Dumping the Pump

By Drew Scott

  "Let's dump the pump," as a group of MTA big wigs and Nassau county officials pushed a mockup of a gasoline pump over on its side.

  MTA Executive Director Elliot "Lee" Sander encouraged Long Islanders to forsake their SUV's and local gas stations, and get commuting on the Long Island Rail Road. LIRR President Helena Williams joined the group by encouraging commuters to sign up for the "monthly Mail-N-Ride" program.

  Commuters we talked to however wondered out loud, "where are they going to put these new passengers they're inviting to ride?" After a 5% surge in ridership a month since January the daily commute is revealing standing room only on many trains, shortened express trains, and with the summer construction at the "Queens Interlock" more than a dozen canceled trains.

  The MTA says with help from the Albany Legislature, it can accomodate any new increase in ridership. But help from lawmakers could be months or years down the road. What do standees do now?

  So, save some money by riding the rails to work, but don't expect to get a seat every time!