(Newsday posted the following article by Joie Tyrrell on its website on November 4.)
NEW YORK — The Long Island Rail Road will host four informational meetings on the North Shore over the next two weeks to hear from residents regarding a 16-track storage yard proposed east of the Huntington station.
The railroad has been hosting such meetings since June as it is considering four sites in Smithtown and two locations in eastern Huntington for the rail yard. So far, the railroad has met with strong opposition from several residents. Huntington town officials held a meeting in August, where hundreds of residents rallied against the plan.
Railroad officials have said the yard is necessary to add service on the Port Jefferson line.
The LIRR will host meetings tomorrow at Kings Park High School, Thursday at Smithtown High School, Nov. 12 at East Northport Middle School and Nov. 13 at Huntington Intermediate School. There will be an open house from 5 to 7 p.m. and a public hearing from 7 to 9 p.m.
Sites in Huntington being considered are land next to the Huntington State Armory and a parcel west of Bread and Cheese Hollow Road south of Pulaski Road. In Smithtown, potential locations are two sites in Kings Park near a sand mine; a parcel at the Kings Park Psychiatric Center; and land next to St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center.
The Federal Transit Administration will review the findings and issue a decision on the site. A final environmental impact statement is scheduled to be finished by the end of 2005.
Comments may be submitted orally or in writing at these meetings through Dec. 31. Written comments may be addressed to: Peter Palamaro, editorial officer, LIRR Public Affairs Department, Jamaica Station, Mail Code 0536, Jamaica, NY 11435. Comments may also be submitted at www.mta.info by clicking on the MTA Home button and then on Planning Studies.