Did you know?

Until now, every MTA Board member enjoyed lifetime "free passes" for the MTA's mass transit system, bridges and tunnels for decades. Due to the diligent work of NYS Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, the MTA finally announced that it is planning to rescind former board members' free passes and restrict current members to using the privilege only for official business.

The MTA's sudden "change of heart" on the matter came when Attorney General Cuomo cracked down on this long-standing tradition of providing free E-Z Passes, electronic toll payment systems for board members at the MTA and various other public agencies (i.e.: the NYS Thruway Authority board members).

At a recent news conference, Cuomo said, "I think it's very important that we say to government on all levels, 'This is a new day in New York, and public integrity is important...and also the public perception.'"

MTA Board members' free E-ZPasses work on nine bridges and tunnels where tolls are as high as $10 round trip. Until now, these board members have also ridden free on the MTA's subways, buses, Metro-North, and the Long Island Railroad commuter trains. All but ONE of 22 current board members and 34 ex-members have E-ZPasses. Some even have more than one - such as former MTA Chairman Peter Kalikow, a real estate developer and car collector who owns 8 E-ZPasses. He said that he would turn them in and abide by the law.

COMMENTARY

For decades, average NYS commuters and taxpayers have absorbed ALL the toll and mass transit fare hikes...as well as being forced to accept the declining service and reliability of these systems as time rolled by! The average taxpayer is told to "take it on the chin" and accept that the $29.5 billion proposed Capital Project Budget for 2009-2013 is to advance our state's transportation system into the 21st century - including the $1.5 billion proposed LIRR Main Line Corridor Improvement Project which seeks to implement unnecessary changes, like the Third Track Project, at taxpayers' expense. It is time that the MTA Board members (past and present), many of whom are multi-millionaires, dipped into their own pockets and experienced a little of what the average taxpayers and commuters have experienced for years. Kudos to NYS Attorney General Andrew Cuomo for speaking up for the average hardworking taxpayer who finds some solace in his attempt to establish some equity and fairness.

SOLUTION TO TRAIN NOISE?? TNAA founder does not think so!

[information provided by Mr. Mike Caputo, Nassau Herald, May 29, 2008]

Efforts to alleviate ear-splitting train noise across Long Island appeared to take a new turn last week. The LIRR announced plans to reduce the use of train horns and their decibel levels in areas known to be loud.

However, Jack Mevorach, founder of the Train Horn Noise Abatement Association, based in Cedarhurst, is not impressed. "The nightmare began in June 2005," Mevorach said. "It is three years...you know what they have done in three years? Nothing."

The nightmare Mevorach was referring to is the change in the Federal Railroad Administration safety regulations that mandated trains to sound horns at decibels no lower than 96 decibels. With the help of Congresswoman McCarthy, the LIRR was able to file an application from the FRA for local quality-of-life waiver to alleviate the train noise.

According to a release from the LIRR, those waivers request a return to previous practices that allowed horns to sound at a level lower than 96 decibels and less frequent blasts at crossings. Mevorach said the LIRR needed to request a total exemption from the FRA regulations for its entire fleet.

In addition to the waivers, the LIRR has announced plans to install muffling devices that would direct noise straight ahead instead of dispersing it to the sides. Such devices are not new - the LIRR has conducted various demonstrations since 2005. Mevorach, who has attended all of those demonstrations and meetings, has continually said that such mufflers and bafflers are not sufficient enough to lessen noise on a consistent basis. "It's not scientific, you still cannot guarantee it," Mevorach said.

Earlier in the year, Mevorach invited an expert from Great Britain to demonstrate a broadband horn. The broadband horn is an electronic device that allows conductors to set it to one consistent decibel level' Since federal regulations mandate a decibel level of 96, Mevorach explained that the broadband horn can be set to 96.1. "The broadband horn can be set at a specific level and stay at that level," said Mevorach.

The LIRR has yet to consider Mevorach's inquiry on broad band horns, a product used in Europe. However, LIRR President Helena Williams appeared confident that significant steps have been taken. "While we cannot eliminate horns, we can and have taken a careful look at our equipment and our operations, and have developed the steps I am announcing today which we believe can be taken to reduce train horn noise without compromising public safety or the essential transportation services we provide to 86 million people annually," Williams said in a statement released last week.

