Train station parking permit enforcement effective September 8, 2020

The Town of Hempstead has announced that the parking lot enforcement of required permits will begin again on September 8, 2020. There is an on-line method for Town of Hempstead residents to obtain permits for the rear right bumper of their cars. Please see the link HERE.

Wantagh LIRR station rehab coming

New LIRR schedules go into effect March 7, 2016.  I note that this link refers to upcoming rehabilitation of the Wantagh station platforms.  Previous work at Seaford and Massapequa took almost two years for each project, but in Wantagh there is the constraint of working with hoists from Railroad Avenue.
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Please note this press release dated March 31, 2016. The estimated cost of the renovation is $23.9 million.  We will get an elevator and a new escalator.

LIRR Forum 9.29.2015

On September 29, 2015, County Legislator Steven Rhoads hosted a public forum in the Wantagh High School auditorium, the topic being the Long Island Railroad and its service to the stations between Freeport and Seaford.  About twenty residents attended the meeting.  The panel consisted of Mr. Rhoads, Robert Brennan (spokesman for the LIRR), Town of Hempstead Councilwoman Erin King Sweeney, a MTA sergeant, the town head of traffic control, and another aide.  Thankfully, the meeting did not turn political, let's-blame-the-other-party.  Instead, most of the questions, the arguments, and the rudeness was directed at Mr. Brennan, who was too often interrupted as he tried to answer. I also interrupted him when I asked him to clarify in which month the renovation of the Wantagh platforms would begin.  The answer was next March or April, at the earliest.
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The meeting lasted from 7:15 p.m. until 8:45.  Each panel member stayed later for any further conversation. Councilwoman King Sweeney deserves praise for her willingness to look further into the questions raised about parking.  One resident complained that some parking spots east of Oakland Avenue seem to be permanently occupied or used by nearby commerce.  Only the parking directly under the trestle is administered by the LIRR.  The two spaces reserved for railroad personnel are needed by those conductors who are instructed to begin their run at Wantagh.
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The most time-consuming topic was pigeon dirt.  Mr. Brennan explained that the station is power-washed monthly.  The Federal Railroad Administration requires periodic inspections of girders and rivets and that the girders cannot be enclosed. Other topics discussed at length were the presence of homeless people, personal safety, aggressive begging, and at least one incident of physical threat. One resident demanded 24/7 presence of police at the station. The sergeant emphasized that charges are hindered when the victim refuses to give a statement. Both the MTA police and Nassau County police have jurisdiction at the station.  The county police can be reached directly at 911.  The MTA police can be reached through the menu at 511. I note that in previous forums, Dave Denenberg emphasized that a call to the 7th Precinct delays action because the call has to be forwarded to 911. Also, a call to 911 begins a record trail that will later show the results of follow-up action.
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A man presented Mr. Brennan with large photographs of duct tape used in repairs at the Merrick elevator.
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The renovation of the Wantagh station platforms in the budget includes also a new escalator and an elevator.  A business owner from Railroad Avenue expressed worry about loss to her business if Railroad Avenue is closed during the renovation.  I note that the high-tension lines are on the north side of the tracks, so the crane removing and replacing the canopies and platform slabs would probably have to work from the south side, as was done recently at Massapequa.
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The photo linked here looks west at Wantagh, showing the Beech Street crossing about 1967.  However, I have difficulty identifying the buildings.

After the first snow of 2014

It's noon on Saturday, January 4, 2014, and travelers await a train to New York City.  The roads were cleared overnight, and the train service continued without interruption.
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Clicking on a photo will enlarge it.

LIRR Elevator and escalator status

A handy web page is linked here.  It lists the current status of the escalators and elevators on the railroad.  For example, at 8:45 this morning, 4.10.2013, I learned that the Seaford station elevator is currently not working, but the escalator is working.  At noon, I rode summoned the elevator to the platform level, and rode it down.  The link still reports it as not working.  Maybe there is an explanation for the Not Working indication on the link.
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I am told that the list also appears on an internet-connected board in Penn Station near the LIRR waiting room, but I have not yet found it.

LIRR Forum at the Wantagh Library 4.4.2013

LIRR FORUM at Wantagh Library, 4.4.2013

This report may contain errors. 

