OP-ED
HEADING INTO 2021, LIRR IS
SAFEST IT HAS EVER BEEN
ON THE WEB
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TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | JAN. 1-JAN. 7, 2021 13
BY PHILLIP ENG
As 2020 comes to an end, and with the COVID-
19 vaccine distribution underway, I know we’re all
hopeful for a fresh start in 2021.
And I’m proud to say that going into the New
Year, the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) is the safest
it’s ever been.
Last week, the LIRR, alongside our sister railroad
Metro-North, successfully completed a nationally
mandated safety project called Positive Train Control,
designed to protect against human error while
operating trains to help prevent accidents.
This effort could not have been done without our
incredible PTC project team, led by Debbie Chin and
Andrew Arenth, whose leadership, expertise and innovative
thinking ensured that we met the federal
deadline amid a year of unprecedented challenges.
This team worked tirelessly to install equipment
on 305 route miles across the entire LIRR territory,
along with equipment on 1,055 train cars, 151 wayside
interface units, 108 communication locations,
and more than 4,200 transponders. More than 3,000
LIRR personnel are now trained on this PTC system,
ensuring a safer ride for all.
This important accomplishment adds to the roster
of recent safety improvements we’ve made, including
the installation of new safety measures at all 289
railroad crossings; the first-of-its-kind partnership
with WAZE to alert motorists to upcoming railroad
crossings; and the continuing efforts to modernize
infrastructure and our signal systems, along with
concrete tie replacements, enhanced rail testing,
and the installation of continuous welded rail.
As we embark on a new set of infrastructure activity
for 2021, flowing into the spring months, we
are striving for another successful year of delivering
critical projects, and will continue to keep safety at
the forefront of everything we do.
Despite all the new challenges we faced and had to
overcome in 2020, I’m thankful for all the significant
accomplishments that we have been able to deliver.
Looking ahead, all of us here at the railroad remain
committed to continuous improvement for our customers
and our employees.
My final wish for the remaining days of 2020 is
that everyone finds a way to safely enjoy this time of
year as we all deal with this second wave of COVID
across the country. Let’s all watch out for each other,
have a safe and healthy holiday season, and a
promising start to 2021.
From all of us at the LIRR, happy holidays to you
and your loved ones. See you in 2021.
Phillip Eng is the Long Island Rail Road president.
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