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The Long Island Rail Road neglected to paint more than half its stations in Queens over the past five years, ignoring its own maintenance guidelines to regularly upkeep its facilities, according to an audit by New York City Comptroller Bill Thompson.

LIRR policy requires the agency to paint its stations every 2-5 years, with busier stations getting painted more frequently. In 14 of 26 stations in Queens, however, the LIRR failed to meet that responsibility, in some cases letting stations sit for more than a decade without a fresh coat, the audit says.

Although the report concluded that all but two Queens stations were in fair or good condition – Shea Stadium and Belmont Park being rated below par – the audit identified a number of maintenance problems at almost every one, such as rust on the staircases, peeling paint, and graffiti.

“If the painting schedule had been followed, some of the problems identified in the audit could potentially have been avoided,” Thompson said. “The LIRR must adhere to its guidelines and consistently maintain its stations.”

Since 2001, the City has paid the MTA $281 million for the use, maintenance and operation of LIRR facilities. The money is paid under the expectation that the MTA will follow all its own guidelines, the audit states.

Most of the neglected stations were painted in the late 1990s, but did not receive their mandated upkeep after 2001. Belmont Park has gone the longest without a paint job, getting its last new coat in 1993.

The other stations that were overlooked were: Bayside, Douglaston, East New York, Far Rockaway, Flushing Main Street, Hunterspoint Avenue, Laurelton, Little Neck, Locust Manor, Nostrand Avenue, Queens Village, Shea Stadium and Woodside.

In a letter to Thompson, LIRR President James Dermody acknowledged that the agency had not followed its station painting guidelines, saying it had instead focused its manpower on other renovations to improve customer service.
The LIRR has created a plan to address the maintenance problems at the various stations, scheduling for painting and other services when weather and staff level permit.

“The Long Island Rail Road’s goal is to keep our stations maintained through ongoing inspection and cleaning programs,” Dermody wrote. “We are committee to review our activities to assure that our customers receive the safest and most efficient service we can provide them.”

The LIRR also said it would take steps to correct the situation at the two worst stations, Shea Stadium and Belmont, although some portions of those facilities are actually maintained by the Parks Department and New York Racing Association, respectively.

Only two stations, Hunters Point and Long Island City, reported no maintenance problems.