Governor Andrew Cuomo is forging ahead with the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) Expansion Project, announcing public outreach efforts to inform residents about the third track and allow them opportunities for input.
Four public sessions along the third track corridor are scheduled, including one at the “Yes We Can” Community Center on Wednesday, May 25, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Other sessions will be held Tuesday, May 24, at the Inn at New Hyde Park from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and at Hofstra University from 6 to 9 p.m., and Wednesday, May 25, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Antun’s in Hicksville. At the May 5 board of trustees meeting, Village of Westbury Mayor Peter Cavallaro said the governor is adamant about getting the project done and encouraged residents to voice their opinions at the sessions.
“For the long term of Long Island, the project is going to happen,” Cavallaro said. “Whether it happens this year or next or in 20 years, as Long Island expands there are more people in the east end of Long Island and you need more capacity.”
Unlike the third track plan proposed in 2007, this new proposal does not call for any residential property acquisitions and will be a design build (similar to the Ellison Avenue Bridge) done in the existing right of way. It also includes the elimination of the seven street-level grade crossings along the 9.8 mile stretch from Floral Park to Hicksville. Westbury has two at-level grade crossings, one at School Street in the village and one at Urban Avenue in New Cassel. The LIRR is posing elevating the track and creating two-way underpasses at both of those sites.
“As this goes forward, we want to make sure that gets addressed to make sure our community don’t have those dangerous grade crossings and that the impact on our local residents is mitigated,” Cavallaro said. “We don’t want residents who live by or along the tracks to have this project change the values of their homes or quality of life.”
On Friday, May 6, MTA officials also opened a LIRR Expansion Project Information Center, located on the south platform at the Mineola Train Station. At the center, people can review the scoping documents and allow questions to project officials on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
A newly launched website, www.amodernli.com, also details the project and allows the public to provide input.
There are no details yet on how the project, which is estimated to cost at least $1 billion, will be financed.
