LIRR and LI bus riders weigh in on proposed MTA cuts

At Ronkonkoma LIRR station

Roaine Fine, 25, Brooklyn
School teacher in the city
Takes LIRR to visit family in Stony Brook
“As a New Yorker, if there was a service cut to the subway, it would affect me. If it was me taking the train , I would be insulted.”

Chris Williams, 29, Stony Brook
Research assistant, Stony Brook University
Takes LIRR regularly
“People are going to be at the mercy of other forms of transportation.”

At Medford business near Medford LIRR station

Suat Akman, 23, Port Jefferson
Assistant manager, O&K Peter’s Barbershop, Medford
Doesn’t ride LIRR, says it’s inconvenient
“If I’ve got to wait two hours to take the bus to the station, what’s the point? People will take if there are more choices.”

At Flatbush LIRR station

Judy Casanova, North Bellmore
Works in client research
Takes the train weekdays, but also to visit family in the city
“I think it’s unfair. I have a sister in Brooklyn and it would be hard to visit with her on the weekends. My mother’s birthday is coming up and I am going to have to find a way for her to get out there. You pay $300 or whatever it is a month. I should be able to take the train whenever I want.”

Charles Walters, 31, Elmont
Information technologies director
Takes the LIRR weekdays
“That’s really screwed up. We currently have this great service. That’s like a lifeline out . How else do we get out there? I think this will be doing a disservice to the public.”

Michael Kay, 33, Glen Head
Equities analyst
Takes the LIRR weekdays
“Any service cuts is ridiculous. It seems to me that the trains get more and more crowded with each service cut.”

Al Oppermann, 60, Floral Park
Education counselor
Takes the LIRR weekdays
“That’s very sad, because I have a weekend place in Jamesport and I don’t just go during the summer. I go all year long.”

Sherry Schultz, Woodmere
Employee, city Department of Administrative Services
Takes the Far Rockaway line weekdays
“It doesn’t affect me. I work for city government and am familiar with budget cuts. Sometimes they have to happen.”