Nov 25, 2008 8:55 pm US/Eastern
Will MTA Budget Cuts Impact Railroad Safety?
Transit Advocate Silverman Tells CBS 2 HD He's Worried That Maintenance Cuts Have Already Begun
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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LIRR train derailments have New Yorkers demanding they be treated better considering how much additional money they are being asked to fork over during these trying economic times.
CBS
As the Long Island Rail Road works to repair the damage from a weekend derailment, there was a warning Tuesday night about the impact the proposed budget cuts could have on future service.
More than 200 LIRR employees have been working round-the-clock since Sunday to clear damaged cars from the track. Most LIRR service was expected to be restored by Tuesday evening's rush hour, although customers were advised to anticipate schedule changes that include some delays and six canceled trains.
How and why did all of this happen?
As investigators continue to probe for a cause of Sunday's derailment, federal sources told CBS 2 HD there are internal worries about the impact proposed budget cuts next year will have on railroad safety. But Larry Silverman, a former Metropolitan Transportation Authority board member and chair of the LIRR Commuter Council, wonders if cutbacks have already begun.
"I suspect that there were probably already were austerity programs in place and that there were maintenance cuts," Silverman said. "And I think there ought to be an investigation to see whether the recent derailments and incidents are the result of some failed maintenance or cut maintenance."
Silverman said during the 1980s and even into the 90s the railroad was prone to track fires, icing, derailments and undercarriage break downs, due to deferments of costly but necessary maintenance of tracks and equipment. Commuters remember and don't want a repeat of penny wise and pound foolish.
"They better check their tracks," builder Ken Ilewlyn said. "It could be part of the problem. I work for an outfit that builds the tracks."
Late Tuesday Sen. Hillary Clinton chimed in on the issue.
"This is clearly not the time to begin cutting funding for rail maintenance," Clinton said. "We need to ensure that Americans have access to safe and reliable mass transit."
Added Silverman: "The railroad depends on the MTA to fund it adequately. There is a tension between the two. The railroad has to say 'No, we're not going to accept cuts in maintenance!'"
The railroad wouldn't comment on the investigation but the president said she will fight to keep fares at their present level, adding that the LIRR is proud of its safety record, and that is priority No. 1.
The LIRR has hired a nationally known expert in derailment investigations out of Georgia to assist them, at an undisclosed cost. The repairs caused by Sunday's derailment expect to run at least $1 million.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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