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LIRR President: Woodside Station Elevator Has 'Vertical Urinal Problem'

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- An elevator at a Long Island Rail Road station was number one when it came to being inoperable last month.

And number one had a lot to do with it.

The elevator at Woodside Station in Queens was only in operation 58 percent of the time.

That is because it has been urinated on so much, Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials have said urine has actually rusted the floor and gotten into some of inner workings of the lift, causing problems.

LIRR President: Woodside Station Elevator Has 'Vertical Urinal Problem'

LIRR President Helena Williams referred to the problem as a "vertical urinal problem."

A woman named "Martha" at Woodside Station reacted when she heard the news.

"That's the reason why it doesn't work? That is gross and it's a shame because there are so many people who rely on the elevator," she told 1010 WINS' Gene Michaels.

She said she thinks officials need to find a way to keep people from relieving themselves in the elevator, especially since there are restrooms on the mezzanine level.

Other people also weighed in with their thoughts on the problem.

"That's really nasty and I wouldn't expect it to be that bad around here," another woman said.

"I just knew the acrid urine smell all the time and we just came to get used to it and make sure my daughter didn't touch anything on the elevators," said one man.

Officials are said to be mulling whether the elevator needs to be repaired or completely replaced.

Urinating in an elevator may just be an out-of-control nuisance on the LIRR, but in some countries, it is a serious criminal offense.

In Singapore, some elevators are equipped with "urine detection devices," which will cause an alarm to sound and make the elevator stop until police arrive and arrest the offender, according to published reports.

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