CITYWIDE

AMTRAK’S HIGH-SPEED ACELA TRAINS SIDELINED UNTIL SUMMER

Amtrak will not be able to run any of its high-speed trains until the summer because of delays in getting replacement parts to correct brake problems on Acela Express cars, railroad officials said yesterday.

Starting Monday, Metroliner trains – slower than Acela but faster than regular trains – will operate 13 of the 15 Acela round-trips between New York and Washington.

Between New York and Boston, regular trains will cover nine of the 11 Acela round-trips, Amtrak officials said.

Starting May 2, Metroliner trains will operate 14 of the 15 Acela round-trips between New York and Washington. The New York-to-Boston Acela route will be operated by four Metroliner trains and seven regular trains, officials said. Amtrak pulled trains from across the country to fill in for the Acela runs.

– Associated Press

LIRR DELAYS ARE UP 30% FROM LAST YEAR

Delays on the Long Island Rail Road have increased almost 30% year-to-date compared to last year, according to statistics from the subsidiary of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

Though fewer trains – 20,276 – were scheduled to run last month compared to 20,502 last year, those trains nonetheless were late more often. Trains were late an average 14.9 minutes in March compared to 13.0 minutes a year ago.

Three snowstorms – there were 40 inches of snow in the city this winter – contributed to some of the larger delays, though the snow-related troubles composed only 2% of the overall delays, officials said. Nearly 44% of the delays were large disruptions that caused 10 or more trains to be late, including five occasions when smoke shut the trains down temporarily.

– Special to the Sun

DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAM UP FOR AWARD

The city’s innovative Adolescent Portable Therapy drug treatment program is one of 18 finalists for an honor known as the “Oscar” of government – the Innovations in American Government Award.

The program provides teens in the juvenile justice system with continuous drug treatment and works with teens and their families to develop treatment plans based on individual needs. The therapy staff follow the teens as they move among different facilities and agencies, and treatment continues even after teens are released from detention.

The Innovations Award is administered by the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government in partnership with the Council for Excellence in Government.

“This program stops any gaps in treatment, allowing youths to receive a seamless stream of services,” said the president and CEO of the Council for Excellence in Government, Patricia McGinnis. “It represents a shift in thinking that is simple, but incredibly effective.” The council is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve government performance by strengthening creative leadership in the public sector. Adolescent Portable Therapy was one of more than 1,000 applicants for this year’s award. All of the finalists will present their projects to a selection committee at Harvard on May 11. Five winners will be awarded $100,000 grants to encourage replication of their innovation in other jurisdictions.

– Special to the Sun

STATE

MUSLIM-AMERICANS SUE OVER TREATMENT AT BORDER

Dr. Sawsaan Tabbaa said that she sobbed as American customs agents forcibly fingerprinted her in front of her 3-year-old daughter.

On her way home from an Islamic religious conference at Toronto, Dr. Tabbaa, an American citizen and successful orthodontist, was detained along with her four children for nearly three hours at a Canadian border crossing in December. Though she refused to give her fingerprints, Dr. Tabbaa said, she was questioned and held in a cold, cramped room with dozens of other conference attendees, and threatened with imprisonment until she allowed a customs agent to fingerprint her.

A lawsuit filed in Brooklyn federal court yesterday on behalf of Dr. Tabbaa and four others who were detained, questioned, photographed, and fingerprinted at a border crossing at Buffalo alleges that federal authorities singled out conference attendees for questioning in violation of their civil rights. Rather than monetary redress, however, the suit seeks a declaration from the Department of Homeland Security that the detentions were both unlawful and unconstitutional.

Plaintiff Karema Atassi, 22, of Williamsville, N.Y., told the Associated Press that she attended the conference to hear respected scholars and learn more about her religion. At the border, she said, her husband was taken behind closed doors and asked, “Do you have reason to harm America?” and other “very offensive questions.”

The AP also reported that a call to the Department of Homeland Security seeking comment on the legal action was not immediately returned yesterday.

– Special to the Sun

QUEENS

PATAKI HOLDS OFF ON STATE RELIEF FOR ASTORIA FLOOD

Governor Pataki has vetoed an Assembly bill that would have freed up state funds to compensate residents of Astoria who suffered property damage caused by a recent water main break. Mr. Pataki said awarding compensation through the State Emergency Management Fund would be “premature” following a decision by Mayor Bloomberg to pay for the damage out of New York City funds. The Assembly bill was introduced before Mr. Bloomberg offered help from the city.

According to the bill, state funds were to be distributed to residents of the roughly 50 homes that were flooded February 16 when a contractor accidentally struck a water main, spilling more than 1 million gallons of water. Residents have until May 17 to file a claim with the city.

– Staff Reporter of the Sun