To Mr. Mevorach, the LIRR has a long way to go, and there does not appear to be an end in sight. "It is utter nonsense," Mevorach said. "I would believe it when I hear it, not when I see it. I don't believe what they say anymore because they have been saying it for three years."

NEWS FROM SENATOR CRAIG JOHNSON: 7TH SENATE DISTRICT

SENATOR CRAIG JOHNSON: THIRD TRACK COSTS KEEP RISING

Senator Craig M. Johnson blasted the MTA/ LIRR for once again ignoring the wishes of Main Line communities by continuing to go forward with its controversial Third Track Expansion project, even as its projected costs continue to increase.

MTA officials now estimate that it would cost $1.5 billion to complete the project. As recently as March, Third Track was projected to cost $1.3 billion. Last year, it was pegged at $1 billion.

This increase comes with no information on how the MTA plans to pay for the Third Track. The project is part of the MTA's 5-year Capital Plan, which was intended to have been funded by revenue from the now dead congestion tax proposal for lower Manhattan. Senator Johnson opposed congestion pricing, as he opposes this project.

"The price tag on Third Track keeps going up, the justifications for this project continue to shift, and revenues keep drying up. The only thing that remains constant is the opposition from the vast majority of those who live in the communities this project will cut through," Senator Johnson said. "Given all of these factors, the MTA/LIRR should be reevaluating their game plan, but yet everything indicates that they intend continue to pursue this wrongheaded project."

Among these indications, the MTA has posted a job listing on its Web site for a "director" to guide the project through the regularity process and "manage public outreach." Senator Johnson said the MTA/ LIRR's apparent unwillingness to reexamine this project has made it even more important that his legislation, The Main Line Community Empowerment Act (S.7037) becomes law.

The measure would allow the construction of the Third Track only with the approval of two thirds of the town and village governments from the communities that the track will run through. Any vote would come only after the affected governments (the Village Boards of Trustees in Bellerose, Floral Park, New Hyde Park, Garden City, Mineola and Westbury, which represent the incorporated communities, and the Town Boards in Hempstead, North Hempstead, and Oyster Bay, which represent the unincorporated areas) hold public hearings that will give residents a chance to gather information and voice their opinions on the project.

The bill is currently in the Senate Transportation Committee.

"Feasibility Report" - April, 2008

In its ongoing discussions with LIRR representatives, the NHP Village Board repeatedly requested analysis and documentation of "alternative construction concepts" regarding the at-grade crossing eliminations projects at NHP Road and Covert Avenue. At a meeting with Mrs. Helena Williams and other LIRR representatives on April 3, 2008, these "alternative concepts" were presented to the NHP Village Board.

The NHP Village website provides a link to this "Feasibility Report" which allows viewers to see the four alternative options which were considered and found to be "unfeasible." Please click on the link: http://www.vnhp.org/LIRRstudyofoptionsinNHP.pdf. to view these options.

For your convenience, please click on the links below to see the current plans for the:

NHP Road Crossing Elimination: http://www.vnhp.org/NHPRoadGradeCrossingSeperation.pdf










Covert Ave. Crossing Elimination: http://www.vnhp.org/CovertAvenueGradeCrossingSeperation.pdf

CALLING ALL NHP VILLAGE RESIDENTS!

Next to attending a regularly scheduled NHP Village Board Meeting, all residents are reminded to read "The Village of New Hyde Park Official Report" which was recently mailed to all village residents.

This important newsletter includes information about:

• Mayor's Letter to Residents regarding the proposed LIRR Mega Project
  
• NHP Village Board Meeting Schedule
  
• NHP Village Street Fair
• NHP Village Budget Report for 2008-09
• NHP Calendar of Events
• NHP Sanitation Schedules
• Updates from the NHP Dept. of Parks and Recreation and the NHP Cultural Committee, Beautification Committee, and the NHP Auxiliary Police Unit
  
• Community Development updates
• NHP Building Department advisories

As Americans, we enjoy many rights and freedoms; we also bear the responsibility to be proactive citizens. Thus, giving positive feedback as well as voicing our concerns will help our elected representatives to better address our collective needs so that we may continue to enjoy our neighborhoods and suburban quality of life.

