The photo of long time Long Island Rail Road rider Larry Penner reveals that something is still missing one year later from installation of a new replacement pedestrian overpass bridge at the Little Neck LIRR Station last November 2016.
Why didn’t the LIRR coordinate purchase of a simple prefabricated overhead canopy along with procurement of a new prefabricated pedestrian overpass bridge? Both could have been installed during the same past weekend.
For a few dollars more, this would have provided hundreds of Great Neck and Little Neck riders with protection from rain, snow, sleet and ice. It would also extend the useful life for both pedestrian overpass bridge and staircases.
The original pedestrian overpass bridge and stairs were installed in 1989. Since that time, riders due to inclement weather, have had to periodically deal with slippery and unsafe conditions when using this passageway to access the eastern end of the westbound platform.
Many walk this way to reach the rear five cars of Penn Station bound trains. This positions you, when exiting the train at Penn Station, for the fastest route toward Herald Square, 7th Avenue along with the #1,2 & 3 IRT subway lines.
Metro North always includes a canopy with installation of any pedestrian overpass bridge or staircases. Don’t LIRR commuters deserve the same consideration as their Metro North counterparts?
Larry Penner
Great Neck
Larry Penner is a transportation historian and advocate who previously worked 31 years for the US Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration Region 2 NY Office.
