Teachers who rely on the Long Island Rail Road to get to East Hampton for work got an unpleasant surprise last week — a notice that the M.T.A. Police will be closing most of the parking lot at the Westhampton train station from Saturday through June 21 for the U.S. Open Golf Championship at Shinnecock. The Open runs from Monday through June 21 at the Shinnecock Hills Golf Club.
“We received word that a certain number of parking spots at the Westhampton and Speonk stations are going to be eliminated because they have reserved parking there. I have about 30 to 40 employees who take the train. Now where are they going to park?” asked Adam Fine, the East Hampton superintendent.
Stephanie Quigley, a music teacher at the high school, is one of those employees. “I live in Stony Brook, so I have one of the furthest commutes. Now I have to leave even earlier to get parking, and I’m worried parking might not even be an option.”
Drivers have been encouraged to stay off the roads during the week of the golf tournament to avoid traffic jams, and Mr. Fine expects that additional district staff members will heed that advice and take the train.
“I understand the money that the Open brings here. I’m very happy to support it, but we’re trying to stay off the roads because they tell us to beware of traffic. It’s on the signs on the expressway as I head up to Stony Brook. It’s everywhere,” he said, asking again, “Now where do my people park? We’re hearing statements that ‘No, we can’t change anything. We have to use this lot.’ I know near the Westhampton lot there are other schools with large parking lots. Have they approached those schools? Or other large parking lots in the area?”
Ms. Quigley said there has already been a spike in commuters on the L.I.R.R., and she’s worried it will only get worse next week. “The train has been pretty bad for the last two weeks. It’s the most crowded I’ve ever seen,” she said. “There are no parking spots already. I hope they rescind this.”
By yesterday, word had been received that the M.T.A. police had released 15 parking spots at the station that they would not need during the Open. The need for them could increase exponentially as more people opt to take the train to and from points east rather than braving the roads.
A temporary train station and pedestrian overpass have been created at Shinnecock Hills and the L.I.R.R. will add seven to eight trains a day and increase train length for the duration of the Open. (A story on train service appears elsewhere in today’s paper.)
With the last day of classes on Monday and Regents exams throughout the week, this is a difficult time for teachers to be stuck in traffic or unable to catch their trains.
“I am deeply concerned about it. I wish they could find another place to park, but we’re just keeping our fingers crossed, or they’re going to have to drastically alter their plans.”