December 8, 2016

MTA plans to make monumental expansion to LIRR’s main line The project would affect the more than 300,000 passengers

The MTA has released new proposed plans as part of the Long Island Railroad’s Main Line Expansion Project which would stretch from Floral Park to Hicksville, impacting thousands of passengers. Gov. Andrew Cuomo says the enhanced main line will improve train service, safety, and quality of life for thousands of commuters, resulting in “less traffic, […]

December 8, 2016

LIRR expansion project would have ‘minimal’ adverse effects, reports says Third track would benefit riders with 2,500 parking spaces, longer platforms

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 […]

November 30, 2016

LIRR 3rd track environmental study released

FLORAL PARK – A new draft environmental study has been released for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s proposed third track for the Long Island Rail Road, bringing the controversial project one step closer to construction. The plan would add a third rail along 9.8 miles of the LIRR’s main line between Floral Park and Hicksville. In […]

November 30, 2016

LIRR 3rd track to improve air quality, parking, report says

The Long Island Rail Road’s plan to build a third track along its Main Line in Nassau will have “minimal” adverse effects and would actually improve air quality, noise and parking conditions along its 10-mile corridor, according to an environmental report released Monday. The 21-chapter draft environmental impact statement for the LIRR’s Main Line Expansion […]

November 28, 2016

MTA Releases Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)

An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) concisely describes and analyzes a proposed action which may have a significant impact on the environment. An EIS must include: Description of the action, including its need and benefits. Description of the environmental setting and areas to be affected. An analysis of all environmental impacts related to the action. An […]

November 11, 2016

Third track is the charm

Eliminating the LIRR bottleneck in western Nassau County will unlock the economic potential of other transit investments in the New York metropolitan area. Who knew that the economic future of an entire region can rely upon a mere 9.8-mile stretch of rail? Between the village of Floral Park on the western end of Nassau County, […]

October 12, 2016

LIRR third track will improve commutes every day, and especially after accidents

The cause of Saturday night’s Long Island Rail Road collision between a train with 600 passengers and a one-car maintenance train is under investigation. But one lesson is clear. The Main Line of the LIRR needs a third track. The derailment that injured 26 passengers and seven employees spurred a major emergency response and cleanup. […]

October 12, 2016

LIRR derailment fuels debate over $1B plan for 3rd track

Nassau County and MTA police and firefighters respond to the Long Island Rail Road derailment on Oct. 8, 2016, in Garden City. (Credit: Brad Trettien) A Long Island Rail Road third track might have prevented or lessened the impact of last weekend’s train derailment and other recent service disruptions along the railroad’s Main Line, supporters […]

October 5, 2016

LIRR: Delays like Wednesday’s could be avoided with 3rd track

Long Island Rail Road crews work on a broken rail east of the Mineola station on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. (Credit: Howard Schnapp) A broken rail just east of the Mineola LIRR station affected 60,000 morning commuters Wednesday with dozens of delayed and cancelled trains, officials said. Compounding the rush-hour chaos that began with the […]

September 26, 2016

EXIT 10/55 With Richard Rose