Gap Fillers a Non-Starter

Long Island Railroad has determined that mechanical gap fillers are apparently too costly and therefore not feasible. According to the MTA (parent of the LIRR), a study found that "the project would be lengthy, risky and pricey - costing more than $72 million."

Apparently the MTA has a secret number in mind for fixing the problem and $72,000,000 exceeds that number. At the Addressing the Gap hearing, in February, acting LIRR President Raymond P. Kenny provided the retractable mechanical filler as one of only two options for a long-term solution at Syosset. The other option presented would be to reevaluate existing standards (track centerline length and adding wider threshold plates to railcars). This option doesn't appear to have any traction at all and would still leave a sizable gap.

So its back to the drawing board for ideas. One idea suggested in today's Newsday article for Syosset Station is to move it to a straighter length of track where the gap would be minimized. Anyone familiar with Syosset Station has to be skeptical of this option because of the cost and headache factor. And we already know that cost must be less than $72M.

Could moving station option be viable or is the MTA/LIRR blowing smoke up our collective asses? I think the real strategy here is to just trickle out enough funds for studies and continue with risk mitigation without spending a lot of money.

That is of course until someone else drops through the Syosset gap and another tragedy results.