(Newsday posted the following article by Herbert Lowe on its website on November 30.)
NEW YORK — The chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Thursday downplayed the number of Long Island Rail Road gap incidents before a Minnesota tourist’s death and other injuries this summer, saying they never reached the “serious” stage until then.
The remarks by MTA chairman Peter Kalikow, during hour-long testimony at a State Assembly committee hearing in lower Manhattan, contrast with the railroad agency’s own reports.
In monthly reports prepared for MTA board members who sit on its LIRR and Long Island Bus committee, the number of gap-related falls consistently places second only to a catch-all category of slips, trips and falls among the categories pertaining to customer accidents.
In 2004 and 2005, LIRR records show, there were 135 gap-related incidents, including 28 at Jamaica, 14 at Penn Station and seven at Woodside — the same station where Natalie Smead, 18, died after falling into a gap Aug. 5.
Kalikow testified about the agency’s response to platform gaps during a wide-ranging discussion about the MTA’s future with Assemb. Richard Brodsky (D-Westchester), chairman of the Assembly’s committee on corporations, authorities and commissions.
Brodsky first asked whether there was a significant problem with gaps that were not addressed before Smead’s death.
“Number one, it wasn’t significant in terms of numbers,” Kalikow replied before quickly saying that “the loss of one life is precious,” and then later adding that “what we’ve done when it became apparent that this was a more serious problem is we’ve researched ways to fix it.”
After more explanations by Kalikow, Brodsky asked, “Has the MTA done enough to assess the gap problem and then address it prior to these incidents?”
Kalikow said the problem “had never reached the serious stage” and that the numbers of incidents are relatively few, considering that 300,000 people ride the LIRR each day.
“So the serious accidents that occurred recently, while they are still a small percentage, they got us moving on what needed to be done,” he said.
Last week, the state Public Transportation Safety Board found that Smead was inebriated and probably responsible for her own death. Her family has filed a $5-million lawsuit against the LIRR and its parent, the MTA.
Two women have fallen to gaps at the New Hyde Park station since Smead’s death. In September, a woman was injured when a train door closed on her left side at the Amityville station; she told police her foot got caught in the gap.
According to Newsday measurements, gaps stretch as wide as 15 inches at some stations and, after Smead’s death, the LIRR has taken measures to narrow them.
At Brodsky’s request, Kalikow said the MTA would soon release to his committee the gap measurements systemwide, as well as how much money the agency expects to spend to reduce the gaps.
The assemblyman said he wants the gap problem fixed. “This is something that dropped off everybody’s radar screen and only because of tragedies are we now beginning to focus resources and decision-making,” he said. “I think that’s for the good, but I think we should be doing more and doing it faster.”