LIRR drafts 'pledge' to commuters

In a new “pledge” to commuters, the Long Island Rail Road promises to respond quickly and improve communication during service disruptions.

The eight-point pledge, released in draft form on Monday, came two weeks after U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer called on the LIRR to establish a bill of rights for commuters affected by service problems. His proposal came on the heels of a major disruption that left many commuters seething: On Sept. 29, lighting caused signal problems at Jamaica Station, delaying trains for up to three hours. According to Schumer, in at least seven cases, trains were left idling between stations and, in some cases, passengers jumped out onto the tracks — a dangerous and illegal move that leaders in the transportation industry denounced.

The LIRR worked with Schumer and members of the Long Island Rail Road Commuter Council to develop the pledge, which includes promises to provide “accurate, timely and meaningful information on service conditions,” emergency bus service and, when needed, medical assistance.

“Our customers deserve to know their rights when they ride the LIRR, including what they can expect from us during a delay,” LIRR President Helena Williams said. “This draft document outlines our core values and commitments.”

The pledge was presented to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Railroad Committee on Monday and, in the coming weeks, will be reviewed, revised and finalized before taking effect. Williams said that the document would be distributed to riders in the form of fliers and posters at stations and on trains.

“This is a positive first step,” LIRR Commuter Council Chairman Mark Epstein told the Herald. “We all make pledges — at ballparks, at schools, at civic meetings. The real test is, what do you do in your daily life to fulfill those pledges? So while the pledge is a very good first step, we’re looking forward to seeing what reforms and actions they take in order to fulfill the pledges they’re making in this document.”