To The Editor:

Several months ago, after admitting they had misinterpreted federal government horn blowing regulations, the Long Island Rail Road changed its operating policy requiring engineers to blast their horns while going through the Forest Hills station. The new policy instructs engineers not to blow their horns unless there are emergency conditions or construction on the tracks. However, many engineers are currently disregarding that policy and blowing their horns at empty platforms and at passengers who are far away from the platform edge, causing residents nearby the Forest Hills station to have to suffer LIRR noise pollution.

Many of us who live near the Forest Hills station have been calling the railroad on a regular basis to complain about the needless horn blowing. But so far all we've gotten for our efforts is a run around. We've also complained to our local legislators about the problem and one of them, state Assembly[member] Andrew Hevesi, has introduced a bill into the state legislature to make the Forest Hills station a quiet zone. That legislation would not be necessary if the management of the LIRR would do their job and monitor the horn blowing through the Forest Hills station. The fact that they haven't shows that LIRR management is asleep at the switch. Sincerely, Martin H. Levinson Forest Hills via email