Long Island’s six Democratic state senators plan hearings into the Long Island Rail Road‘s performance issues, State Sen. James Gaughran, D-Oyster Bay, said Thursday.
The letter to Phillip Eng, president of the LIRR, said, “Statistics reveal what commuters know quite well–that the LIRR’s recent performance is subpar and in desperate need of thorough review and revamping.”
Gaughran said of Eng, “He’s got a lot of ambitious plans but there are horrendous maintenance and management issues.”
The letter says that the hearings will invite riders, workers and experts to participate and invite Eng to participate in the sessions and work with the senators.
“In light of the legislature’s role in funding the MTA’s budget, as well as fulfilling our role as representatives of the riders who rely on your service, we intend to exercise our oversight authority in an effort to seek collaborative solutions to remedy an unsustainable situation.”
The letter signed by Long Islanders Gaughran, Todd Kaminsky, Monica Martinez, John Brooks, Kevin Thomas and Anna Kaplan and Leroy Comrie of the 14th District and Timothy Kennedy of the 63rd.