LIRR sees bigger problem, will fix 100 platforms

BY KARLA SCHUSTER AND JENNIFER MALONEY | Newsday Staff Writers

January 19, 2007

An estimated 38 percent of the Long Island Rail Road's platforms have problem gaps, and they will be reduced by the spring of 2008, railroad officials revealed Thursday.

Based on the LIRR's first-ever study of platform gaps, the railroad expects to make improvements at 100 of its 262 platforms, acting president Ray Kenny told members of the LIRR/LI Bus Committee of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board.

That figure is an estimate and could rise or fall once the LIRR's analysis of all the measurements taken is complete, Kenny said. The 100 platforms include those where work has already been done.

"Based on these measurements, we're developing a plan for each platform edge," Kenny said. "We're certainly not standing still on this issue."

The improvements could range from wooden edgeboards to more involved work such as moving platforms. It's not clear how much the work will cost, Kenny said.

In a five-month investigation, Newsday found that gap incidents have consistently been among the top causes of rider injuries, yet the LIRR failed to identify and fix problem gaps until Natalie Smead's death, the first gap-related fatality.

"I was surprised at the number that need modification," said MTA board member Mitchell Pally of Stony Brook. "We will provide all the resources needed to fix this."

The measurements were taken after the death last August of Smead, 18, of Minnesota, who fell into a gap at Woodside station and was struck by an oncoming train. The railroad now will conduct such measurements annually.

"It's the old cliche -- it takes a tragedy to make a change," said Smead's father, Pete Smead. "Why now? I don't know what else to say."

The LIRR has analyzed data from 121 of its 262 platforms at passenger stations and identified problem gaps as those exceeding 9 inches on straight platforms. For curved platforms, the formula for a reasonable platform gap is 8 inches plus 1 inch for every degree of curvature.

When the analysis of all 262 platforms is complete, officials estimate they will have to fix gaps that exceed the standard at 40 straight platforms and 60 curved platforms.