Officials: ‘Don’t Leave Huntington LIRR Commuters Stranded’

With a possible Long Island Rail Road strike just days away, state and local leaders gathered in Huntington Wednesday, say the current MTA contingency plan does not go far enough to help residents. 

These leaders are calling for the MTA to increase the shuttle bus services for Huntington commuters.

“With no settlement in sight, we stand here today with a united message: We must do better," said Leg. William Spencer, D-Centerport. "We are calling on the MTA to amp up the shuttle bus services for the Town of Huntington in the event of the strike.” 

“The current plan for shuttle buses misses the mark – it is inadequate for Suffolk County and non-existent for the Town of Huntington,” he added. “With little time left, the MTA needs to provide the ample services for our large commuter population.”

“Any strike, no matter its duration, would have a severe impact on the thousands of riders that depend on LIRR service each and every day,” Sen. Carl L. Marcellino, R-Syosset, said.

“Commuters will be forced to seek out alternative modes of transportation that would undoubtedly prove costly, time consuming and troublesome,” he said. “To add to that burden the current contingency plan of the MTA is woefully inadequate and leaves out the whole North Shore of Long Island. This is unacceptable and I urge the MTA to go back to the table and work out a plan to meet the needs of the commuters of Huntington and the rest of the residents of the North Shore. Most importantly negotiate and avoid this potentially devastating strike.”

“It is totally unacceptable that the Long Island Rail Road’s contingency plan fails to address the needs of Port Jefferson line commuters, including those at the much-used Huntington train station,” said Huntington Supervisor Frank P. Petrone (D-Huntington). “While nobody wants a strike, and while we all hope the MTA and the unions will reach a settlement before the deadline, the railroad needs to provide the same type of shuttle bus option to Huntington commuters as it is to those who use the Ronkonkoma, Deer Park and Hicksville stations.”

"I call on all parties to immediately get back to work to reach an agreement or at a minimum, to develop plans to provide access to alternative transportation to prevent chaos and gridlock for Huntington commuters," said Leg. Steve Stern, D-Dix Hills.   

"In the event of a strike, we fully expect the LIRR to take care of Huntington's commuters,"  Councilwoman Susan Berland, D-Huntington. "Anything less is totally unacceptable."

“It’s paramount that we keep residents and taxpayers informed of what is happening with the strike,” Huntington Town Councilman Gene Cook, I-Huntington, said. “We need to come together to ensure that our residents have all available resources to get to work.”

“While negotiations continue, the MTA has a responsibility to communicate a contingency plan for every town they serve and time is running out,” said Huntington Town Councilwoman Tracey Edwards, D-Huntington.

“It is our earnest hope that a strike can be averted and the MTA 's contingency plan will not have to be implemented,” said LIRR Commuter Council Chairman Mark Epstein. “However, if it is needed, as it currently stands, it is insufficient and leaves areas like Huntington underserved and, we continue to urge the MTA to bolster their plan,’  

“It is a positive move that the MTA is working to remedy what is hopefully a short time challenge with the LIRR strike,”  said Robert Bontempi, vice chairman of the Huntington Chamber of Commerce. “What is concerning is that the contingency plan to bus stranded commuters into New York City does not include Huntington. The Huntington Community is in the geographical ‘sweet spot’ for commuting to New York with a significant portion of our population relying on the railroad commute each day to make it to – additional bus service should be immediately added to the contingency plan for Huntington residents should the strike not be averted . We hope this was an oversight by the MTA and they will work with Leg. Spencer to remedy this additional concern to what is shaping up to be a very challenging and frustrating time for Huntington Commuters.”

"A potential strike will cause unneeded economic hardship to commuters and small businesses in over 70 downtowns serviced by the LIRR,” said Tawaun Weber, assistant director of Vision Long Island. “The MTA should be working closely with municipalities and local business to create a contingency plan that truly serves Long Island Communities.”

To assist commuters in formulating a strategy for coping with a possible strike, Spencer has compiled a list of resources available in his “LIRR Strike Survival Kit.” Obtain a copy by emailing William.spencer@suffolkcountyny.gov, or call 631-854-4500.

Related:

• POLL: Who is to Blame for a Possible LIRR Strike?