The MTA clapped back at Amtrak on Thursday following a media tour of an East River tunnel to justify the need for a complete shutdown of a rail tube during a lengthy repair project. Rob Free, the president of the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), raised concerns about the extent of the work and the necessity of closing down two major tunnel lines during a press conference at Penn Station on May 15.
“I want to make sure that our operation maintains the high levels of reliability that we already have,” Free expressed. The MTA, a state-run agency, has been at odds with Amtrak over the decision to shut down two tubes in the tunnel, arguing that it would lead to “catastrophic” disruptions for the LIRR, which heavily relies on the East River tunnels to access Penn Station.
While acknowledging the need for repair work due to damage from Hurricane Sandy, Free criticized Amtrak for not providing detailed plans for the work or strategies to minimize potential delays for LIRR passengers. “It’s Amtrak’s call to make. It’s their responsibility, but they need to ensure that they manage this project properly to avoid negative impacts on LIRR operations,” he stated. The scheduled closures are set to commence on May 23, with two of the four East River tubes being taken out of service consecutively for approximately 13 months each, resulting in service disruptions for the LIRR’s 125,000 daily riders.
