By Kaytee Lozier
HEMPSTEAD – Long Island Railroad commuters are generally unconcerned with the gap-related issues that have come under scrutiny in recent months and are satisfied with the measures being taken to improve the stations.
“There’s always that warning to watch the gap now, which helps a lot,” said Cathy Metellus, a 32 year-old from Hempstead. “The LIRR is doing enough.”
The extent of most commuters’ awareness about the situation is limited to what they glanced at in local newspapers once or twice.
“I’ve heard the warnings on the train, but that’s all I know about it,” said Rosie Vasquez, a 23 year-old Hempstead resident.
Passengers who ride with younger or older loved ones are the most likely to show any interest in the matter. East Meadow resident Carla Lopez, 31, is skeptical of the amount of change LIRR has made thus far.
“I have to help my mom off the train when I take her to see doctors in the city, and I haven’t noticed any changes in the gaps,” Lopez said. “I hear warnings, but I don’t see improvements.”
Jillian Anderson, a 29 year-old from Uniondale, says she only worries when she brings her two children on the train. “I don’t know how much of what they’re doing is having an impact,” Anderson said.
The gaps have always been there, but the death of 18-year-old Natalie Smead in August 2006 brought the issue to the public’s attention. The Minnesota resident fell between the platform and the train at Woodside station and was struck by another train headed on the opposite direction when she tried to move to the other side of the platform.
Although Smead is the only known fatality, there have been nearly 900 gap-related injuries reported since 1995. Thirty-two LIRR stations have platforms with gaps wider than 10 inches. The number of injuries caused by gaps has steadily increased from under 50 in 2002 to a little over 100 in 2006.
Since the tragedy, the LIRR and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority have devoted $13 million toward fixing 100 of the 262 existing platforms and having the platforms with gaps exceeding 10 inches fixed by the end of the month.
Twenty-five tracks have already been realigned and conductors have been added to some stations.
Raymond Kenny, acting president of MTA and LIRR, expressed confidence in the agenda Wednesday at the MTA boardroom meeting.
“We have been addressing the 32 stations with Level 1 gaps like we said we would,” Kenny said. “As we progress, we come up with even better ideas.”
Ellyn Shannon, the transportation planner for the LIRR Commuters Council, is pleased with the latest advancements. At the State Senate hearing on Feb. 8 in Syosset, Shannon proposed the establishment of a task force to focus on raising public awareness about gap-related dangers.
“The LIRR has really responded extensively,” Shannon said. “We want to see that continue.”
At the Hempstead LIRR station, commuters feel the MTA has addressed the gap issue between track and platform.