The MTA Long Island Rail Road held a community forum last Wednesday to present alternative safety measures at Syosset train station. The meeting, which was held at Syosset High School, allowed residents the opportunity to discuss the Syosset station with LIRR staff.

"This forum is a good opportunity for a dialogue with the Syosset community to solicit input from residents and commuters on various measures to enhance safety with regard to the platform gap at Syosset station," said LIRR President Helena Williams.

The curve at the Syosset station presents unique safety challenges according to the Long Island Rail Road. The westbound track produces platform gaps over 10 inches at door locations on cars located in the center of the train.

The forum was held to discuss new alternative safety measures including eliminating problems associated with the curved platform by extending the platform at Syosset by up to 610 feet; or extending the platform by 450 feet; or operational safety measures including the use of new platform booths for the special platform conductors, a "Call Ahead" program for those needing assistance at Syosset, and use of bridge plates at Syosset for those who require help navigating the gap.

Local residents who attended the community forum last week expressed concern over the option of extending the platform as the proposed height would allow commuters to see into their backyards and homes. They also expressed concern over potential light and noise pollution.

According to the Long Island Rail Road, it has worked hard over the past year to mitigate the gap at Syosset Station including the use of 24 closed-circuit TV cameras (12 on each platform) with monitors at three locations on the westbound platform and three on the eastbound platform to assist train crews in locating all passengers using the curved platform section; the use of special platform conductors during heavy-travel times to assist boarding and disembarking passengers; the installation of gap signage and platform stenciling; and station and train announcements.

Plans for systemwide gap remediation include the installation of one-inch edgeboards on platforms - which will reduce many gaps by one inch - and the installation of wider threshold plates on trains, resulting in a further gap reduction of 2 inches.

Laura Schultz, a Syosset resident and vice president of Residents for a More Beautiful Syosset, read a letter from Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto to then MTA chairman Peter Kalikow dated April 12, 2007, into the record at last week's meeting.

"You are no doubt well aware of the problems that exist at and around Syosset Rail Road Station, including a shortage of commuter parking and impeded traffic flow at times when the gates are lowered at the grade crossing on Jackson Avenue during the passage of LIRR trains," Supervisor Venditto wrote. "Discussion regarding these problems has been ongoing. Among the most recent initiatives which addressed this particular issue, among many others, was a community-based visioning process culminating in the Syosset Downtown Redevelopment and Revitalization Plan... The Town respectfully requests that as soon as practicable the MTA initiate a suitable feasibility study to examine a range of alternatives... A technical feasibility study appears to be the most appropriate next step, in order ultimately to arrive at a solution..."

Schultz expressed agreement that "a feasibility study regarding building a new high-capacity environmentally friendly station to serve Syosset residents and commuters" is the next logical step that should be taken.

Robert Rockelein, president of Residents for a More Beautiful Syosset, expressed concern at the meeting over several security problems that might arise if a platform extension was allowed to encroach and abut residential zoning. He also thanked the LIRR and its president Helena Williams for the open dialogue with the community and conducting a very public and transparent process, which actively sought public input and ideas.