Some Long Island Railroad customers looking for good news may soon have reason to celebrate.
Despite a project with $2 billion price tag, a new report shows that the decision to build a third track along the LIRR’s main line here in Nassau County could bring many positive results.
An environmental report released Monday anticipates that the LIRR expansion project would have “minimal” adverse effects and would actually improve air quality, noise and parking conditions along its 10-mile corridor.
The expansion project aims to construct a third track between Floral Park and Hicksville, largely within the LIRR’s own property.
In a statement, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said:
“Expanding the main line is crucial to the future of Long Island and its residents… By increasing capacity on one of the LIRR’s busiest corridors and eliminating all street-level grade crossings, this project will result in less traffic, less congestion and a transportation network that meets the needs of current and future generations of Long Islanders.”
The report says construction would begin next year and would last three to four years. Unlike previous plans to build a third track, the study says newly proposed project would not require building on residential property.
And when it comes to improvements, the report proposes adding nearly 2,500 parking spaces at stations that are along the project’s path, including Mineola, New Hyde Park, Westbury and Hicksville.
Meantime, stations including Mineola, New Hyde Park, Carle Place and Westbury would also get new, longer platforms to accommodate trains with as many as 12 cars.
And with winter soon approaching, many commuters will likely warm up to the proposal to have heated platforms to prevent the buildup of snow and ice.
