LIRR to get more revenue from taxi stands

The Long Island Rail Road expects to increase the amount of money it makes from cab companies by 75 percent after recently putting its taxi stands up for bid for the first time in decades.

The LIRR Wednesday reached new five-year leasing agreements with taxi companies operating at 15 of its train stations. At 11 of those stations, the winning bids came from the cab companies that were already in place.

By putting the stands up for bid, the LIRR expects to increase its rental income from $400,000 to $700,000 over five years. At Hicksville alone, the winning bid for two separate taxi stands came in at $160,000.

"The MTA has an obligation to the public it serves to realize the full and fair value of its marketable assets," MTA real estate director Jeffrey Rosen said in a statement.

Under the new plan, the LIRR also will add cab stands at 16 stations that currently have none.

LIRR president Helena Williams said taxi operators provide "a critical ground transportation link" for railroad riders and that the competitive bidding process ensures that their services will remain at stations.

The LIRR also recently put coffee cart leases up for bid.

SEE PHOTOSLIRR trains and commuters through the years