The mayors of the two Great Neck villages most affected by the Long Island Railroad’s proposed pocket-track extension in Thomaston met Tuesday to discuss their differences on the project.
“We had a most cordial conversation,” said Village of Thomaston Mayor Robert Stern, who called the informal meeting with Great Neck Plaza Mayor Jean Celender to discuss the interests of their prospective villages regarding the LIRR’s plans.
Stern said the two left the brief meeting at a Plaza coffee shop with a better understanding of each other’s positions.
“We don’t disagree,” said Stern, who opposes the pocket track extension plan for Thomaston, but said he understands the needs of the Great Neck Plaza commuters.
Hoping to regain Plaza service, which was cut in half last year by the LIRR, Celender said last week that she is in favor of the pocket-track extension, which she said would benefit her “transient-oriented community.” But she said her support was conditioned on the LIRR further evaluating ways to address the concerns of both Thomaston and Plaza residents who would be will be impacted by the track extension.
“Those residents have to have proper mitigation,” Celender said.
Celender said Plaza commuters would favor a pocket-track extension if it results in improved LIRR service to New York City, which she said is important.
“If you ask the average resident that uses it, I think they would argue that they are for it,” Celender said. “I’m for getting back the service that this community has enjoyed.”
Citing potential noise and environmental issues, dozens of Thomaston residents have publicly stated their opposition to construction of the pocket track in their community.
The proposed pocket-track extension is part of a $36-million project that would replace the century-old Colonial Road Bridge in Thomaston and improve drainage in the area.
Stern said he and Celender discussed the possible impact of increased LIRR service to Plaza parking.
The LIRR has said the project is an essential part of its plans to improve service on the heavily used Port Washington line, which includes bringing the LIRR to Grand Central Terminal in 2016.
Using LIRR estimates, Stern said that a 10 percent increase in traffic to the Plaza would result in about 1,400 people using the line, the majority with cars.
“I don’t know where [Celender] is going to put a thousand cars,” said Stern.
Prior to Tuesday’s meeting, Celender said parking was not an issue for the Plaza regarding the pocket-track extension, which would increase the number of riders using their station in Great Neck Plaza, according to the LIRR.
“I haven’t seen that be a concern of my village since I’ve been mayor,” Celender said.
She said the LIRR would not be granted any additional parking spaces by the Plaza if the pocket-track extension goes through.
“They don’t need increased parking,” Celender said.
Stern has stated that the LIRR is ignoring village opposition to the plan and suggested at a special meeting last month that the town notify elected officials of their concern regarding the construction of the proposed pocket track.
On Tuesday, Stern sent letters to LIRR President Helena Williams and MTA President Jay Walder addressing his concerns, which he also submitted as letters-to-the-editor of the local newspapers including Blank Slate Media.
“I believe I have a reasonable solution to the residents’ objections,” Stern said in his letter to Williams. “I find it difficult to believe that the message that the railroad wants to send to me and the affected residents is – ‘”That’s it, we won’t talk to you!”‘ That is very strange from a state agency.”
In his letter to Walder, Stern asked that the MTA chief intervene to set up a meeting between him and Williams.
A subcommittee was appointed in the Village of Thomaston last month to come up with suggestions to submit to the Long Island Railroad regarding the proposed pocket-track extension.
According to Williams, Great Neck is a prominent location to extend the pocket track because it has reverse commuters and would provide people with more flexibility and seat opportunities when using the LIRR. She said not having a longer pocket track would only harm LIRR customers who use the Great Neck rail road station.
“If there is no project, service reliability would not increase which would hurt our customers,” Williams said. “We want to increase the number of trains available to our customers if we make improvements, especially those who commute to Great Neck. Not having the pocket track in Great Neck would be a detriment to commuters who begin their trips here.”
