Recently, two meetings were conducted regarding LIRR issues of concern to New Hyde Park and surrounding community residents and commuters. At the first meeting, the president of the LIRR, Ken Bauer and the heads of all LIRR departments gave an overview of the LIRR's plans for the future and the impact on the New Hyde Park community. At the second meeting, sponsored by the VNHP, representatives from the NYS Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), LIRR, MTA Police, Nassau County Police were in attendance to hear LIRR concerns from residents, commuters and our local elected officials. Issues of concern pertaining to the physical and visual interaction of residents and commuters with the LIRR can be categorized into general cleanliness, general safety and infrastructure and automobile parking groups. Here is a brief synopsis of what I feel would be solutions to our short-term issues.

1. The LIRR should immediately add more trash receptacles at the base of all staircases to both NHP RR Station platforms. This will allow commuters to dispense with their waste before they climb the platform stairs to immediately board a train.

2. The VNHP should immediately notify the LIRR when cleanliness becomes an issue inside the LIRR fence line, guardrail line and under the station platforms. The LIRR currently responds to Graffiti incidents on Railroad property within 24 hours. The case should be the same for debris problems within sight of all.

3. The VNHP should have a regularly scheduled clean up program in the railroad area outside the fence line and adjacent to the station platforms. As we take the extra step in using our Village Sweeper to clean up along the curb on Jericho Tpke., we should take the extra steps along the railroad tracks.

4. All persons using the New Hyde Park Railroad Station should be vigilant in their efforts to minimize any negative impact on the overall cleanliness of the parking and station areas.

1. As soon as possible, eliminate the left hand turns onto 2nd Avenue and 3rd Avenue at the Covert Avenue and South 12th Street grade crossings, and onto Clinch Avenue at the NHP Road grade crossing. This will prevent cars from getting struck on the grade crossings. This occurs many times everyday, especially during rush hours.

2. As soon as possible, the One Way sign on 2nd Avenue at New Hyde Park Road should be replaced by the VNHP with larger additional signs, on both sides of the intersection, so individuals do not make the illegal left hand or right hand turn onto 2nd Avenue from NHP Road. Illegal turns at this intersection are made all day.

3. As soon as possible, the wooden posts of all fencing along the LIRR property should be inspected, and, if necessary, be replaced or reset in the ground. The fence webbing between the posts should also be inspected and, if necessary, be replaced. In next year's LIRR budget, a new fence system, similar to the new fencing at the Stewart Manor and Farmingdale RR Stations should be installed. If the new fencing could be backed up two (2) feet, it will allow the VNHP to have more head-in parking along the railroad. Then the LIRR and the NVHP can install concrete parking barriers so individuals do not hit the fence when parking along the railroad.

4. The county should clearly park on the road and with sign posts, south of the grade crossing on Covert Avenue, that Covert Avenue is a one lane road up to and across the railroad tracks at all times. Individuals have turned the northbound side of Covert Avenue just south of the crossing into a two-lane highway merging back into one late on the railroad crossing.

6. Elementary and secondary school district should utilize the excellent in school LIRR Child Safety Program. No amount of education about railroad and at-gate crossing safety is ever enough.

1. The VNHP has a long-term voucher parking system in place along the NHP LIRR station, LIRR fencing and in VNHP Municipal Parking Lot #3 on South 12th Street. It is in effect from 6 to 8 a.m. Monday through Saturday. At the Floral Park Railroad Station a similar system is in place from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The VNHP should consider eliminating their Saturday requirement. This will allow LIRR Saturday day-trippers to NYC to park along the railroad. Currently, these day trippers park, all day on Saturday, on Herkomer Street, Miller Lane, South 12th Street, South 11 Street and South 10th Street. Residents cannot put their own car on their own block because of the unnecessary parking congestion. These blocks are full of cars and you walk down the block and the parking spaces along the railroad tracks are practically empty.

2. Consideration should be given the large employers along the LIRR, particularly to the US Post Office, with facilities on 2nd Avenue at Millers Lane and South 11th Street, to allow their employees to park along the railroad in a designated area. There are parking spaces along the railroad free all week and especially on Saturdays. This will alleviate the problem of employees parking on the residential blocks of Herkomer Street, Millers Lane, South 12th Street, South 11th Street and South 10th Street all day, Monday through Saturday.

3. The VNHP should remove all for-profit Clothing Bins along the LIRR. This will free up at least eight (8) parking spaces and the NVHP will not be in competition with Holy Spirit Church and St. Vincent DePaul.

These are some solutions to our short-term needs in and around the New Hyde Park Railroad Station Transportation Center. We must continually reassess our solutions and make changes when necessary. If we all do our part on the local level, LIRR Management will take notice and renew their efforts to be a good neighbor to us.

Edward W. Powers

New Hyde Park