Commuters protested in Manhattan on Sunday calling for the resignations of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Pat Foye, the chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
Cuomo spent the weekend defending other calls for his resignation over his COVID-19 response in nursing homes and sexual harassment allegations made against him, but now he is being critized over his handling of the MTA.
The protest over the weekend was in response to service changes to the Long Island Railroad that went into effect on Monday. These changes involve new morning boarding times that are spaced at least 40 minutes apart.
Photos posted to Twitter on Monday morning showed busy train cars packed with commuters. Some were forced to stand due to the lack of available seating.
There was no room for any kind of social distancing.
To every @LIRR rider sitting in a packed, cramped train car right now: I see & hear you. Keep sending your photos in! We must return to the old schedule and get everyone back to work safely. pic.twitter.com/1AiyvOxB9K
— Todd Kaminsky (@toddkaminsky) March 8, 2021
“They are going to leave essential workers stranded on the Long Island Railroad,” United Passengers President Charlton D’souza said. “They are going to have to wait one hour for a train to only bring them to Penn Station.”
The LIRR reduced service during midday due to declining ridership during the pandemic. The LIRR weekday schedule is cut to 75% of pre-pandemic levels.
Other aspects of the changes made include increased rail tie replacement, construction of a new train storage rack in Massapequa, and continued work on the development of a third track between Hickville and Floral Park.
“Off-peak fares will remain in effect on all trains, even during traditional peak hours,” said a notice published by the MTA.