LIRR Addresses East Meadow Residents’ Concerns

The fact that East Meadow is one of the few towns in the immediate area without a train station of its own did not stop residents from coming out to voice their concerns, comments, and questions regarding the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) at Tuesday evening’s Merrick Avenue Civic Association meeting.

Prime topics included ticket expiration policy and parking issues, among other issues. Representatives also highlighted future LIRR public works programs, including the east side access project.

A group of residents questioned the railroad’s policy of having one way and round trip tickets expire after 14 days, instead of the previous window of six months. Patrick Gerakis, Manager of South Nassau LIRR District, said that “it was a business decision that was made on the MTA level.” The same policy is also being utilized at Metro-North, he added.

“There are also issues that a lot of our customers have commented on in regard to ticket refunds,” Bob Brennan, Director of Government and Community Affairs for the LIRR, said. “Hopefully when the economy improves, some of the cuts that we have made over the past several years, hopefully they will come back.”

Several residents raised concerns about parking issues at local stations, most specifically Hicksville, where commuters are required to have a permit from the Town of Oyster Bay. “If you live in the Town of Hempstead you cannot get a permit to park at Hicksville,” a resident said, adding that there should be an opportunity to get a permit.

“About 95 percent of all our parking on the Long Island Rail Road is controlled by the local municipalities,” Brennan said. “Most of the lots are owned by the railroad and they have been leased to the municipalities.”

“If you can do it with the Town of Oyster Bay, the Town of Hempstead really needs to take this up and address it,” said Merrick Avenue Civic Association President Pat Maher, noting that they will follow up on this issue at the next civic association meeting.

Larry Rubenstein, who is an LIRR advocate, member of the commuter council to the MTA and a Bellmore resident, said that commuters do not need a permit at the Merrick or Bellmore stations.

He added that there is currently a committee petitioning for permit parking at those two stations, which would be for Town of Hempstead residents only. Merrick and Bellmore are the only train stations on the Babylon line that do not have permitted parking. He said the permit would cost $3.

“People from Babylon and Amityville are coming here. Why? It is cheaper to commute, there are more frequent trains, and you can,” he continued.

Rubenstein emphasized that this permit would not guarantee a spot, rather it would give “a better chance” at a closer spot. “There are certain lots that would be reserved for permitted parking only,” he said.

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