(The following story by Joie Tyrrell was published in the January 22 issue of Newsday.)
NEW YORK — A decline in the number of rush-hour commuters caused overall ridership on the Long Island Rail Road last year to fall 1.9 percent. But it was still among the best years since 1949, when a record 91 million riders took the railroad, spokesman Brian Dolan said.
However, the railroad continued to see an increase in the number of riders using the trains during non-rush hours, with a 2.4 percent increase in 2002 over 2001, LIRR officials said at a Metropolitan Transportation Authority meeting yesterday.
Outgoing president Ken Bauer also said the railroad achieved a record year for on-time performance at 94.04 percent and showed improvements in equipment maintenance and temperature controls.
“It was a banner year operationally,” said Bauer, who announced earlier this month his resignation as head of the railroad.
According to figures released yesterday, there were more than 84 million rides on the LIRR in 2002, compared with 85.6 million in 2001. Bauer blamed the slowing ridership on the sluggish New York economy and said the railroad had budgeted for the anticipated drop in riders.
The railroad relies heavily on workers in the financial, insurance and real estate markets. There were 51.9 million rides during the rush hours in 2002 compared with 54.3 million in 2001.
“Commutation will depend on if the economy starts turning around and getting healthier and then we would see commutation go back up,” Bauer said.
Jim McGovern, newly elected chair of the Long Island Rail Road Commuter’s Council, which is a riders’ advocacy group, said the decline reflects the “reality of the economic situation.”
“There’s nothing the railroad can do to really change that,” he said.
But Peter Haynes, president of another riders’ advocacy group, said he anticipates that rising fares could keep more riders away from the LIRR. The MTA is weighing raising LIRR fares by as much as 33 percent and could also increase subway fares to $2.
“There are a lot of people who are on the borderline right now thinking the LIRR is not worth it,” said Haynes, president of the Long Island Rail Road Commuter’s Campaign. “If the fares go up, especially significantly, I have no doubt at all it will push people into cars.”
Bauer said he expects non-rush-hour business will continue to grow. In 2002, there were 32 million people riding the trains during non-rush hours, compared with 31.3 million the prior year.
“People don’t work the normal 9 to 5 anymore,” Bauer said.
Commuter Richard Stokes rode the 11:42 train yesterday morning from Penn Station to Huntington after working in Manhattan installing plumbing supplies. His work takes him to the city sometimes “three times a week or sometimes twice a month.” But he always takes the train and usually at least one trip is during the off-hours.
“Personally what they have is fine with me,” Stokes said. “It’s not crowded and there are plenty of seats.”