For what it is worth, I am commenting on what Gov. Cuomo is proposing for revitalizing Long Island.
When Mitt Romney was running for president, I must have heard him say a hundred times: “I am going to create jobs.” That was his jab.
Never did he once present as much as one concrete example of one job he would create.
Gov. Cuomo is doing the same thing.
The people need to have specific examples so that they may verify or reject them. Not as much as one example has been presented.
As per New York State law it has to be passed by a vote of the people otherwise we don’t have to pay for it.
Long Island is loaded with people and businesses.
Even out in Suffolk County, Route 110 is lined with corporate buildings and traffic is heavy all the way from Huntington to Amityville.
Having a sufficient water supply is becoming an ongoing question.
If he wants to revitalize something, go revitalize the large area south of the Finger Lakes in New York State.
Out on the East End I understand that there are still some potato farms, wineries and whatnot but does that mean all of the open spaces need to be built up?
Fortunately there are still some green wooded areas such as those bordering the Northern State Parkway that are still in native condition.
For those living on Long Island at present, creating jobs for them here would lighten the load on the LIRR, not burden it more.
Commuting takes a large chunk out of a person’s day.
Last week I went to Melville and instead of taking the parkway, I took the LIE to see what I would see going east and west. It was mid day and still quite a lot of traffic but only about one truck per 10 cars.
This Saturday early afternoon I was at the Mineola LIRR station and took the time to look it over.
The opening between two of the supports of the new Mineola Boulevard Overpass where the rails pass is only wide enough for two tracks. In order to add a third track it would be necessary to bust it up.
That would also interfere with the platforms, the ticket booth buildings and the pick-up and drop-off areas.
A short freight train happened to come through that among other things was carrying two cargo freighter shipping containers.
If they came from New Jersey, then what is the deal of needing a new tunnel from New Jersey.
The more I think about it, it seems that we are being bullied by our governor with his unqualified frenzy.
In this week’s Williston Times (May 20, 2016) page 11 is the rendering of a proposed underpass on New Hyde Park Road. It shows five lanes going under the tracks as if it is an interstate.
The top left shows a parking lot.
I looked that area over and at present it is an entire block with Plaza Avenue on the north and Herkomer Street on the west. It has large corporate buildings occupying the entire block.
On the bottom half of the page mentioned above is stated: “0 residential acquisitions.” A ‘slight of hand’ that is. It would wipe out an entire commercial block.
Also stated: 14,000 Jobs, $40 Million Sales tax revenue, $103 Million Property tax revenue, $3 Billion Personal income, $5.6 Billion Gross regional product: all unsubstantiated.
Back to Mitt Romney, “I’m going to create jobs.”
I have drawn my conclusions. I will leave everyone free to draw theirs.
I have mentioned it before: Two lanes under the overpasses are sufficient.
On each side it goes back to four with the center lanes becoming left turn lanes as needed. Two unobstructed lanes going underneath can easily handle the traffic.
A walled underpass walkway on one side and a walled walkway on each side next to the outer edge of the rails over the roadway would suffice for pedestrians.
I provided in an earlier article how often and how smoothly the trains run during rush hour
If it is needed to move some freight quietly at night is there a problem with that. No more grade crossings for blowing horns
I did my homework and no third track! Sorry for the length of this article but much to say.
Charles Samek
Mineola
