By Matt Hampton
While the bailout has been hailed as a rescue by the MTA — several bus and subway lines that would have been shut down if the transit giant had not received additional funding — one service cut, was elminated last month and has not been restored: service to and from Belmont Park.
On April 29, the MTA and the LIRR announced the first of what could have been a large number of cuts, eliminating service to Belmont for all but two days of the racing season, May 30 and June 6, the latter the day of the Belmont Stakes. On May 6, the state Senate and the MTA trumpeted the passage of a transit bailout, which included a payroll tax on state businesses and fare hikes to prevent cuts, layoffs and service disruptions. An outside audit of the organization was also approved.
“The reform provisions in our legislation will fundamentally change the way the MTA operates and finally stop this endless cycle of threats by the MTA to raise fares and cut services every time their business practices get them in trouble,” said Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith (D-St. Albans). Smith’s statement, however, overlooked Belmont, where service disruptions had begun more than a week before the bailout was passed.
For now, the LIRR is mum on the details of how, or when, the terminated service could be restored. A representative of the railroad said the MTA would not comment until the matter had been given further consideration.
For many in Elmont, however, that answer just isn’t good enough. “Quite frankly, the decision to cut service may have saved a few bucks for the MTA, but it hurts job creation and economic development,” said Assemblyman Tom Alfano (R-Franklin Square). “That’s the difference between the private sector and public sector. In the private sector, LIRR service would continue because it helps commerce, jobs and generates revenue. The public sector says cut here, cut there and it will be fine. The fact is, this is not fine.”
Belmont service has long been a linchpin in the plan to create a revitalized Elmont community centered on Belmont Park as a destination. If the racing season continues without LIRR service, many believe it could prove to be an example of how to stymie growth rather than stimulate it.
Alfano aide Scott Cushing said his office was happy that the New York Racing Association and the LIRR have been able to offer an alternative — free shuttle service between the LIRR station in Queens Village and Belmont Park has begun — but Cushing added that the Elmont community as a whole is depending on the restoration of full service to pump visitors, and dollars, into the area. “If we had train service going there, that would fix the problem, and we need to work towards full restoration,” Cushing said. “But until that happens, we believe the best first step is to restore those services to Belmont on the weekends.”
For now, however, the LIRR and MTA are still deciding on the fate of Belmont’s race day service. NYRA’s shuttle bus leaves the Queens Village LIRR station from the corner of Springfield Boulevard and Jamaica Avenue at 12:30 p.m. daily. The return bus departs from pick-up points at the clubhouse and grandstand entrances approximately 15 minutes after each day’s final race.
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liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 214.
