Mayor Ann Corbett's written requests to Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) Acting President James Demody that more attention be paid to conditions at the Floral Park station and areas along the railroad track prompted a visit from several railroad representatives. Five LIRR officials toured the station, platform, stairways and fenced areas along the track.

The mayor spoke with representatives several weeks before the visit via telephone and is pleased to announce that some items previously discussed have been addressed. Numerous light fixtures have been repaired east of Tulip Avenue and track work to reduce noise, vibrations and improve travel safety has been in progress for weeks.

The day after the visit, Mayor Corbett saw crews beginning to clean up litter and garbage along the tracks. "I can't confirm that any of the old ties were taken away as yet," she noted. "I was told trees would not be removed as part of the cleanup because they muffle the train noise."

The LIRR is currently in contract with a cleaning company to rid the station of pigeon dirt. "They agreed the company will do additional cleaning of pedestrian walkways while the escalator is being installed. Rusty stairways with deteriorating concrete will eventually be replaced by aluminum stairways. When the stairways are replaced, new canopies will be installed. These improvements are not yet in the LIRR budget. LIRR engineers say the viaduct and the stairways are structurally sound," Mayor Corbett continued.

Platform repairs include replacement of the plywood patches with a new material specifically used to repair the edges of the platform that have broken off. These improvements will be much safer for boarding passengers once the work is done but Mayor Corbett suggests staying away from plywood patches for the time being. Further, most broken tiles on stairways have been replaced.

More attention to the platform waiting room is also promised. Graffiti is cleaned off the walls routinely but unfortunately the graffiti scratched on the Plexiglass windows are a problem, she said. "The windows are too expensive to replace again and again. Floral Park and transit police will work more closely to keep vandals in check at both the Bellerose and Floral Park stations. It seems that some young people have found the LIRR property a place to act out."

Since the mayor does not commute, she welcomes any feedback that will help make commuting via the LIRR and the station itself better for residents.