An MTA Memorandum

Date: May 19, 2008
To: MTA Board Members
From: Chairman H. Dale Hemmerdinger
Re: Special Meeting

In accordance with Article II, Section 4 of the MTA by-laws ("Special Meetings"), please be advised that there will be a special MTA Board meeting on Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 12PM on the 5th floor of the MTA headquarters at 347 Madison Avenue, New York City.

The purpose of this Special Meeting is to present the Board with updated information concerning possible disposition of air rights and related real property interests for development at the Eastern Rail Yard and Western Rail Yard sections of the Long Island Rail Road's John D. Caemmerer West Side Yard (WSY); to brief the board regarding discussions that have taken place between the MTA Staff and the proposers, and to seek authority from the Board to proceed with conditional designation of a proposer recommended by the Selection Committee for the development of the Eastern Rail Yard and the Western Rail Yard.

From: http://www.mta.info/mta/pdf/Sepcial%20Bd.%20Mtg.pdf

Background

The West Side Rail Yards is the site of Manhattan's largest scale planned development. At 26.2 acres, the rail yard's site is twice the size of Ground Zero, and larger than Atlantic Yards in Brooklyn. The site stretches from 10th Avenue to 12th Avenue, and between 30th and 33rd Street. It is owned by the MTA, a state agency, but is slated for private development, determined by an MTA-run bidding process. The site is currently a working rail yard serving as a holding terminus for LIRR trains.

The eastern portion of the MTA’s John D. Caemmerer West Side Storage Yard (Eastern Rail Yard) is an approximately 13 acre site located between West 30th and West 33rd Streets from 10th to 11th Avenues. The site currently serves as a storage and maintenance facility for the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) operations at Pennsylvania Station. The future development of the Eastern Rail Yard will require the construction of a platform over active LIRR operations.

The Eastern Rail Yard was rezoned in January 2005 to accommodate approximately 6.6 million gross square feet of mixed-use development, including office, residential, hotel, retail, cultural and parking facilities, and public open space. The zoning controls for the site require approximately 7 acres of public open space, including a significant public plaza. Additionally, it is anticipated that development of the Eastern Rail Yard will include a major new cultural facility. The High Line connects to the southern edge of the site.

In April 2006, Hudson Yards Development Corporation, in partnership with the MTA, engaged a multi-disciplinary consultant team to perform a technical feasibility and engineering study to determine the optimal means to enclose the active LIRR tracks with a platform to support future development.

In September 2006, the City and the MTA reached an agreement for a coordinated planning and development effort with respect to the Eastern and Western Rail Yards. Pursuant to that agreement, following the completion of the technical study, the MTA will select a master developer for the Eastern Rail Yard and HYDC will participate in the selection process.

COMMENT

Amid all the other MTA projects still in progress, the massive MTA proposal described above seems on to be moving ahead! When the MTA/LIRR proposed the Mainline Corridor Improvement Project, the residents in the affected communities justly voiced their speculation about the credibility of the MTA/LIRR when they proposed to complete this project in an expeditious manner amid the worst economic climate in decades!

The economic stability of the entire 11040 area potentially lies in serious jeopardy when considering the typical budgetary shortfalls and the disaster-bound construction schedules which have already plagued so many other MTA projects. How can the citizens who live, work and travel through the communities affected by the Main Line Corridor Improvement Project be assured that their property values and quality of life will not be permanently damaged by another MTA/LIRR poorly planned capital project?

LIRR Main Line Corridor now up to $1.5 billion and looking for a Director??

