Suffolk Pols Have Discussed An Underpass At The LIRR Tracks On William Floyd Parkway In Shirley

MASTIC, NY — The possibility of an underpass beneath the tracks of the Long Island Rail Road on William Floyd Parkway in Shirley is among the mitigation solutions that the region's decision-makers have discussed, state Sen. Dean Murray told Patch.

"It is being discussed. We just don't have all the pieces plugged in yet," he said Wednesday in an interview about the popular county thoroughfare that links.

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The roadway runs from Fire Island National Seashore in the south to Shoreham in the north. It serves as an access point for Sunrise Highway and the Long Island Expressway.

In recent years, residents have complained about traffic that is backed up along Montauk Highway from Brookhaven hamlet to Center Moriches, and congestion at the intersection of the artery with William Floyd Parkway.

Traffic is often worse when a train is stopped on the tracks, or on weekends when visitors are leaving Smith Point County Park.

Earlier this week, the Mastic Park Civic Association aired concerns that three new developments, including a 500-plus housing unit development with retail in Mastic Beach, a catering hall, and a place of worship with community space, will add more vehicles on the road and worsen the congestion.

Traffic mitigation will be discussed at an upcoming meeting on Sept. 16 at the Mastic Fire Department.

Murray was clear to point out that the underpass is only a possibility that has been discussed. He described the discussions as "early on right now."
"It's not in a point where we've actually got a specific plan," he added. "We're in the discussion phases, but everyone I've talked to on all levels is on board so far."

Murray says Long Island Rail Road officials are on board with the possibility, and he has discussed a funding source with Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine.

A funding source is one of the things holding up any formal plan from coming to fruition, Murray said.

"Every elected [official] I've talked to is either non-committal or on board, and either wanted more details or is on board with it," he said.

Murray says "a couple of ideas" have been floated for a funding source.

He declined to go into details.

"I don't want to say them publicly yet, but it's one of those where it's funny, because I don't want to say it's right there, but it's also further along than you might expect," he said.

County spokesman Michael Martino said officials are "committed to improving" existing infrastructure."

"The county continues to collaborate with our partners at the state and federal levels to attain the necessary funding to conduct essential improvements and explore new opportunities that could make our roadways safer and improve traffic flow in Suffolk County," the statement concluded.

Representatives from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority declined comment and referred Patch to the state Department of Transportation.

DOT spokesman Stephen Canzoneri said the safety of the traveling public is always the top priority for the DOT and it would "review any proposal to enhance safety at the at-grade rail crossing along William Floyd Parkway."