With a best ever 95.21 percent in 2009, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) set a new On-Time Performance (OTP) record for the third year in a row.

The 95.21 percent overall OTP is the best since modern record keeping began in 1979 and included 81 rush hour periods when on-time performance reached 100 percent. The LIRR achieved this milestone last year while operating 244,937 trains.

LIRR President Helena E. Williams attributed the improvement in on-time performance to investments in the LIRR's fleet, better maintenance practices, a robust track work program, better vegetation management along the LIRR Right-of-Way and the effort of its employees.

"We couldn't achieve these new records each year without the dedication of our workforce," Williams said. "They make it all happen, in all kinds of weather, day in and day out."

The previous OTP record of 95.14 percent was set in 2008. In 2007, OTP reached 94.07 percent.

The LIRR also tied a record last year that was set in 1993 for the highest number of 100 percent rush hour periods (81). The previous record was set when the LIRR was operating six percent fewer trains than in 2009.