Director – Main Line Corridor
Strategic Investments Department

Position Posting # 08-073

Position Summary:
This position is responsible for developing a comprehensive strategy for managing the Main Line Corridor (MLC) project. The strategy would incorporate both an intra-railroad approach as well as an external interface with the public, local, state and federally elected representatives, and state and federal agencies. It will be the responsibility of this position to navigate the NEPA process and manage public outreach to successfully obtain a Record of Decision so that the project can be advanced. The MLC is a 1.5 billion dollar investment program critical to the successful implementation of East Side Access, and is vital in order to provide additional track capacity to accommodate planned increases in commuter trains to serve the expected population and economic growth on Long Island. The need for the MLC project is critical to the Railroad's future operating plans.

Minimum Requirements:

• A Bachelor's Degree in Business, Planning, Engineering or a related field.
• Strong Project Management Skills.
• Progressively responsible related management experience in corporate/operations planning or demonstrated equivalent.
• Experience must include management of a professional staff and responsibility towards a Section or Department budget.
• Understanding of NEPA/SEQRA requirements.
• Experience managing the development of a corporate long-term investment program.
• In-depth analysis experience demonstrating and understanding of/experience with collaborative work efforts with various disciplines.
• Understanding of infrastructure and rolling stock (i.e. assumed by East Side Access) (or demonstrated equivalent experience).
• Strong working knowledge and understanding of the corporate needs of the LIRR both from an operations as well an infrastructure perspective.
• Demonstrates an understanding of the "big picture" of the LIRR's needs and service demands, operating procedures, customer service initiatives, equivalent strategies, future and on-going construction projects.
• Proven, effective leadership, management, problem solving, decision-making and judgment skills.
• Superior human relation skills and professional demeanor with proven ability to effectively interact with individual from various departments at all levels and influence decisions.
• Ability to direct multiple projects concurrently with strong organizational, interpersonal and communication/presentation skills.
• Proficiency in computer operations utilizing standard commercial software.
• Must have high degree of professional integrity and worth ethic.

Preferred/Desirable Skills/Qualifications:

• A Master's Degree in Business, Planning, Engineering or related field.
• Strong Engineering skills and experience managing complex multidimensional Capital Projects.

We offer competitive salaries and an excellent, comprehensive benefits package, including:

Full Medical Coverage
Dental Coverage
Vision Care
Life Insurance
Comprehensive Sick Leave Benefits
Deferred Compensation
Vacation/Personal Leave Days
Transportation Pass Privileges
Tuition Assistance Reimbursement
Pension Plan
In house training seminars

In addition to meeting the minimum requirements of the position, the selection process may include, but is not limited to, a pre-screening assessment (i.e. physical, written and/ or practical evaluation) and interview. Candidates forfeit further consideration in the process if they fail to participate in any step of the process when scheduled. Make up dates/times will not be given. In addition, LIRR employee applicants must be in their current position for the 12 months immediately preceding the close date of this posting and must possess a satisfactory work history, including attendance, safety and discipline record. Not all qualified applicants are guaranteed an interview due to the competitive selection process. A background investigation, medical examination and safety sensitive drug/alcohol test may also be required.

Application Process:

All applicants must email their resumes along with a cover letter in Micorsoft Word compatible format. In the email subject line, resume and cover letter you must indicate the Position Posting Number and Title. All resumes must include a chronological work history, home or office email address, home phone number, cell phone number and home address. Failure to follow these instructions could delay or omit your resume from consideration.

COMMENT

Although the Federal Transit Administration still has not released the specific details of the LIRR's Mainline Corridor Improvement Project's DEIS, it seems plans are being made to move forward by INCREASING THE REQUIRED FUNDING as well as beginning its search for a "Director."

The Village Officials and State representatives of the mainline corridor communities have been patiently waiting, in good faith, to review the details of this historically significant project. They have heard the voices of countless residents and responded with a clear call for inclusion in the process - always keeping the safety and welfare of the residents as their highest priority.

Now, the time has come for the Federal Transit Administration and the LIRR to become totally transparent with their recommendations and plans!

Senator Craig M. Johnson's response to the final report of the Commission on Local Government Efficiency and Competitiveness

In a letter written to Hon. Stan Lundine, Chairman of NYS Commission on Local Government Efficiency and Competitiveness, Senator Johnson expressed his concern that the Commission’s report “contains too many unresolved issues” that could potentially adversely affect the residents of the 7th Senate District and Long Island.

