Senators call for deep audit of LIRR's performance, spending

Michael Gormley with Newsday

Originally published in Newsday

Several state senators representing Long Island on Friday called for a major audit of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority because of what they said were frequently overcrowded and dirty conditions on the Long Island Rail Road.

“It’s the service and cost,” said Sen. James Gaughran (D-Huntington), who appeared with other Democratic senators on the Hicksville LIRR station platform. “We really need to do this forensic audit because it is out of control.”

The lawmakers said the LIRR, which is part of the MTA, isn’t honest about how often its trains are late. They said the railroad often asserts that trains that are a few minutes late actually are on time.

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