The proposed $36 million Colonial Road Improvement Project, which would replace the Colonial Road Bridge in Thomaston and build a pocket track extension for improved rail service, would have limited environmental impacts, according to an environmental assessment released by the Long Island Rail Road this week.
The assessment, which is now subject to a month-long period of public comment, found that the impact of the project would include limited displacement of soil during construction and the possible need for more parking spaces.
“At many LIRR stations today along the Port Washington Branch, and throughout our system, railroad customers already experience a parking shortage,” says the study, which was prepared by the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Federal Transit Administration and the LIRR. “LIRR anticipates an increase in customers, and therefore additional demand for access to our stations, including parking.”
The report also anticipates a parking squeeze regardless of whether the Thomaston project moves forward, due to increased ridership once the LIRR opens service to Grant Central station.
“We are very interested in getting feedback from the community on the Environmental Assessment as we continue to move this vital project forward,” said LIRR President Helena Williams in a statement. “Comment from the public and elected officials has been very helpful in the early developmental stages of the project, and remains just as critical now.”
The project is part of the rail road’s $8.2 billion plan to expand access to the east side of Manhattan through Grand Central station.
Scheduled to be completed in 2019, the LIRR says east side access could cut commute times up to 40 minutes for passengers who must currently take lengthy subway trips to work after arriving at Penn Station on the LIRR.
LIRR officials also said the project will improve rush-hour service and seat availability from Great Neck as well as better service for special events at Citifield and the U.S. open.
The project had faced initial opposition from Thomaston Mayor Robert Stern, who cited objections from his residents to the noise that could result from the track expansion.
“The last time this was under discussion they presented us with some architects renderings… they were reasonable and we agreed to them,” said Stern. “If they haven’t made any changes, which we haven’t seen yet, we’ll go along with it.”
The LIRR will work with local communities to mitigate soil erosion and expand parking, according to the study.
The environmental assessment was undertaken under the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act, which mandates public participation.
The LIRR opened a public information center at the Great Neck station for a week last march, and is currently soliciting comments on the environmental study.
Comments can be directed to Hector Garcia by email at hgarcia@lirr.org. The assessment can be viewed at http://www.mta.info/lirr/news/colonialroad/.
