Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority JANUARY –MARCH 2002 QUARTERLY REPORT Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee Long Island Rail Road Commuter’s Council Metro-North Railroad Commuter Council New York City Transit Riders Council To Our Friends and Colleagues… In January, Associate Director Michael PCAC mourns the loss of our friend, Doyle left to take a position at the PCAC Executive Committee and New consulting firm of Edwards and Kelcey. York City Transit Riders Council Mr. Doyle had been with the PCAC for member Dr. Stephen Dobrow. Steve four years and helped bring the passed away suddenly in January. The organization into the technological age. sole remaining member of the original The PCAC wishes Mr. Doyle well in his PCAC, Steve’s loss is a tremendous new endeavor. one for the PCAC, NYCTRC, and for everyone involved in transportation. PCAC welcomed Katherine Brower as Many past and present PCAC members the Associate Director and Ellyn and staff attended the funeral services Shannon as the Transportation Planner. that were held in Forest Hills. Ms. Brower’s previous position was with Project for Public Spaces, Inc. where she worked on plans for improved pedestrian and transit access to railroad PCAC stations in conjunction with New Jersey Transit. Ms. Shannon worked as an PCAC Welcomes New Members and archival researcher for NBC and ABC Staff, Bids Farewell to LIRRCC News and is currently working towards Council Member her Masters in Urban Planning at NYU’s The PCAC is pleased to welcome new Robert F. Wagner School of Public members Toya Williford and Todd Scott Service. Shapiro. Ms. Williford, manager – Community Planning Projects at the Council Member James McGovern Regional Plan Association, joins the Approved by Governor Pataki and New York City Transit Riders Council. State Senate to Join MTA Board Mr. Shapiro, the founder of a Long Congratulations go to James McGovern, Island public relations firm and a the LIRRCC’s representative on the commuter from Ronkonkoma, joins the MTA Board. The PCAC received Long Island Rail Road Commuter’s notification of Jim’s confirmation by the th Council. Mr. Shapiro replaced former New York State Senate on March 19 . LIRRCC member Cesar Malaga. PCAC 347 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10017 (212) 878-7087 www.pcac.org January–March 2002 Quarterly Report 2 MTA Chairman Peter Kalikow Guest commitment to the interests and needs at PCAC’s Quarterly Meeting of the users of MTA transportation MTA Chairman Peter Kalikow spoke services. The report, Track Record: 25 before the PCAC in March on the events Years of the PCAC, can be of 9/11 and on current service and downloaded directly from the PCAC planning issues. Mr. Kalikow informed website at www.pcac.org. the PCAC of his efforts to work with the city, state and federal governments on PCAC Staff Address Coro Fellows funding issues, and of the news that Program New York City had received $1.8 billion PCAC staff members gave a for transportation related improvements presentation to the Coro Fellows to lower Manhattan. Mr. Kalikow also Program in Public Affairs convened for emphasized the importance of the Coro New York Leadership Center. rebuilding the South Ferry Station and Staff spoke about the role the PCAC his interest in finding alternative funding plays in promoting change in MTA plans sources for the extension of the #7 line. and policies as well as ways in which He asked for the PCAC’s support for the the LIRRCC, MNRCC, and NYCTRC East Side Access and Second Avenue represent commuter and transit rider Subway projects and for the concerns. Committee’s ongoing help in communicating the importance of funding these projects to elected LIRRCC officials in Washington D.C. Executive Director Beverly Dolinsky LIRRCC Bids Farewell to Council Appointed to Lower Manhattan Members Development Corporation The LIRRCC said farewell to Council Transportation and Commuters member Cesar Malaga. Appointed in Advisory Council 1994, Cesar’s commitment to Long Executive Director Beverly Dolinsky was Island transportation and participation appointed to the Lower Manhattan on the Council informed debates about Development Corporation’s riders’ issues and enhanced the Transportation and Commuters Advisory Council’s ability to deal with them. The Council. The Corporation is the lead LIRRCC wishes Cesar well in his future organization for the rebuilding of lower endeavors. Manhattan. LIRRCC New Chair and Vice-Chair PCAC Celebrates 25 Years of are Elected Advocating for Improvement in At the Council’s February meeting Public Transportation in the NYC Barbara Josepher, who has served as a Region member of the LIRRCC for the past nine To mark the event of PCAC’s 25th years, was elected Council Chair until Anniversary, the PCAC created a June. Gerard Bringmann was elected to special retrospective report chronicling serve as the Council’s