NEW YORK - Today, the MTA has announced that due to a lack of strong ridership and high operating costs that it would discontinue West Hempstead service in 2016.
This comes on the heels of the discontinuation of weekend service on the branch back in 2010. And weekend service has failed to gain ridership in the last four years, despite spikes in gas prices, an economic recovery and new residential development in West Hempstead.
"We can simply not keep operating such a money-losing line.", said Thomas Prendergast, chairman of the MTA. "Current ridership is too low, projected ridership in the future is too low, and alternate service is available in the proximity."
Currently, the West Hempstead Branch carries 2,500 riders a day, the lowest in the MTA's entire commuter network. And with most trains not being more than shuttles to/from Valley Stream or Jamaica, the schedules aren't that convenient for most potential riders.
"I'd rather take the train from Mineola or another nearby station", said Robert Snider, a commuter waiting for the 6:57 AM train to Atlantic Terminal. "You almost always have to transfer to go to Penn or the city. It's annoying, frustrating and irritating. The only reason why I still use this branch is because I always find a seat."
An exact date for the branch's closure has not been announced just yet.