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Mostly Cloudy End of the line?West Hempstead LIRR line threatened under MTA plan
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A recent proposal from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, however, has targeted the West Hempstead line for termination in 2006 to offset a looming $1.3 billion deficit. The closing of the branch is just one of many changes proposed by the MTA, which also include raising fares by an average of 5 percent and reducing car and station cleanings in 2005.
Local residents who frequent the West Hempstead line -- which includes stops in Malverne, Lakeview, West Hempstead, Westwood and Hempstead Gardens -- are furious.
Michael Geller, 44, of West Hempstead, has been catching the train from the West Hempstead station to Penn Station weekday mornings for the past 15 years. He says that if the proposal goes through as planned, he and many other commuters would be outraged. "I'd feel they'd have a big fight on their hands from a lot of residents," he said.
Geller said that the MTA would be doing a disservice to the community and to itself by closing down the line. He says that maintaining this line is probably very simple and cost-efficient, as there are not many people riding the train or stops along the way. "I don't think we cost that much to operate anyway in comparison with other lines," he said. "There's no hassle for them here. It is a pain-free train for them."
According to LIRR representative Brian Dolan, the West Hempstead line is used by 3,000 commuters a day, making it one of the smallest branches in terms of customers. That is likely why the MTA has targeted the line for elimination. "It is probably the smallest branch," Dolan said.
However, Dolan insists that no matter how small the branch is, the LIRR is not in favor of suspending service. "We would take such action with great reluctance," he said.
The MTA has also proposed eliminating the Oyster Bay and Greenport-Ronkonkoma lines and cutting weekend service on the Far Rockaway and Port Jefferson lines.
But some riders believe the station-closing plan is nothing more than a scare tactic to get the state to put more money into mass transit. Jack Pietruszka, 41, of West Hempstead, has boarded the train in Malverne for the past five years, but says he is not overly concerned, because he has heard similar threats in the past. "I've heard it before, and hopefully, with either a beautification campaign or vocal displeasure, it can be overcome," he said.
Like Geller, Pietruszka believes the MTA is targeting the wrong line, and that it would make more sense to cut service elsewhere. "If you are going to cut service, there are other places to cut," he said.
The proposed cuts have also raised the ire of local leaders, like Steth Bykofsky, chair of the West Hempstead Civic Association's Zoning Committee. "That the MTA would so much as consider terminating service on the West Hempstead line is nothing short of unconscionable," he said in a statement. "The railroad is a community's lifeline, and West Hempsteaders should be both outraged with and outspoken on this proposal."
Bykofsky suggested that residents call, write and e-mail state Sen. Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre), asking that he voice his opposition to the MTA's plan.
Tom Dunham, a spokesperson for Skelos, said the senator will vehemently oppose the plan. "The senator is absolutely opposed to cuts in service that would have a potentially devastating impact on the quality of life enjoyed by residents of the community," Dunham said. "The MTA needs to try harder, because the cuts that they are proposing are patently unacceptable."
As of now, though, nothing is imminent. Dolan says that the financial status of the MTA and the LIRR will become clearer a year from now, and that's when most of the final decisions will be made. "It's hard to say [what will happen] -- we're in the very early stages of the proposal," he said.
Long Islanders could also face a double whammy, with the MTA proposing increases in bus and subway fares as well as rising tolls on many bridges and tunnels into the city. One woman getting off the train at the Malverne station, who asked that her name not be used, summed up her feelings about proposed fare hikes and station closings concisely: "I'm pissed."
Local residents who frequent the West Hempstead line -- which includes stops in Malverne, Lakeview, West Hempstead, Westwood and Hempstead Gardens -- are furious.
Michael Geller, 44, of West Hempstead, has been catching the train from the West Hempstead station to Penn Station weekday mornings for the past 15 years. He says that if the proposal goes through as planned, he and many other commuters would be outraged. "I'd feel they'd have a big fight on their hands from a lot of residents," he said.
Geller said that the MTA would be doing a disservice to the community and to itself by closing down the line. He says that maintaining this line is probably very simple and cost-efficient, as there are not many people riding the train or stops along the way. "I don't think we cost that much to operate anyway in comparison with other lines," he said. "There's no hassle for them here. It is a pain-free train for them."
According to LIRR representative Brian Dolan, the West Hempstead line is used by 3,000 commuters a day, making it one of the smallest branches in terms of customers. That is likely why the MTA has targeted the line for elimination. "It is probably the smallest branch," Dolan said.
However, Dolan insists that no matter how small the branch is, the LIRR is not in favor of suspending service. "We would take such action with great reluctance," he said.
The MTA has also proposed eliminating the Oyster Bay and Greenport-Ronkonkoma lines and cutting weekend service on the Far Rockaway and Port Jefferson lines.
But some riders believe the station-closing plan is nothing more than a scare tactic to get the state to put more money into mass transit. Jack Pietruszka, 41, of West Hempstead, has boarded the train in Malverne for the past five years, but says he is not overly concerned, because he has heard similar threats in the past. "I've heard it before, and hopefully, with either a beautification campaign or vocal displeasure, it can be overcome," he said.
Like Geller, Pietruszka believes the MTA is targeting the wrong line, and that it would make more sense to cut service elsewhere. "If you are going to cut service, there are other places to cut," he said.
The proposed cuts have also raised the ire of local leaders, like Steth Bykofsky, chair of the West Hempstead Civic Association's Zoning Committee. "That the MTA would so much as consider terminating service on the West Hempstead line is nothing short of unconscionable," he said in a statement. "The railroad is a community's lifeline, and West Hempsteaders should be both outraged with and outspoken on this proposal."
Bykofsky suggested that residents call, write and e-mail state Sen. Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre), asking that he voice his opposition to the MTA's plan.
Tom Dunham, a spokesperson for Skelos, said the senator will vehemently oppose the plan. "The senator is absolutely opposed to cuts in service that would have a potentially devastating impact on the quality of life enjoyed by residents of the community," Dunham said. "The MTA needs to try harder, because the cuts that they are proposing are patently unacceptable."
As of now, though, nothing is imminent. Dolan says that the financial status of the MTA and the LIRR will become clearer a year from now, and that's when most of the final decisions will be made. "It's hard to say [what will happen] -- we're in the very early stages of the proposal," he said.
Long Islanders could also face a double whammy, with the MTA proposing increases in bus and subway fares as well as rising tolls on many bridges and tunnels into the city. One woman getting off the train at the Malverne station, who asked that her name not be used, summed up her feelings about proposed fare hikes and station closings concisely: "I'm pissed."
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