As a resident of Port Washington, NY, I am deeply affected by the lack of direct Long Island Railroad (LIRR) service from our town to Grand Central Madison Station during morning rush hours. This issue is personal for me and many others who need to get to work by 9:00 am. The upcoming changes in train schedules (beginning 11-13-2023) have left us with two trains at 7:14 am and 7:19 am (only 5 minutes apart!) BOTH heading directly to Penn Station and nothing direct to Grand Central between 5:51 am and 8:13 am. 

The billions spent on developing Grand Central Madison Station were intended to provide East Side Access for Long Islanders like us. However, it seems that this purpose is being undermined as we are losing our only direct train service that allowed us to arrive at work on time without having to add an extra subway fare. 

This situation not only affects individual commuters but also has wider implications for the community’s economic vitality and quality of life. When I was a realtor one of the biggest selling points to buyers in our area was the fantastic commute into the city and the promise that the commute would be even better – even faster - once Grand Central Madison was completed.  Incredibly, the commute has gotten longer (not shorter), and the number of trains and options has actually decreased.

We are calling upon MTA officials and local representatives to rectify this situation promptly. We want to make taking the train (rather than driving) the better option. We urge them to not only consider our needs as commuters, but to uphold their commitment made through the East Side Access Project – which was designed with an aim of enhancing connectivity for all Long Islanders.

Please sign this petition if you believe in better commuting options for Port Washington residents and all those who rely on LIRR services daily! Thank you.