The meeting lasted from 7:38 p.m. to about 8:55 p.m.

ü Nassau county Legislator David Denenberg hosted Bob Brennan, Director, Government and Community Relations, LIRR, and Patrick Gerakaris, Branch Line Manager of some 38 south shore stations in Nassau County.  The email for the Branch Line Manager is pcgerak@lirr.org  As usual, both LIRR employees answered questions well.  Many thanks!

ü Legislator Denenberg pointed out the need for an appointment to the Long Island seat on the MTA Board.  Please note that this is a more important position that a seat on the Long Island Rail Road Commuter Council.  Mr. Denenberg's quest is seen in this Merrick Patch article dated 4.4.2013.

ü As people drifted in and out, the highest attendance was about 20, including officials, aides, and reporters.

ü Mr. Denenberg reviewed the issues of escalator and elevator repairs and parking lot problems, particularly in Merrick where an auto body shop repeatedly uses commuter spaces.  He objected to Metro North's intentions to route trains from Co-op City over the Hell Gate Bridge and into the four-track East River tunnel after some LIRR trains are diverted to the 63rd St. tunnel.

ü From 7:55 to 8:05 Freeport Mayor Robert Kennedy spoke of conditions at that station: elevator and escalator maintenance, safety, and cleanliness.  He said that the new energy-saving lights on the platform were too dim.  He said that video cameras should provide staffed surveillance at some desk.

ü Several times during the presentation and discussions, the lack of an elevator at Wantagh was noted.  A year ago, it was reported that the five-year MTA budget plan had not yet been released by Albany.  At this year, we heard from Mr. Brennan a statement that the Wantagh elevator was now in the five-year budget.  However, as an observer of the way government budgets go, I would not be certain of the money actually flowing to construction of an elevator at Wantagh.  Too often, under fiscal pressure, items are deleted from a budget or postponed.  I heard nothing specific of any money for the necessary reconstruction of the platform slabs.  According to Mr. Gerakaris, the slabs at Seaford were replaced first because they were in worse shape than Wantagh.

ü When the meeting was opened to questions from the audience, much time was expended on Bellmore and the new Town of Hempstead Parking stickers. A parent of Bellmore riders complained that more permits seem to have been issued than the number of parking places reserved for Bellmore residents.  The same person demanded that spots nearer the station be reserved for people arriving there later in the morning.  The same person complained that Seaford and Wantagh Town of Hempstead residents could purchase the same stickers.

ü An owner of a Wantagh business complained that there was insufficient parking for employees of the stores there.  The non-permit parking has a time limit of only few hours.  This person noted that a summertime bus stop takes up parking spaces on Railroad Avenue adjacent to the Wantagh Triangle.  I note that the Bus Stop and a similar one on Park Avenue near Beech Street have not had bus service in more than thirty years.  They are a holdover from long-discontinued service, predating MSBA.

ü Many of the Bellmore and Wantagh parking complaints were not issues for the railroad, as the Town of Hempstead controls most of the lots.  I heard no complaints about Seaford.

ü Someone observed that parking districts existed for tax purposes.  However, I reviewed our Town of Hempstead detailed tax bill and could not find a parking district tax.

ü Legislator Denenberg left the meeting about 8:20.  Claudia Boretsky, noting no more questions, closed the meeting about 8:55.
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Chris Boyle's excellent, detailed report of this meeting may be read at Wantagh Patch, linked here.
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A web page listing the working status of all LIRR elevators and escalators is linked here.  I am rather certain that the same list is now displayed on a new "smart" panel in Penn Station between the LIRR waiting room and the ticket booths.  A few such internet-connected panels have been installed around the LIRR concourse level.  I think I have seen one displaying the status of subway routes and another for the LIRR branches.

Wantagh LIRR escalator closed

At the Wantagh train station, the escalator is closed.  

Any photo may be enlarged by clicking on it.
As of 9.14.2012, the Seaford escalator and elevator are working.

LIRR Forum, 1.30.2012

LIRR FORUM at Wantagh Library, 1.30.2012.  Warning! These notes may contain errors.

The meeting lasted from 8 p.m. to about 9:20 p.m.

