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Unsafe conditions were found at eight stations operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) in Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx according to two audits issued today by New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. These conditions included exposed electrical third rails; uneven, cracked, and crumbling cement; damaged staircases; and loose metal plates and rusted metal rods on station platforms. Even more alarming is the fact that some of these same conditions were observed during a previous audit and had not been remedied.

"Given that the City paid MTA over $65 million last year for station maintenance, I am appalled by the conditions cited in these audit reports. In order to provide passengers with safe and effective service, the MTA must ensure that the railroads immediately correct all of the problems identified by my auditors."

In response to the current audits, Metro-North and Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) described the corrective actions they have taken or plan to take to remedy the noted conditions. However, despite similar claims made in response to earlier audits, certain conditions were ultimately never corrected. "I question whether the railroads' corrective action plan will be sufficient given the MTA's history of not correcting conditions cited in previous audits," Thompson said.

Some of the reports' findings follow:

METRO-NORTH

The audit of Metro-North's 14 City stations revealed that five stations-Fordham, Riverdale, Tremont, Wakefield, and University Heights-had unsafe conditions including: exposed electrical third rails; broken steps; rotting staircases; and major portions of platforms with cracked and crumbling concrete.

· Fordham: Exposed electrical third rails, crumbling concrete, a metal rod protruding from a concrete wall and crumbling plaster on the platform, and broken platform edges.

· Riverdale: Exposed electrical third rails, cracked cement, and a loose metal tread plate on a staircase.

· Tremont: Temporary beams supporting staircases, cracked and rusted steps, a hole in the platform edge, exposed electrical third rails, and a loose edge board on the platform.

· Wakefield: Cracked and crumbling cement, large holes in the platform, chipped paint and a hole in the Plexiglas near the staircase area, and a rusted metal rod protruding from platform.

· University Heights: Cracked and crumbling cement exposing rusted metal rods on platform and exposed electrical third rails.

The audit also found that Metro-North did not always follow its own guidelines for maintaining City stations. The auditors found damaged staircases, chipped paint, and crumbling concrete that had been noted by Metro-North's inspectors, as far back as May 2000, and that were still were not repaired.

LONG ISLAND RAIL ROAD

The auditors' inspections of LIRR's 26 City stations revealed that three stations- East New York, Broadway, and Murray Hill-had unsafe conditions and were in overall poor condition. The stations had serious hazards such as broken concrete and damaged staircases.

· East New York: Damaged staircases, crumbling concrete, a large hole in the platform, no station identification signs on platform, and leaks on the front and rear portion of platform.

· Broadway: A platform shelter with protruding rusty nails, puddles of water, uneven platform sidewalks with pavement gaps, Plexiglas and a metal frame missing from a platform shelter, broken concrete on platform and broken glass in front of a staircase.

· Murray Hill: Cracked and crumbling cement, chipped steps, loose metal plate on platform, graffiti, leaking staircase ceiling, fallen tree berries that posed a slipping hazard, and a large piece of concrete broken from a support beam.

The audit also found LIRR did not correct problems, including damaged cement and chipped and broken stairs, uncovered by its own inspectors as far back as October 1998.

The audits recommended that the MTA, Metro-North, and LIRR immediately correct all unsafe conditions cited in the audits and by their own inspectors. Metro-North and LIRR agreed with the audits' recommendations.

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