Bosworth to Open Commuter Lots if LIRR Strikes

North Hempstead commuters considering carpooling or bus-travel if Long Island Rail Road workers strike will find additional parking spaces available in town, officials say. 

The initiative is part of the town's transportation contingency plan for local commuters who may be looking for alternatives in the event of a July 20 strike. The plan includes opening up free parking at North Hempstead Beach Park, 175 West Shore Road, Port Washington, for those who wish to carpool, and providing up to 300 spaces at Town facilities at iPark, 1305 Union Turnpike in New Hyde Park, enabling commuters to catch bus service along Union Turnpike. Commuters may also use iPark for carpooling.

In addition, the Town has also created a “one stop shopping” page on the Town website dedicated to providing information about alternative forms of transportation. Those alternatives includes 511NYRideshare (carpooling information); NICE Nassau Inter-County Express (bus schedules); MTA (subway schedules,  routes and LIRR updates) and other bus routes and schedules.

“I remain hopeful that a strike will be averted, but as the saying goes, ‘Hope for the best and plan for the worst,'" North Hempstead Supervisor Judi Bosworth said. 

"We are planning for the worst case scenario so that we are ready to help our local commuters in the event of a strike," she added. “We hope that by opening up some town parking areas we can make some transportation options more accessible to commuters.”

Officials are also considering lifting all town parking restrictions, which would require a resolution approved by the Town Board.

For a full list of transportation alternatives, visit www.northhempsteadny.gov/LIRRstrike  or call 311.