Hevesi’s annual audit report said the LIRR had carried out some repairs recently,…
By Philip Newman
City Comptroller Alan Hevesi says the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has failed to fix damaged and, in some cases, unsafe Long Island Rail Road stations in Queens.
Hevesi’s annual audit report said the LIRR had carried out some repairs recently, but in most cases the railroad did not say whether some of the hazards had been removed.
Such conditions as broken concrete, leaking water and exposed and protruding rusty nails present hazards at some Queens stations, the audit showed.
Hevesi’s check of conditions at LIRR and Metro North stations within New York City found that stations at Broadway, Hollis, Jamaica, Locust Manor, Long Island City, Murray Hill, Queens Village, Rosedale and Shea Stadium had unsafe conditions and were in overall poor condition.
Broadway, Murray Hill and Rosedale were also on last year’s list of LIRR stations found to have been in poor condition.
Hevesi said the Broadway station on the Port Washington line had “a deteriorated platform and large section of fallen concrete along with a platform shelter with protruding rusty nails, puddles of water and uneven platform sidewalks with gaps in paving. A large area of concrete was deteriorated and detached.”
The LIRR said concrete and Plexiglas repairs were made but did not say if other problems were taken care of.
At the Murray Hill station the audit found “cracked and crumbling cement, water leaking from rusty pipes and broken steps. A loose metal plate, cracked cement with excessive weeds and fallen tree berries posing a hazard of slipping.”
The LIRR said platform holes were patched and lose concrete removed, but did not mention other problems.
At Rosedale, the report mentioned broken concrete remained unrepaired since the previous audit and new problems of crumbling concrete and high weeds.
The LIRR said it would start working on the station at the end of the year.
The audit said the LIRR had failed to inspect the Broadway station since 1998 despite its own guidelines calling for annual inspections. It said the LIRR failed to correct problems it uncovered during its own inspections.
Hevesi’s report said the Murray Hill station had chipped and broken steps even though such conditions were found in a 1999 inspection report.
The audit said the Long Island City station had broken asphalt and missing passenger safety warning indicators despite a 1999 inspection report.
The report said Bayside, Douglaston, Far Rockaway, Flushing Main Street and Little Neck stations were “problem-free.”
Hevesi’s audit said Auburndale was undergoing renovations and Forest Hills and Kew Gardens had some problems but no unsafe areas.
Hunters Point Avenue, Laurelton, St. Albans and Woodside were reported to have had some unsafe areas but in overall good condition.