 Nassau county Legislator David Denenberg hosted Bob Brennan, Director, Government and Community Relations, LIRR, and Patrick Gerakaris, Branch Line Manager of some 38 south shore stations in Nassau County.  The email for the Branch Line Manager is pcgerak@lirr.org

 Larry Rubinstein of the LIRR Commuters' Council was present.  Please see http://www.pcac.org

 I note that two Nassau seats on the LIRR Commuters' Council remain vacant.

 As people drifted in and out, the highest attendance was about 35.  However, they were far more outspoken and less polite than the smaller numbers of other meetings.  Chief problem: Some attendees would repeat their complaints several times and not yield the floor.

 Claudia of the North and Central Merrick Civic Association said that the people of Merrick and Bellmore want the Town of Hempstead to require permits for parking at those two stations.  However, some of the lots were developed with federal or New York State aid and cannot be reserved for town residents.

 Station maintenance was a big issue, especially at Freeport.  As Nassau County pays the maintenance bills, it has some say about the level of cleaning.

 Because of the pigeon problem at Merrick and Bellmore, a cleaner wipes the stairway handrails twice each morning.  The same cleaner cleans the toilets there and in Wantagh and Seaford twice also.

 The ripples and deterioration of the platform at Wantagh requires a major overhaul, but the third year of the MTA budget has not yet been appropriated by the NY State Legislature.  There is question whether any funds for Wantagh will be included beyond a design study.

 Bob Brennan said that Wantagh has 5,500 customers daily, and that it ranks #7 or #8 in passenger count.

 Someone inquired about closed circuit camera surveillance preventing suicides.  In the brief discussion, one of the speakers said that the locations of working cameras could not be revealed.  Mention was also made of parking lot and platform security cameras, but there again few answers were forthcoming.  Mention was made of more active CCTV surveillance over the past years at Freeport, including the arrest involving in street crime caught by the station cameras.  Freeport is different village police, in addition to MTA police, watch the station.

 Someone questioned whether N.I.C.E. buses would help in LIRR service suspensions.  The answer differentiated between planned service suspensions and emergencies.  Pat Gerakaris said that the railroad has contracts with forty bus companies across the island to supply emergency help.  No one addressed the impossibility of keeping drivers near on full standby.

 A man from Oceanside and others complained about the relatively-new weekend schedule that has dropped half-hourly service at Rockville Centre, Baldwin, Merrick, Wantagh, Seaford, Massapequa Park, Copiague, and Lindenhurst on four eastbound trains and five westbound trains.

 Someone said that many LIRR stations are not ADA compliant.  Bob Breenan reminded him that the ADA requirements are for new stations and stations that have major renovations.  Although many stations lack elevators, the railroad is fully compliant with the law

 Someone complained that his $600 bicycle was stolen from the rack at Seaford, and he requested more security.  That led to a discussion of the bike lockers that are provided at some stations through a private firm.  They had to be moved further from the trestles because of possible terrorist use.

 A woman complained about the short canopies at Seaford.  Bellmore, Merrick, and Massapequa have canopies protecting the entire platform.  Wantagh and Seaford do not.  She also complained that track workers leave their work debris around.

 A man from Massapequa explained that his father was a LIRR yardmaster.  He complained about problems with defecation and urination in the upstairs waiting room.  He also related how there was once a fire in that room and burned wooden bench was left on the platform.  However, the waiting room now has two metal benches bolted to the floor, and on the morning of 2.1.2012 there was no offensive odor.

 Someone said that the emergency number at elevators was no longer in service.  One of the representatives explained that many numbers were gathered into 511, but the railroad is going to reinstitute the old 8228 number.

 An attorney from Wantagh explained that the rebidding for the coffee truck has endangered the familiar coffee man.  All agreed that it was a question of dealing with MTA Real Estate.  The process includes a Request for Proposal, then bidding.

A man from Seaford complained about graffiti on the bridge over NY state 135.  He said it was an invitation to join a gang.  One of the LIRR representatives explained that it took coordination with the NYS Department of Transportation, police, and the railroad to get the graffiti covered.  The same man complained about the presence of homeless people at the train stations.

