(The following story by Steve Ritea appeared on the Newsday website on March 4.)
NEW YORK — Local officials and residents opposed to the Long Island Rail Road’s plan to construct a third track along a heavily used portion of its Main Line between Floral Park and Hicksville presented a petition with 10,000 signatures to Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-Mineola) at her Garden City office yesterday, asking her to oppose the project.
Citizens Against Rail Expansion, a coalition of civic groups and public officials from Bellerose to Hicksville met with McCarthy to share their grievances about the project.
A spokesman for McCarthy said she has yet to take a formal position on the project and is awaiting details. Residents have opposed the plan, which could affect up to 91 properties. They also fear increased train traffic would further disturb those whose homes back up to the tracks.
LIRR officials said record ridership and a project already under way to connect the LIRR with Grand Central Terminal in 2015 prove the need for a third track. The LIRR began holding community meetings on the project in 2005 and has since worked to reduce the impact to property owners, the railroad said.