Briefly, Senator Johnson stated:

• the report fails to understand and address Long Island in ways in which we differ from the rest of the state.
• the report offers no analysis of cost savings on any of the proposed consolidation initiatives; he believes no consolidation should take place without the taxpayers being made aware of how much they will save versus what loss in quality of services they will experience, especially when many of these services are cost effective and highly responsive to the residents they serve.

Senator Johnson has already introduced and/or supported several related legislative efforts including:

• S3758 – which clarifies and stipulates that any property tax rebate received by volunteer firefighters or volunteer ambulance workers in New York State shall not be included as part of the firefighter/ambulance worker's adjusted gross income for personal income tax purposes.
• S7479A - which will allow for villages, special districts, and local authorities to buy off of county contracts and off of contracts from other local governmental entities located within the same county. This would help local governments be more efficient in purchasing goods and services, as they would not have to unnecessarily go through the competitive bidding process for contracts that have already been competitively bid.
• S3238A, also known as the Omnibus Emergency Services Volunteer Act introduced by Senator Winner, which institutes a number of incentive programs for emergency service volunteers as a means of increasing recruitment and retention of emergency service volunteers.

All residents in the 11040 area are encouraged to stay informed about the future recommendations of this Commission since they can have a direct effect on our quality of life and the status of services afforded to us via local government. Please click on the link below to read Senator Johnson's letter in its entirety:

http://www.nyssenate7.com/7/news/08-05-13/senator_craig_m_johnson_s_response_to_the_final_report_of_the_commission_on_local_government_efficiency_and_competitiveness.aspx

NEWS UPDATE: WLIW TV-Channel 21 News

WLIW TV - Channel 21 program, "Q & A," goes one-on-one with New York's leading decision makers and political representatives in a half hour interview format.

Among other issues, Senator Craig Johnson (7th Senate District) speaks out about the LIRR Main Line Corridor Improvement Project and its impact to the New Hyde Park community on May 12th at 7:30 PM and repeated on Saturday, May 17th at 6AM. This broadcast may also be viewed in an upcoming link via Channel 21's video-streaming archive found at http://www.wliw.org/QandA/

Proposals for local government efficiency...

The NYS Commission on Local Government Efficiency and Competitiveness, which recommends strategies to “streamline NYS’s 4720 local government entities in order to improve service and cut property taxes,” delivered its final report to Governor David Paterson. The following recommendations were included in its report:

1. eliminating pay for special district commissioners
2. putting town boards in charge of sanitation districts
3. giving NYS Ed. Commissioner the power to force school district consolidations and restructuring
4. allowing town boards to make highway superintendents, tax receivers, and town clerks appointed positions
5. requiring municipal employees to contribute toward the cost of their health insurance and pensions
6. consolidating some key government functions at the county or regional level – including industrial development agencies, property tax assessment and collection, emergency dispatch, civil service commissions and vital records.
7. requiring local consideration of county-wide management for fire protection services and an affirmative referendum to continue commissioner-run special districts other than fire and police districts.
8. allowing towns to run their own fire departments (presently barred under NYS law) and share jails, health commissioner, and medical examiner

It is important to note that Governor Paterson already proposed legislation which includes the first two items listed in the commission’s recommendations (above). He also endorsed the formation of cooperative health plans and highway shared service agreements. This would allow shared public health boards and directors, and it would make it easier for citizens to petition for municipal consolidations and dissolutions.

COMMENTARY

Although such legislation seeks to “streamline government and reduce property taxes”, the changes and challenges inherent in the proposals mentioned above can potentially have a direct effect on citizens’ easy access to local government, the fine services it provides for us, and the opportunity for “home rule” when it comes to the care and maintenance of our village’s quality of life and its future stability.

The Village of New Hyde Park has been incorporated since 1927. For those of us who cherish our lifestyle and local government control of services, we need to be vigilant and vocal about the consequences of this kind of legislation which, in essence, seeks to whittle away at our voice and our voting power!