Vice-Chair. it’s work and accomplishments over the past quarter century. Since 1977, PCAC has not wavered in its PCAC 347 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10017 (212) 878-7087 www.pcac.org January–March 2002 Quarterly Report 3 Council Pursues Safety Concerns at LIRR President Kenneth Bauer talked LIRR’s Huntington Station about the performance of the railroad Cars parked along the curve at the over his twenty-two month tenure, the Huntington Station parking lot have railroad’s major customer focus become a safety concern. The Council initiatives and key accomplishments. raised the issue with Donald McKay, Some of the issues and concerns chief of staff - Town of Huntington. Mr. expressed by the public included the McKay said the issue was under the possibility of adding intra-island train jurisdiction of the Huntington Public service to the am and pm schedule Safety Department. In addition, he along the Riverhead-Western Suffolk stated that the Department would issue line; safety improvements such as a summonses to commuters who park pedestrian bridge at the Bethpage there, but it could not tow illegally Station; continuing problems with the parked cars. The Council will continue new diesel trains; increasing frequency to monitor the situation and report on of service on the Babylon line; more any on-going violations. frequent service, station maintenance, platform improvements at the Hollis LIRRCC Talks to LIRR New Fleet Station; and the need for better Manager About M7 Cars monitoring of undesirable behavior at David Elliott, LIRR general manager - the Hicksville Station. New Fleet and Charles Kalkhof, LIRR chief mechanical officer - Equipment Council Monitors Sporadic Operation reported to the LIRRCC about the status of Platform Escalators at Penn of the new M7 cars. The first of seven The Council has been actively M7 car pairs are to be delivered in April. investigating recurring problems with The seven remaining pairs are due to reversed or shut-off escalators at tracks arrive on Long Island by June 2002. It 13/14 and 15/16 from the Eighth Avenue is expected that the new cars will be put side of the exit concourse during the into revenue service by the beginning of evening rush hour. The Council has August. corresponded with LIRR regarding this issue, and the railroad has contacted IssueWatch the Amtrak Penn Station Terminal In March, the Council sent out its Manager. Stickers indicating that it is a second issue of IssueWatch – a status police violation to shut off the escalators report on Council actions, which have been ordered. The Council will included reports on the LIRR Presidents continue to monitor the escalators to Forum, the Operation of LIRR ensure that proper, consistent operation escalators, LITP 2000, and the new results and is maintained. Ticket Vending Machines. IssueWatch is geared directly to Long Island news New Ticket Vending Machines Are on media, but is available to all. To Schedule subscribe, contact the Council at The installation of 136 new Ticket [email protected]. Vending Machines (TVMs) with an improved array of options is being Annual President’s Forum a Success undertaken by LIRR in conjunction with The Council held its annual President’s Metro-North Railroad. Fifteen of the Forum on the evening of February 27. new machines have been installed in PCAC 347 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10017 (212) 878-7087 www.pcac.org January–March 2002 Quarterly Report 4 Penn Station since December 21st and a holiday trains, and the need for total of 25 are to be operational in additional service on the Danbury March. These full-service TVM’s allow Branch. One commuter suggested customers to purchase daily, 10-trip building a new station at Yankee peak and off-peak, and monthly tickets Stadium, creating better connections as well as a range of MetroCard options. between the Marble Hill and 1/9-subway All 124 LIRR stations are scheduled to lines and providing more frequent receive at least one full-service TVM. service at the Fordham Station. Express Machines, with a reduced range of options, are now in Car Shortages on Harlem Line development. The new machines The recent car shortages experienced accept a range of payment options on the Harlem Line are the result of two similar to those offered by the NYC events. First, in September, MNR Transit MetroCard TVMs. instituted a new procedure aimed at reducing the amount of times a car is in Council Clears Up Roundtrip Ticket the shop for repairs. The startup of this Confusion procedure had a temporary impact on The Council reported a recent incident the total number of available cars in regarding the incorrect processing of a service through April. Second, a federal roundtrip ticket purchased from a TVM mandate, issued on January 1, 2002, to Fred Wedley, LIRR general manager requires train car defects to be corrected - Automated Ticket Sales Technology.