Transit Cuts Bad News For Commuters
MTA Cuts To Affect LIRR, NYC Subway, MetroNorth
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You could be boarding dirtier, more crowded trains. There's word that the MTA is planning even more cuts in order to cover an enormous budget deficit.
Long Island Railroad officials say its cuts will be going into effect in just a few months.
Specifically, these cuts will reduce the number of cars on some morning rush hour and weekend LIRR trains, eliminate ticket offices in Port Jefferson, Patchogue and Amityville and less frequent cleaning of train stations and cars.
The LIRR will also eliminate 100 jobs, part of the 1,000 being eliminated throughout the MTA either by layoffs or attrition.
The MTA has also announced new cuts affection MetroNorth and New York City subway riders. There will be fewer announcers to tell you when a late subway train will arrive.
MetroNorth will have fewer customer assistants in Grand Central Terminal. Additionally, football fans will have fewer trains to choose from for games at the Meadowlands.
These new cutbacks come just as a judge delayed laying off 475 token booth clerks until a hearing next week. It was a move applauded by both the Union and the Straphangers Campaign, who warn that rider safety is being jeopardized.
"Folks in the MTA don't seem to realize that when they pull these station agents out of the system, riders of New York City trains are in danger," said John Samuelson, President of the Transit Workers Union Local 100.
"Station clerks or the eyes and ears of many subways," said Gene Russianoff of the Straphangers Campaign. "Riders are going to be scared at night at subway entrances when there are no human beings around," he said.
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