Rail Road Commuter Council PCAC Meeting Chair’s Report—Mark Epstein December 4, 2014

LIRRCC members testified at two fare hearings yesterday. Matt Kessler spoke at the , while Gerry Bringmann represented us at the Long Island hearing in Melville.

The MTA announced that the will be adding ADA accessibility to the Mets-Willets Point Station by including an elevator in its renovation of the station. We have discussed this issue in the past, and have noted that the travel path to Citi Field and the National Tennis Center is extremely difficult for LIRR riders who need accessible stations. Currently, an accessible trip involves a transfer to a bus or subway at the Woodside station. Combined with the addition of ADA accessibility at the Flushing station, this project will improve travel options on the . Of the LIRR’s 124 stations, 105 stations are accessible for riders using wheelchairs, and work is currently underway to add 5 stations to that total.

In September, I attended a Long Island Association executive breakfast where LIRR President Patrick Nowakowski spoke on the future plans for the Long Island Rail Road. He confirmed several items in the MTA capital program that was just issued, including that the second track would be completed, but that the plan to operate the as a scoot service would not be pursued. The President also discussed the positive ridership impact that development in Brooklyn is having on the Rail Road and plans to add more direct trains from Long Island to Brooklyn. Mr. Nowakowski was our guest at the October LIRRCC meeting, where we had a frank discussion of issues facing the LIRR.

In September, Matt Kessler testified on behalf of the Council at a public hearing on the proposed restoration of weekend and holiday service on the West . As you know, this service was lost in the MTA service reductions of 2010, and while other cuts have been restored, West Hempstead riders continued to have no service on weekends and holidays. We spoke in favor of the restoration and noted that this cut affects more than leisure travelers, as service is lost whenever the LIRR goes to a weekend or holiday schedule, including times when severe weather forces this change.

We issued a statement on the release of the MTA’s proposed 2015-2019 Capital Program in September. We noted that the proposal includes resources to complete East Side Access and to proceed with important normal replacement work and system improvement projects, maintenance and upgrading of the Rail Road’s traction power system, the installation of a federally-mandated positive train control system, and maintenance facility improvements. The Capital Program also included funds for completion of the second track between Farmingdale and Ronkonkoma, a project which we have strongly support. We also noted in the statement that there remain unaddressed needs in stations, parking, and communication and that the addition of a third track to the Main Line is to receive no funding. It’s unlikely that this proposal will be adopted in present form, as it includes a $15 billion funding gap and has been described as the start of the process by the MTA Chairman. The program was vetoed by the State Transportation Commissioner, and the MTA has not received guidance from the state about resubmittal of or changes to the proposal.

We also issued a press release calling on the LIRR and MTA to enter into an open public dialogue about the plans for service changes affecting riders traveling through Jamaica that are made possible by the reconfiguration of tracks and yards around . While the MTA Chairman has stated that the reconfiguration and service changes are necessary for Consequently, the Long Island Rail Road Commuter Council (LIRRCC) calls upon the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and MTA to enter into an open public dialogue on the changes planned for service at Jamaica Station, as the completion date for East Side Access has once again been delayed and is uncertain. In response, the Rail Road stated that service changes related to East Side Access will not be put into effect until East Side Access service begins.

I met with MTA Chairman and CEO Tom Prendergast to discuss MTA issues related to the LIRR and the state of the relationship between our Council and the LIRR and MTA. Obviously, the Chairman is very focused on a successful resolution of the MTA 2015- 2019 Capital Program and understands that the MTA needs advocates to ensure that the MTA has the resources that it needs to maintain and improve the system.

There isn’t much progress to report on the Amtrak front. We wrote a letter to Amtrak’s Chairman asking for a briefing on the impacts of tunnel damage on LIRR service. The response that we received indicated that Amtrak is still in discussion with NJ Transit and the MTA on the implications of tunnel repair needs and that Amtrak’s view is that our point of contact will be through the LIRR, which they will assist in preparing a briefing for us. Also, we’re told that there is currently no movement in the nomination of a new Amtrak Board member.

