The Long Island Rail Road announced this week that they had begun environmental review of the proposed replacement of the Colonial Road Bridge in Great Neck and extension of an existing pocket track – despite the continued opposition of Village of Thomaston Mayor Robert Stern.
Stern said this week that the LIRR continues to ignore questions concerning a proposed pocket track extension in Thomaston.
“When the railroad learned of my opposition to the pocket track extension they stopped talking,” Stern said.
According to the LIRR, the proposed extension of existing pocket track in Thomaston will bring immediate benefits to Port Washington Branch customers as well as safer, modern bridge, but Stern disagrees.
“Their statement is remarkable by their omissions and less than candid about their plans,” Stern said.
The LIRR’ study is scheduled to review the proposed replacement of the Colonial Road Bridge in Great Neck and extension of an existing pocket track crucial to improving service on the Port Washington Branch.
“When will construction begin?” “Why is the track being built first if the bridge is so dangerous?” Stern asked. “Why can’t the bridge be upgraded without the pocket track extension?”
The LIRR has insisted that the $36 million Colonial Road Improvement Project will only be done if a pocket track extension is included in the bridge upgrade. The extension will enable the LIRR to turn trains faster and provide better rush hour service and seat availability from Great Neck and stations west of Great Neck.
According to the LIRR, the addition of the pocket track will also set the stage for more service enhancements when the $7.3 billion East Side Access Project brings the LIRR to Grand Central Terminal for the first time in 2016, significantly improving commuting time for tens of thousands of customers along the entire branch.
The LIRR agrees that repairs or replacement of the Colonial Road Bridge is much-needed, but it has not came up with a plan to fix the bridge that does not include a pocket track extension and for the installation of a new drainage system at track level that will eliminate a flooding problem that often hampers train service.
LIRR President Helena Williams said: “This $36 million project will create construction jobs while replacing a 100 year old bridge and extending an existing railroad siding near Great Neck that will improve service for 43,000 customers who use the LIRR’s Port Washington branch each day.”
Village of Great Neck Plaza Mayor Jean Celender said she hoped to see the LIRR increase service to Great Neck, but said the LIRR’s proposal needed to be publicly debated before work began.
“The service on the Port Washington Branch historically has been a major attraction for people living and working in Great Neck,” Celender said. “Better and more frequent train service benefits the community, and that’s the promise here. I urge residents of our community to take advantage of the LIRR’s environmental review process to learn more about the proposal, weigh the pros and cons and express your concerns. Ultimately, we want the LIRR to do what is best for the entire Great Neck peninsula. This includes ensuring that any new construction plans minimize disruption to the community and mitigate negative impacts.”
According to the 2010 LIRR Customer Service Satisfaction Survey, the improvement to LIRR service that is most valued by our customers is increased service frequency. In Great Neck, the extension of the existing turning track would provide the infrastructure to turn more trains during peak hours.
“So why have they recently cut service?” asked Stern? “”They don’t even pay attention to their own survey unless it suits them.”
The LIRR said public participation will be an integral element of the environmental review, which gets underway this month in compliance with the federal National Environmental Policy Act review process.
The LIRR plans to begin holding public information meetings in February, reaching out directly to invite the local residents as well as Port Washington Branch customers to attend as soon as locations, dates and times have been finalized.
