Audit Report on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Maintenance of Long Island Railroad Stations Within the City
AUDIT REPORT IN BRIEF
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) was created in 1965 by the State of New York to maintain and improve commuter transportation and related services within the Metropolitan Transportation Commuter District—the City of New York, as well as Dutchess, Nassau, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Suffolk, and Westchester counties. The New York State Public Authorities Law (NYSPAL) requires that each local government unit reimburse the MTA for the cost of maintenance, use, and operation of passenger stations within its each local government’s boundaries.
This audit reviewed Long Island Rail Road’s maintenance operations and the conditions of its City Stations. The MTA bill for both the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and Metro-North City Stations for the period April 1, 2004, to March 31, 2005, totaled $73,879,843. We are conducting a separate audit—#FN06-063A—of Metro-North City Stations. The results of that audit will be covered in a separate report.
Audit Findings and Conclusions
Our review of MTA maintenance operations for LIRR City Stations disclosed that four stations—Broadway, Flatbush Avenue, Jamaica, and Rosedale—were undergoing capital renovations and therefore were not examined; two stations—Hunterspoint Avenue and Long Island City—were free of problems; and 18 stations––Auburndale, Bayside, Douglaston, East New York, Far Rockaway, Flushing Main Street, Forest Hills, Hollis, Kew Gardens, Laurelton, Little Neck, Locust Manor, Murray Hill, Nostrand Avenue, Penn Station, Queens Village, St. Albans, and Woodside––were in good or fair condition, with only minor problems.
However, two stations–– Belmont Park and Shea Stadium––were not maintained as well as they should be and have poor and unsafe conditions that require repair. At the Belmont Park Station these conditions included: canopies that had wood rotting; corroding canopy beams; canopy roofs were rusting; there were sections of the overhead canopy that were missing; there was a disconnected and broken leader; peeling paint; and damaged wooden platform stairs that had loose and broken planks and steps. At the Shea Stadium Station, pieces of concrete that fell from the staircase remained on the platform; there were platform edges that had broken concrete; there were missing cover plates from two lampposts that exposed electrical wiring; a section of the fiberglass cover over the west end staircase was missing; paint was peeling paint from the beams of the platform canopy; and the overhead of the pedestrian ramp was rusted and leaked.
Moreover, the LIRR did not follow its own painting guidelines for City Stations neglecting to paint 14 of the 26 City Stations since 2001. Finally, the LIRR did not correct all of the conditions cited by its own inspectors at the Belmont Park Station, nor did the 2005 LIRR inspection report for that station note the rotted wood, rusted roofs, peeling paint, and broken railroad ties on the platform by the Track 2 stairs.
Audit Recommendations
We recommend that the MTA and the LIRR ensure that stations are painted in accordance with its regulations; correct all unsafe and dangerous conditions immediately; repair the platforms, stairways, and other deteriorated structures identified in this report; clean and remove the graffiti and debris identified in this report; and, ensure that conditions identified by its inspectors are promptly corrected.
LIRR officials responded that they concur with the report’s five recommendations, and have attached a schedule detailing the actions that have or that will be taken to remedy the conditions cited in the report. LIRR officials noted that they are not responsible for maintaining Belmont Park, which is the responsibility of the New York Racing Association. In addition, LIRR officials stated that except for the overhead ramp, which is the responsibility of the City Department of Parks and Recreation, all issues reported for Shea Stadium will be addressed immediately.