 Fortunately, the funding for the East Side Access is still in the pipeline and work continues.  The Wantagh station renovation depends on MTA funding from the New York State Legislature.  The chairman of the New York State Senate Transportation Committee is Charles Fuschillo. 

 There is renewed interest in double-tracking from Farmingdale to Ronkonkoma.  I suspect that the project may draw fewer NIMBY objections than the elevation of three tracks through New Hyde Park.

LIRR ticket office hours

The Seaford ticket office has been closed for about a year.

In addition, effective July 20, 2011, Massapequa and Wantagh ticket offices are open only on Mondays and Wednesdays. What follows is from Train Talk of the LIRR.

Some Ticket Window Hour Changes in Effect July 20
Labor Agreement Helps Retain Ticket Offices
As of July 20 ticket office hours at seven LIRR stations will be revised as follows:

Station	Open (Effective July 20)	Hours
Amityville	Mondays & Thursdays only	6:10 AM-1:45 PM
Bayside	Monday-Friday only	6:10 AM-1:45 PM
Flushing-Main Street	Mondays & Fridays only	6:15 AM-1:55 PM
Long Beach	Monday-Friday Saturday & Sunday	6:10 AM-1:45 PM 10 AM-6 PM
Lynbrook	Mondays & Thursdays only	5:45 AM-1:45 PM
Massapequa	Mondays & Wednesdays only	6:10 AM-1:45 PM
Wantagh	Mondays & Wednesdays only	6:10 AM-1:45 PM

Ticket office hours will change or be reduced at seven LIRR stations as part of an effort to prevent some ticket windows from closing and to retain the current level of cleaning services. LIRR management and leaders of the LIRR’s Transportation Communications Union agreed to temporary changes in contract rules, providing savings sufficient to avert the planned layoff of 17 ticket clerks, closure of ticket offices and a reduction of ticket window hours at over 18 stations. The LIRR hopes to discuss extension of this temporary nine-month agreement to avoid shutting ticket windows and laying off employees in 2012. The revised ticket office hours at seven LIRR stations take effect July 20, as shown in the above chart.

Some weekend trains skip Seaford

On the new weekend train timetable, the half-hourly service to and from Seaford has five omissions (or gaps of an hour) in each direction.  Please check your timetables or the LIRR website.
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There are five trains that serve Massapequa and Bellmore but not Seaford and Wantagh.  These express trains from Babylon stop only at Amityville, Massapequa, Bellmore, Freeport, and Jamaica.
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One of the upcoming weekends (date not yet disclosed), service will be interrupted to replace and test new signals near Oakland Avenue, Wantagh, an installation that has taken years already. 

Seaford station in snow, 1.21.2011

Because the community now known as Seaford was along Merrick Road when the LIRR came through in the 1860's, we gained a park, courtesy of the Town of Hempstead.  The Seaford Wellness Council added a gazebo.

 Any photo may be enlarged by clicking on it.  Photos from the 20th century may be found here.

East end of LIRR platform now in service

On January 31, 2009, the LIRR trains began serving the renovated eastern half of the Seaford station platform, and the western half was closed for work. The photos above show the almost-hidden entrance to the platform from the south side of the ticket office; the new waiting room, and the new platform. The available stairs are at Washington Avenue and adjacent to the south side of the ticket office. The problem is that the ticket machines are on the northside, with inadequate markings that one must walk around the barricades to get to the stairs. The decorations on the waiting room windows are remarkable and commendable. Please click on the photo for magnification.
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The elevator and escalator are not yet in service.

Seaford station work as of August 5, 2008

The reconstruction of the Seaford Long Island Rail Road station platform is being done in two halves of six-car lengths each. Three or four months ago, the eastern half was removed. Two stairways were demolished and the escalator removed. The most recent work seems to have been the replacement of the supports for the platform. By supports, I mean only those two-inch or so toppings that run parallel to the tracks and apparently will support new concrete slabs. Since the station was opened in 1968, the previous supports, made of steel, rusted and buckled, causing the platform slabs to heave irregularly. In the photo (link below), one can see a new horizontal concrete support replacing what was rusted steel.
See the photo here and also the rest of the album connected to it.