On the heels of a weekend where LIRR passengers saw their travel times doubled due to extremely limited service, it appears that whittling away the commute with a drink is about to get more expensive.
Today, according to news reports, an MTA committee is weighing a 25-cent increase on bar cart and platform cart drinks, which would push some LIRR beers to $4.75.
With weekend signal and switch control modernization work at Jamaica crippling service on most branches, LIRR officials had advised “essential business travel” only. Noting the massive publicity blitz, MTA spokesman Salvatore Arena said average morning LIRR ridership was down 45 and 54 percent on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
But, in addition to work, other passengers had other reasons to bear the inconvenience. Despite being disabled and reliant on a cane, John Singletary, 59, of Deer Park, decided he had to make Sunday service at Holy Temple Church in Jamaica. Normally one hour, his one-way trip took two-and-a-half hours with rerouting and delays.
Lisa Cronin and daughter Brianna Swarthout, 12, also dealt with an extra hour from Ronkonkoma to Jamaica to join a Six Flags Great Adventure trip to New Jersey.
“It made a long journey very long,” said Cronin.
