By Andrew Coen
LIRR officials say they have fixed 60 percent of the gaps that are 10 inches or wider, including in Lawrence and Cedarhurst. LIRR spokesman Sam Zambuto said that at the Lawrence station platform slabs were shifted to reduce the gap on track 1 heading toward Far Rockaway, and the four eastern most cars have been closed off for passenger exit because of curbs on that part of the station. In Cedarhurst, track 2, in the direction of Valley Stream was shifted with wooden edges installed to reduce the gap to under 10 inches, according to LIRR officials. Track 1 at the Cedarhurst station did not need improvements because the gap was already under 10 inches in that section, Zambuto said.
One of the many LIRR gap-related accidents occurred in Lawrence last September when Berman was blinded by the sun as she exited the train after returning from the city and slipped through four feet deep toward the tracks. Berman required emergency surgery to repair a fractured left leg and suffered bruised ribs as well, and she was hospitalized days after her release when she developed an infection as a result of the surgery.
In Late October Berman and her husband, Jerry, filed a $1 million notice of claim against the Long Island Rail Road and its parent company, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, a prelude to a lawsuit that can be filed no longer than a year and 90 days after the accident. Berman's actions followed a $5 million suit filed by the family of the Minnesota girl, Natalie Smead, who was killed at the Woodside station on Aug. 5, and a $50 million suit filed by the former Rockette, Sheila Rann, 67, who fell through a gap at Forest Hills on Oct. 8, 2004.
Berman has been in Florida since the LIRR implemented the gap improvements to the Lawrence station but she said she is pleased to hear that they have taken some action to address problem since her fall last September. "Better late than never if they are fixing it," said Berman of the recent improvements the LIRR has conducted at stations like Lawrence. "Lawrence definitely needs that 12 inch gap fixed and it can't be just a little this, and a little that."
Other measures that have been addressed at the Lawrence station to alert riders about the gaps according to Zambuto including the installation of a pictograph, a graphic depiction of a person stepping from the train to the platform, with the caution "Watch the gap." LIRR officials also stenciled in a "watch the gap" sign on the platform at the Lawrence station as another way to warn passengers. Zambuto said a pictograph will be installed in Cedarhurst in the near future as well as signs to watch the gap at all LIRR stops.
Cedarhurst mayor Andrew Parise said he's pleased to hear about the LIRR's planned platform improvements and signage but added that he has not heard any complaints from village residents regarding the gaps. He said he hopes the measures the LIRR has taken will prevent any accidents from ever occurring at the Cedarhurst station and praised the agency's acting president Ray Kenny (a Cedarhurst native) for his close attention to the issue. "I'm happy it was done," said Parise of the LIRR's improvements to the Cedarhurst station. "We've never had a problem here and hopefully we never will."
Comments about this story? Acoen@liherald.com or 516-569-4000 ext. 210.
