All Not on Board With LIRR Plan
By Jennifer Maloney, Newsday, Melville, N.Y.
Feb. 13–As Nassau villages protest the Long Island Rail Road’s Main Line Corridor Improvement plan, railroad officials slowly are shedding more light on projects they say would provide more rush-hour trains and eliminate dangerous grade crossings.
The railroad plans to seize portions of up to 107 properties — some temporarily, others permanently — for two related projects on the railroad’s main line between Queens Village and Hicksville: the construction of a third track and the elimination of five grade crossings.
Advocates of the plan say those costs are outweighed by benefits not just for commuters, but also for the communities where land will be seized.
Among the benefits they cite are:
Increased capacity that would allow the addition of 218 daily trains for 24 million more LIRR riders expected by 2030.
More rush-hour trains for people commuting both into and out of New York City.
An end to 3,000 train horn soundings each day in neighborhoods along the corridor.
Reduced traffic congestion and emissions from vehicles idling at grade crossings.
A lower risk of accidents with the elimination of dangerous grade crossings.
Design of the third track project and the first phase of construction — progressing east from Queens Village — will cost $122.3 million, LIRR spokeswoman Susan McGowan said. To build the track, the LIRR plans to seize small portions of up to 80 properties along the corridor in permanent or temporary easements.
In a related project, the railroad plans to eliminate five of the eight grade crossings between Queens Village and Hicksville. The state Department of Transportation currently is eliminating a crossing at Roslyn Road in Mineola. There currently are no plans to eliminate grade crossings at Willis Avenue and Main Street in Mineola, where increased train service would bring traffic to a standstill during rush hour, according to the state DOT.
The LIRR has budgeted $80.3 million for the elimination of two grade crossings in Westbury and three in New Hyde Park. The New Hyde Park grade crossing separations could affect 27 properties — including up to 19 full seizures, according to the LIRR.
McGowan said she could not estimate the number of properties to be affected in Westbury because plans for those grade crossings have not been completed.
Residents in villages along the corridor say they would pay disproportionately for a project that will benefit all Long Islanders.
“They’re asking these communities to endorse this and embrace this project, but they have given no direction as to how they plan to proceed or offset impacts to these local communities,” Mineola Mayor Jack Martins said.
The LIRR has not yet explained, for example, the scope of the first phase of construction — how much time, if any, will elapse between the first and final phases, and when the project will be complete.
Railroad officials are meeting with local elected leaders to discuss plans and will release more details in its draft environmental impact statement, scheduled for April, McGowan said.
Converting the crossings
In addition to adding a third track between Hicksville and Queens Village, the rail project involves replacing several at-grade crossings with underpasses or overpasses.
Stations
Queens Village
Bellerose
Floral Park
New Hyde Park
Merillion Avenue
Mineola
Carle Place
Westbury
Hicksville
Crossings to be eliminated
Covert Avenue
12th Street
New Hyde Park Road
Roslyn Road*
School Street
Urban Avenue
No plans to eliminate crossings
Main Street
Willis Avenue
*Separate project paid for by state Department of Transportation . Others are paid for by the Long Island Rail Road.
Is this the ticket?
Pros and cons of the LIRR’s Main Line Corridor Improvements Project, which includes construction of a third track and elimination of five grade crossings between Queens Village and Hicksville.
PROS
Up to 218 additional trains each weekday, a 30 percent increase, to accommodate 24 million more riders expected by 2030.
Trains for reverse commuters every 30 minutes during rush hour.
Silencing of 3,000 train horn blasts daily in communities along the corridor.
Reduced traffic congestion and emissions from vehicles stopped at grade crossings.
Increased safety for pedestrians and cars with elimination of grade crossings.
CONS
Portions of up to 107 properties seized temporarily or permanently — including up to 19 full takings announced so far by LIRR.
Noise and disruption caused by construction along the corridor.
There currently are no plans to eliminate grade crossings at Willis Avenue and Main Street in Mineola, where increased train service would bring traffic to a standstill during rush hour, according to the state DOT.
– JENNIFER MALONEY
Copyright 2007 Newsday Inc.
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Copyright (c) 2007, Newsday, Melville, N.Y.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.
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