The elections that just concluded have considerably reshaped the political landscape of Long Island, with several long time elected officials deciding not to run for reelection and others losing attempts to retain their seats or win higher office. We will have to touch base with these elected officials and build relationships with new officeholders

On Monday, November 17 new schedules went into effect on the railroad. The most significant feature of these schedules is the restoration of weekend service on the , which was approved by the MTA Board in July. This schedule change also includes modifications to accommodate track work on several branches, extra Thanksgiving holiday service, and a shift to the departure time of an early morning Long Beach train to better match demand from commuters who start work between 5:00 and 5:30 am.

Once again, we’re working with Senator Schumer to highlight the push to pass legislation establishing parity between pre-tax benefit limits for commuter parking and transit. For many years Senator Schumer has been a consistent champion for equality between automobile commuters and transit riders with regard to pre-tax benefits, and this year he is working to pass legislation that would permanently establish parity between parking and transit benefits. This legislation would be a part of a large package of tax extenders to be taken up in Congress’ lame duck session in the next month. I appeared with the Senator at an event at the Mineola on Veterans’ Day, November 11, to highlight these issues. Thanks to Matt Kessler and Ray Pagano who joined me at this event.

As you know, the most recent extension of parity between parking and transit benefit limits expired on December 31, 2013. As a result of Congress’ failure to extend parity, the amount that our commuters can set aside on a pre-tax basis for LIRR fares dropped from $245 per month to $130 per month. That created an instant increase of almost $1,400 in a commuter’s taxable income annually, as well as a corresponding increase in his or her employer’s payroll taxes. The restoration of transit commuter benefits appears to be securely in the tax extender package set for consideration, but the entire package could face a veto because it makes a number of business-related tax breaks permanent as well.

In November the LIRR released the results of its annual customer satisfaction survey. The overall satisfaction numbers reported were equal to last year’s figures and the highest of any MTA agency. However, within the results there are some year-to-year variation in responses to individual questions. We have requested and received more detailed data from the survey and will be taking a closer look at the results.

The LIRR has embarked on a new public safety campaign, entitled “Don't Shortcut Your Life," which focuses on the need for persons to cross railroad tracks only at designated grade crossings and in accordance with signals. Trespassing on LIRR rights of war is a continuing issue for the Rail Road, with a total of 35 trespassers struck by trains and 28 fatalities last year, up from 28 incidents and 18 fatalities in 2012. The campaign makes use of television and radio as well as online and print advertising to deliver the message that trespassing on train tracks is illegal as well as extremely dangerous and that one should cross tracks only at designated grade crossings when permitted. The LIRR will also deliver the message directly via public address announcements, electronic message boards, posters and social media.

I attended Long Island Future’s Smart Growth Summit on November 21. This was an excellent opportunity to hear the transportation issues that are important to Long Island leaders and to gather information about issues that could affect LIRR riders. This year’s Summit featured presentations on new transit opportunities as well as several of the new town centers being created around LIRR stations. In addition, County Executives Bellone and Mangano spoke at the event.

On November 24 Matt Kessler and I appeared with Senator Schumer at a press conference highlighting the importance of incorporating commuter input into the design process for its cars. Senator Schumer noted issues such as arm rests that snag and tear clothing, excessive glare through car windows and the need for better information in cars. The Senator echoed many of the recommendations that the LIRRCC made to the LIRR about car design. I added to the concerns expressed by Senator Schumer issues that our Council has raised about cameras in the passenger compartments of the LIRR’s rail cars and the need for a specific and even-handed policy on access to images recorded by the cameras.

You may have heard about the problems that Mail & Ride commuters faced this Monday with monthly purchased as part of their monthly tickets. Briefly, the MetroCard portion of these tickets was encoded improperly, making them invalid for use in subways and on buses. We found the LIRR’s solution to the problem, which involved riders spending an additional $112 for a 30-day MetroCard, to be totally unacceptable and told Rail Road President Patrick Nowakowski and MTA Chairman Tom Prendergast so in a strongly worded letter sent on that day.