An open letter to Gov. Cuomo:
As a life-long resident of the south side of the Village of NHP, or ‘ground zero’ for the LIRR Third Track Project, I am a firsthand witness to it.
Amid an array of critical problems, the MTA/LIRR has closed or partially closed two of the three major north/south arteries in our village and two others in a neighboring village at the same time.
The problems that regularly plague the LIRR’s mainline (i.e. signal/switch/gate problems, construction issues, etc) have residual impacts on NHP residents and detoured drivers who are unfamiliar with our neighborhood streets.
That includes school buses in route to their respective schools for morning/afternoon pick-up. Not only do students (and their parents) worry about arriving at school on time, but they also worry about whether the bus will return in time to pick them up.
On any given day and without prior notice, our residential streets break into war zones. Construction vehicles haphazardly mix with vehicular traffic on our streets. Once committed in the line of traffic, there are no alternatives for drivers and pedestrians except to stay and endure the unfolding chaos that could last anywhere from 15 minutes to two hours.
Frustrated drivers honking horns, near-miss collisions, multiple fender benders, drivers and pedestrians crossing the LIRR while the gates are down are all visibly witnessed. Frightened pedestrians become stranded on sidewalks afraid to cross streets. The vibration (due to large truck traffic and construction), noise, particulate matter pollution and the residual odor of exhaust fumes permeate throughout our neighborhoods.
Add insult to injury, when LIRR commuters arrive at the NHP station during rush hour, they are greeted with dimly lit platforms and corridors and left to fend for themselves amid perilous conditions.
Although the MTA police may arrive on the scene when these events unfold, they often remain in their squad cars or stand in the vicinity of the danger, rarely engaging with strategies to ameliorate it.
Presently, we anticipate the partial closure of the NHP Road due to another crossing elimination project. We have every expectation that this phase of the project will only exacerbate serious problems. How much more are we expected to tolerate? The LIRR may own the property in its right-of-way. But, it doesn’t own our village.
Our lives, our families’ lives and our livelihoods have all been compromised. Do you care?
The residents of New Hyde Park are rightfully outraged. Our voices were heard when the LIRR Third Track CEO, Mark Roche, and another MTA representative, attended an NHP Board Meeting on the evening of Sept. 19.
Both representatives seem very competent and well-intentioned.
Unfortunately, all their knowledge and good intentions have not successfully addressed the ongoing severe problems we face in our community on a regular basis. We hear about mitigation strategies, but rarely do we see them in effect in any consistent manner. This is a case of epic failure!
Our NHP Village Board and our superintendent of Buildings and Public Works all work tirelessly to address these issues with 3TC, LIRR and the MTA. Our Nassau County Police officers are seen diligently patrolling our neighborhoods, enforcing traffic regulations and addressing other security and quality of life issues in our community.
But, Gov. Cuomo, where are you? We were told that you voraciously advocated for the Third Track Project. Have you ever been to our neighborhood when one of these episodes unfolds? Have you seen the faces of children on school buses stranded in traffic?
Have you seen senior citizens trying to cross the street? How about residents who are unable to exit their driveways to go to work due to unyielding traffic?
Although a temporary firehouse was built, what good is it if first responders cannot reach it in a timely fashion? Gov. Cuomo, you have demonstrated little or no interest in our village, our residents, our families, our businesses and the years’ worth of sacrifice we all must now endure for your legacy project.
The morale in my hometown community is at an all-time low and our collective spirit has been broken – but not irreparably.
As the saying goes, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” While this project has physically split us in half with barriers and shut-downs, rest assured it has also united us and strengthened our resolve in defense of our beloved village. Rest assured that our memories of these experiences will be especially vivid during upcoming elections.
We live in the 21st century, Governor Cuomo. If this is your best example of a New York State ‘modernization’ project, we shudder to think what lies ahead for us in the future with the newly committed $5.7 billion in capital funds for the LIRR. ”
Diane, Ed M. Bentivegna
New Hyde Park
