After announcements were made by Nassau County that it would be seeking $498,383 in federal funds for a Major Investment Study (MIS), the Nassau HUB Citizens Advisory Committee, under the direction of chairperson Neal Lewis, held its own press conference. Lewis, of the Long Island Neighborhood Network, stated that the committee is outraged that the county has been developing its HUB plans "behind closed doors" for two and half years and is only now holding a public hearing in accordance with federal law for applying for money for a MIS. He stated that the members of the committee, which includes approximately 40 community, civic and environmental organizations and 75 individual members, are demanding more open discussions about the HUB.

Lewis argued that the plans for the study center around significant development plans of the public land in central Nassau surrounding and including Nassau Coliseum, and plans for a "light-rail transit line," otherwise known as the monorail, one of the most controversial elements of the county's HUB plans. All of the members present at the conference: Neal Lewis; Bert Donely, president of the Garden City Chamber of Commerce; David Mosley, president of the Hempstead Chamber of Commerce; Eric Alexander, program coordinator for Sustainable Long Island; Lisa Tyson, assistant director of Long Island Progressive Coalition; Richard Schary of the Long Island Greenbelt Trail Conference; Elaine Peters of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock Environmental Justice Task Force; Vicki DeJong of the Citizens Committee for Civic Action; and Geri Barish of 1 in 9, the Breast Cancer Action Coalition, agreed that the study needed to look at more than just the HUB and should take into account the congestion issues throughout the county and the impact the further development of the HUB and any traffic initiatives planned there will have on the entire county.

In this light, it should be noted that the Long Island Transportation Plan to Manage Congestion 2000 is currently working to study the movement of people and goods throughout the entire Island through a federal MIS. Some have argued that with the massive undertaking of LITP 2000 that the county should be directing its energy to helping them develop traffic strategies and integrating any proposed development or traffic easing plans through this study rather than seeking almost half a million dollars in a study of its own that only looks at the HUB without regard to its impact on the entire county. According to Wayne Ugolik, project director of the New York State Department of Transportation, this study was initiated to "comprehensively address the problem of congestion on Long island. Working jointly with government, business, community leaders, and the general public, NYSDOT intends to identify the most appropriate and effective solutions to improve the movement of people and goods."

The LITP 2000 newsletter states, "LITP 2000 is Long Island's portion of the broader regional planning efforts of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC), the federally designated body responsible for coordinating transportation planning and decision-making in the region..." LITP 2000 consists of government officials, businesses, organizations, and concerned residents who have been working since 1998 to develop a plan that looks at suggestions from the public and officials to develop a plan that takes environmental, quality of life, consumer, and commuter demands into account. The plan will recommend implementation strategies that span decades to address current traffic problems and future problems.

Nassau County's pursuit of a MIS is strictly for the HUB area. In addressing the limited number of maps and options presented in the scope of the proposed study perceived by the Advisory Committee members, Bert Donley and Lisa Tyson developed their own suggestion for the HUB light rail and asked at the public hearing held at Nassau Community College by the county on Aug. 24 that it be entered into the record. The Tyson/Donley plan calls for the utilization of: The existing right of way between West Hempstead train station and the Country Life Press station; the right of way continuing north running parallel on the east side of Franklin Avenue behind the office and retail buildings, which terminates where the main line meets Oyster Bay line north of Old Country Road; the existing railroad track running east from the Franklin Avenue intersection of the northbound Hempstead Line, which runs east of Endo Boulevard through Mitchel Field with another branch crossing Stewart Avenue into Roosevelt Field at Quentin Roosevelt Boulevard; and to extend the line at Endo Boulevard to service Eisenhower Park, East Meadow and Bellmore and terminating at Bellmore station of the South Shore Line, which would necessitate trolley tracks on East Meadow Avenue.

Mosley of the Hempstead Chamber argued that the county would be better served looking at investing in redeveloping its already existing HUB, the Village of Hempstead. He argued that with the new bus and rail stations and the already existing infrastructure, a new renaissance in the Village would benefit not only this community, but the county, rather than looking to spend taxpayer dollars to develop public land in the defined HUB area. He argued that the land and the facilities exist in Hempstead and would have to be built and created in the HUB at a great expense to county residents and would not create jobs in communities that already exist.

Donley noted, "This study presents an opportunity to evaluate and develop innovative north/south connections between east/west train lines. It would be tragic if the county were to squander that opportunity." Alexander stated, "There are examples from around the nation where the pattern of suburban sprawl has been rethought, and mixed-use development, centered around convenient transit stations has resulted in economically viable, environmentally sustainable communities with high quality of life." Tyson added, "We applaud Nassau County for looking into our future transportation needs. However, we do not endorse any system that is solely for the HUB area, rather this new transportation system must be the beginning of a countywide transportation system. A system that is affordable, efficient, and attractive and whose goal is to get people to jobs, as well as places of interest and shopping."

The tone of the hearing was angry among many residents who spoke expressing their belief that the county has not engaged the public adequately in any stage of HUB planning. Many people commented that they had no opinion on the subject of the MIS application as the county had never adequately explained what it was or what it was for in the first place. County Legislator Richard Nicolello was alone in his urging the county to move on the MIS with "all due speed," explaining that "improving transportation is a very high priority of the County Legislature." He also noted that he does not see the county as "wedded" to its previous HUB studies and proposals. He also urged the county to involve the public as much as possible.

Most residents noted that they left the hearing more confused and with more questions than when they entered. The Nassau HUB Citizens Advisory Committee has promised to monitor the issue and bring concerns to the attention of the public. They are also looking for more members and greater involvement from the public. Anyone looking to join or for more information can call 541-4321.