(The following article by Joie Tyrrell and Joshua Robin was posted on the Newsday website on April 27.)
NEW YORK — For Long Island Rail Road riders looking to benefit from expansion projects, the wait may be longer.
Diminished state funding may lead to up to a four-year delay on the LIRR’s East Side Access connection, a top state legislator said yesterday.
Also, progress on the LIRR’s Main Line Corridor Improvement Project that would build a third track from Bellerose to Hicksville could slow, according to State Sen. Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre), who sits on a panel that has final say on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Capital Program.
The railroad has already cut construction of a 16-track train storage yard on the Port Jefferson line, which would have extended electrification east of Huntington, from the five-year capital plan that goes before the MTA board tomorrow.
Skelos said yesterday that the LIRR must focus on its core program in the $21.1 billion, five-year capital plan.
“What it is going to mean is the continuation of putting on new cars for the LIRR, new subway cars for those who use the subways, and continue to improve the core of the LIRR – tracks, signals, station renovations, but most importantly there should not be a cutback in service and the fares should be stabilized,” Skelos said.
The MTA had initially asked for $6.6 billion more than it received for the five-year period, and while MTA executive director Katherine Lapp conceded the expansion projects will run on “somewhat of a slower schedule,” Skelos said the delay could be two to four years.
The agency is not expected to announce for several weeks its revised dates. However, a spokeswoman for Gov. George Pataki said yesterday that the state budget will provide the MTA with its largest capital plan ever.
“We’re confident that the Second Avenue Subway and East Side Access projects will move forward as planned,” said the spokeswoman, Lynn Rasic.
East Side Access, which would link the LIRR to Grand Central Terminal, was scheduled to be complete by 2012. Construction of the new Second Avenue subway could face a similar delay. The subway’s first phase was expected to be finished by 2012.
Rep. Tim Bishop (D-Southampton) said the federal government is committed to the expansion projects.
“The state funding is in question, but with the [Federal Transit Administration] funding, there is still the potential for the MTA to go after that funding and Congress has shown support for these projects,” he said.
The LIRR is in the early stages of an environmental review of its Main Line Corridor Improvement Project, the third track that would add more capacity and boost reverse commuting service, according to LIRR spokesman Brian Dolan.
The 2005-2009 capital program includes the first phase of the design and construction of grade crossing eliminations and track capacity improvements and reconfiguring the way trains are directed east and west of Jamaica for the third track.
Mitchell Pally, vice president of government affairs for the Long Island Association, a business group, said construction could start by 2009 and he has been assured by the railroad that it will be on schedule, calling the third track “the most important transportation project on Long Island.”
While the railroad remains committed to the third track, it has apparently let a proposed storage yard go. The railroad has indefinitely postponed building a $190 million, 16-track yard east of Huntington on the Port Jefferson line, taking it out of the proposed 2005-2009 plan and halting a current environmental review. Railroad officials had said the yard would have added service on the line to complement East Side Access and likely extended electrification east of Huntington.
The LIRR was considering four sites in Smithtown and two locations in eastern Huntington for the rail yard, but residents opposed the plan.
“The LIRR finally came to the realization that this was an inappropriate short-term solution that would leave our community with a long-term scar,” said State Sen. John Flanagan (R-East Northport).
Other highlights of the LIRR’s capital program include purchasing 158 new M-7 electric cars, continuing the replacement of the M-1 cars. There is also $135 million for station investments, including purchasing 87 ticket vending machines for stations throughout the system.
Changing the timetable
The Long Island Rail Road’s latest capital proposal may delay these projects:
EAST SIDE ACCESS
Original completion date: 2012
Now: At least 2015
What it will do: Connect Long Island commuters to East Side of Manhattan.
MAIN LINE CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT
Original completion date: 2015
Now: LIRR says no delay; other state officials say it could be held up.
What it will do: Add third main line track to critical 101/2-mile corridor between Bellerose and Hicksville. Eliminate five grade crossings; likely improve some stations and bridges.
PORT JEFFERSON LINE YARD
Original completion date: 2011 Now: Postponed indefinitely
What it would have done: Add service on Port Jefferson line; extend electrification east of Huntington.
M-7 PURCHASE
Original purchase: 170 cars
Now: 158
What it will do: Take fleet from oldest to newest cars.
SOURCES: LIRR, STATE OFFICIALS