehabilitation project reached key milestones and received positive feedback.
    • Major infrastructure renewal projects are underway, including bridge replacements on the Long Beach line, with no significant service disruptions reported.
    • Joint procurements with Bridges & Tunnels and NYC Transit for document destruction and uniform supply aim

Notable Quotes

— 02:09 — « Today, the weather was ok. »
— 03:02 — « Dog treats are the greatest invention ever. »

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