Public Meeting Thursday to Discuss LIRR Third Track Project

The Village of Garden City will be holding a public meeting on Thursday about the LIRR's plan to build a third track on the main line.

The proposed plan is to add a third track along the LIRR's main line, between the Floral Park station in the west to the Hicksville station in the east. This, proponents say, would help ease congestion on the rail and allow trains to still get around if one track is blocked. Opponents of the plan are concerned that it will send more truck traffic and freight trains through Garden City.

The village will be holding its meeting on the project on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the New Hyde Park Road School, located at 300 New Hyde Park Road.

The purpose of the meeting, village officials say, is to disseminate information about Governor Cuomo’s plans to construct a third track and eliminate the three at-grade railroad crossings in New Hyde Park. The meeting will also provide an opportunity for the public to offer feedback to the elected officials present. The meeting will also provide guidance in helping residents review the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) as well as provide assistance to those submitting comments during the scheduled Public Input Period, which runs through Jan. 31. To review the DEIS, visit www.amodernli.com. It is also available on the village's website.

Garden City has agreed to retain the engineering firm of Beveridge & Diamond to review the DEIS, which is well over 1,000 pages and was released in late November. The scope and details of the report are beyond the capabilities of individual village staff to analyze and critique, village officials say. Garden City will be sharing the costs of hiring the firm with Floral Park and New Hyde Park.

"We believe this is absolutely necessary to properly understand the impact this project will have on our residents," said Garden City Mayor Nicholas Episcopia.

Photo: Patch