LIRR strike could strand disabled Long Islanders, advocates say

The LIRR union strike could disproportionately impact riders with disabilities, who have few other options to get on and off Long Island without trains running, advocates said Saturday.

The railroad’s shutdown effectively strands Long Islanders with mobility issues, including seniors and wheelchair users, the advocates said.

Christopher Greif, president of the ADA Accessibility Transportation Group, a disability rights advocacy organization, said the problem could be especially pronounced Sunday, as the accessible shuttle buses being provided by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority at six Long Island locations will only run on weekdays.

While Nassau County residents can still rely on NICE Bus and Able-Ride vehicles to get them to subway stations in Queens, "if you live in Suffolk County, you can’t go anywhere," said Greif.

"The people with the disabilities and senior communities — you’re making it harder for them to travel," Greif said.

Wheelchair user Nadia Holubnyczyj-Ortiz was planning to ride the LIRR from the accessible train station in Floral Park, where she lives, with her husband to Manhattan Saturday for an evening concert at Lincoln Center.

"We would have just taken the train and the subways. Obviously, that's not happening. So we're stuck in traffic on the Cross Bronx right now," said Holubnyczyj-Ortiz in a phone interview while her husband drove.

As much of a hassle as her Saturday day trip was, Holubnyczyj-Ortiz said the situation may be considerably more stressful for commuters with disabilities trying to get on a packed shuttle bus during the weekday rush hours as part of the MTA’s strike contingency plan.

The MTA has said the approximately 200 buses they’ve ordered will be able to carry about 13,000 people. The LIRR typically carries about 270,000 riders on an average weekday.

“Disabled people pretty much have a very regimented or set schedule on how things work to account for any limitations they have. And that's all completely out the window right now,” said Holubnyczyj-Ortiz, who was critical of the MTA’s efforts in getting the word out to riders with disabilities.

“They're not even making it easy for disabled person to make those contingency plans, because you have to go digging on their website,” she said. “And you have to hope that the accessible buses have enough room for someone who’s disabled.”

A special LIRR strike informational website by the MTA includes a section with “accessible travel alternatives.” The subway stations linking to the half-dozen Long Island shuttle bus locations are all accessible, as are several other subway stations in Brooklyn and Queens recommended as drop off locations by the MTA.

“It's something that we feel terrible about, and we've done all that we can to provide for that service,” MTA Chief Accessibility Officer Quemuel  Arroy said in an interview Saturday. “We’ve done our piece to the best of our abilities, but unfortunately, the disabilities community will be impacted by this.”

The shuttle buses “will not deny service” to anyone with a disability, Arroyo said. But he acknowledged that if several wheelchair users show up, “not all will be able to get on the same bus,” so they should build in more travel time.

Arroyo noted that the strike is also forcing the MTA to put on hold accessibility improvements projects at Hollis and Forest Hills stations, which were set to get new elevators and ramps. Those efforts require coordination with union workers that walked off the job Saturday morning because of their contract dispute.

“Interruptions like these will hold us back God knows how long. And that's just beyond unfortunate," Arroyo said.

By Alfonso A. Castillo

alfonso.castillo@newsday.com@alfonsoreports

Alfonso Castillo has been reporting for Newsday since 1999 and covering the transportation beat since 2008. He grew up in the Bronx and Queens and now lives in Valley Stream with his wife and two sons.