LIRR Off-Track With Repairs — City Audit Says

Getting to work may be risky business for commuters who take the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) to and from northeastern Queens according to a recent audit conducted by the City Comptroller’s office.
"It’s extremely troublesome to see that the MTA continues to subject transit riders to dangerous conditions at LIRR stations," said City Comptroller Alan Hevesi on the heels of a survey that rated the Auburndale and Murray Hill stations as the worst in the City. problem riddled Auburndale and Murray Hill stations have been in a state of disrepair since 1997 according to the Hevesi survey which cited crumbling cement, damaged steps and staircases, peeling paint and leaky ceilings among the top hazards at the two train stops.auditors, who surveyed all 26 LIRR stations in New York City, cited 17 stations for dangerous conditions, 12 of which had the same problems last year and 14 as having minor problems like peeling paint, graffiti and uncollected trash. Queens Courier conducted an informal poll of morning commuters at the Auburndale station on Monday (Mar. 22) and most riders agreed that the train stop had some problems.
"Look around, all the windows are cracked. They could at least paint the place," said student Paul Niewdach on Monday as he waited for the Penn Station bound train which he takes as part of his commute to a Manhattan college."This place needs a good housekeeper," said another Auburndale commuter who wished only to be identified as Anne."It’s so dangerous I can’t even begin to tell you," added Anne who claimed that railroad workers "just cover it (cracked cement) up," with steel plates and that a leaky water pipe connected to the station awning has been in need of repair for the past eight years."The steps should be fixed," proposed Patricia Grotckie, an occasional train traveller who felt that the crumbling steps at the Auburndale station posed a threat to older riders when they arrive and depart from the LIRR platform.
"I can understand why it could have fallen into neglect without an employee here," said Soon Lin, a LIRR commuter who felt that the presence of a ticket booth might help station conditions.Station, Little Neck, Kew Gardens and St. Alban’s stations had no problems when surveyors inspected them and the Bayside, Forest Hills, and Woodside stations were undergoing renovations at the time of the Comptroller’s audit."s office reported that in addition to the station survey, auditors studied the bills submitted by the MTA for LIRR station maintenance and found that the City was overbilled $196,121.City Comptroller’s office claimed that the total bill for the LIRR was $36 million."Repairs were made to remedy some station conditions and schedules provided for other repairs to be made," according to a statement from the LIRR.LIRR claimed that the audit adjustment of $196,121 was deducted from the original $36 million bill.