Many people decide on how to reach the Islanders Belmont Arena by riding the Long Island Rail Road to Elmont Station rather than driving or using various car services based upon cost, frequency of service, time and convenience of choice.
Customers riding the LIRR to the Elmont Station currently only have to pay off-peak fares, which are in effect during rush hour. In March 2022, the LIRR will resume charging peak fares. This will result in those traveling to the Islanders Belmont Arena via the LIRR paying several dollars more. The MTA continues to delay previously scheduled fare increases of 2 percent per year. Adoption of the MTA’s $51 billion 2020 – 2024 Five Year Capital Plan included revenues generated by a 4 percent fare increase every other year. The previously planned 4 percent fare increase in 2021 due to the impacts of CARE COVID-19 have been postponed to sometime in 2022. This could be followed by another previously planned 4 percent fare increase in 2023.
As the cost to ride the LIRR continues to increase, it will become far more attractive for those attending any events at Belmont Arena to travel by car, car service, Lyft or Uber. All provide a faster convenient door-to-door, one-seat ride than the LIRR. You avoid transferring at Jamaica, doubling back to Elmont followed by either waiting for a shuttle bus from the Elmont LIRR Station or walking 10 minutes to the arena. This will result in the LIRR becoming less attractive as more people, especially season ticket holders, elect to drive rather than ride the LIRR.
It remains to be seen how many younger high school, college students and those in their 20s elect to ride the LIRR rather than drive when attending rock concerts or other sporting events such as wrestling. Based upon the Islanders Belmont Arena Environmental Impact Statement, the project sponsors, Empire State Development Corporation, MTA, LIRR and elected official supporters all promised up to 30 percent or 5,000-plus fans would be attending events at the Belmont Arena via the LIRR. I predict the numbers will be far less. Let’s see what the future LIRR monthly ridership reports reveal.
Larry Penner
Great Neck
(Larry Penner – transportation advocate, historian and writer who worked for the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 NY Office. This included the development, review, approval and oversight for billions in capital projects and programs for the MTA, NYC Transit, Long Island and Metro North Rail Roads, MTA Bus, NYC Department of Transportation along with 30 other transit agencies in NY & NJ)
