LIRR Estimates $52M in Further Cutbacks
The president of the Long Island Rail Road says an estimated $52 million in cuts the LIRR must make could mean a reduction in the number of train cars and changes in certain work rules.

LIRR President Helena Williams told the Long Island Regional Planning Council on Tuesday "this is extraordinarily painful."

The LIRR is part of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

The MTA had already adopted a drastic service reductions and employee cuts.

Then, the agency announced it was facing another $400 million shortfall due to lower-than-expected tax revenues and reduced state aid.

The $52 million is included in that shortfall, which Williams called a "significant challenge."

She says "we'll do it through reductions in overtime, project deferral, and we're looking at those work rules that we don't have to negotiate over."

However, Williams was not specific about which projects could be affected or which work rules were being reviewed.