Syosset Station Safety Measures
February 13 Community Forum

The MTA Long Island Rail Road will be holding a community forum on Wednesday, February 13 to present alternative safety measures at Syosset Station.  The meeting will be held at Syosset High School at 70 Southwoods Road.  Doors will open at 6 PM and LIRR staff will be available at that time to discuss the alternative safety measures with members of the public.  The community forum will be from 7 PM to 9 PM.

LIRR President Helena Williams says the forum is a good opportunity for a dialogue with the Syosset community.  “We’re looking forward to soliciting input from residents and commuters on various measures to enhance safety with regard to the platform gap at Syosset Station,” said Williams.  

The curve at the Syosset station presents unique safety challenges for customers and train crews.  The westbound track produces platform gaps over ten inches at door locations on cars located in the center of the train.  The forum is being held to discuss new alternative safety measures including:

1. eliminating problems associated with the curved platform by extending the platform at Syosset by up to 610 feet; or
2. extending the platform by 450 feet; or
3. 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.

The Railroad 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 includes 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 two inches.