Members of the Floral Park North End Civic Association questioned the impact the Long Island Rail Road’s third track project will have, both during construction and for years to come, at a meeting last Thursday.
Hector Garcia, the LIRR senior director of external affairs, and Judith White, a community ambassador for 3TC, the design build firm hired by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to build the track, addressed concerns residents had about the project.
Several members were concerned about noise during construction, especially during the summer when residents may plan outdoor parties and barbecues.
A six-week look ahead of planned construction will be issued, White said.
The plans are not set in stone and subject to change on a regular basis, she said.
However, if a resident has a specific date in mind, White said the person should call her and she will tell the workers not to work in that spot at that time.
In addition to the impact the construction will have on the community, several residents were concerned with lasting impact based on increased vibration from the extra track.
The MTA is building a 9.8-mile track on the LIRR Main Line that stretches from Floral Park to Hicksville.
Karen Reiter, a resident with a home close to the tracks, said she is concerned the project will increase vibration and damage the foundation of her home.
Garcia said the track will be about 15 feet closer to homes and said that if a house is not damaged from the trains now it won’t be later.
Garcia also said that homes close to the tracks are being surveyed to assess their current conditions – an effort he said protects homeowners in case in the future a homeowner claims there is damage.
Reiter, and several other attendees, said the surveys are not to protect the homeowner but rather to protect the MTA.
Reiter said she is disappointed with the lack of steps put in place to minimize potential damage.
“We know this is for the greater good … to get people into the city to work,” Reiter said. “But we don’t benefit at all from it. You’re not putting any systems in to protect us.”
Another concern brought up by civic members was workers doing construction at night.
White said “the reality is we’re working on a railroad,” and part of that has to be done at night.
