According to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (MTA) website, the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) has extended the public comment period regarding the Main Line Corridor Improvements Project (which ended Aug. 31) "based on the volume of comments received."

The project, among other things, proposes to construct an additional track along the Main Line and eliminate various on-grade crossings in the area. The extension has been made so that "all interested parties will have more time to submit their comments." Comments postmarked by Dec. 31 will be considered during the preparation of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS).

According to MTA/LIRR officials, the proposed project is aimed at reducing severe congestion during peak travel periods along the Main Line, providing operational flexibility, allowing for sufficiently frequent reverse and intra-island commuting service to draw riders out of their cars and providing additional capacity to accommodate service growth throughout the LIRR system.

The area under study is one of the most densely traveled corridors in the region; it extends from Queens Village east to Hicksville. Stations in the corridor currently under evaluation include Queens Village, Bellerose, Floral Park, New Hyde Park, Merillon Avenue in Garden City, Mineola, Carle Place, Westbury and Hicksville.

Back in June, when the MTA/LIRR first presented the proposed improvements project to the public during a series of scoping sessions, the majority of residents - particularly those living along the 11.5-mile corridor - emphatically said no to the installation of a third, fourth or even fifth track. They did, however, welcome the elimination of on-grade crossings in New Hyde Park, Westbury and New Cassel and still believe that phase should be tackled now.

Many fear the increased running of freight along the Main Line is the underlying reason behind the possible installation of an additional track while others don't buy the projections that such an "improvement" would help accommodate increased ridership and reverse peak service.

Moreover, people fear for their homes. As stated in the scoping document, prepared by DMJM Harris, the LIRR's environmental consultant, "some property acquisition may be necessary in order to construct a new continuous additional track and for some station area and roadway grade crossing improvements" although the LIRR anticipates that "most" of the Main Line Corridor proposed improvements could take place within the existing right-of-way.

Final decisions regarding property acquisition will be taken after the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) issues a Record of Decision (due out in late 2007). The final design of facilities will determine exact property needs and the needs will be verified with detailed survey data.

Leaders from several communities, including Floral Park, Bellerose, Mineola, Garden City and more, along with local politicians, have publicly denounced the project - in particular - the idea of adding another track to the Main Line. To date, approximately 85 local organizations and public officials oppose the project.

John Kennedy, president of the Nassau-Suffolk Building Trades Council, which represents over 60,000 construction workers, however, publicly urged the MTA/LIRR back in June to move the project forward. He said his members and their families would not only be interested in the jobs the project would offer, but the "reliable, clean source of transportation" that would be available on Long Island now and in the future.

Further, a group of 14 environmental, business, planning, transit and community advocate groups, dubbed the Coalition for the LIRR Third Track, is actively trying to push the project forward. Jon Orcutt, executive director of the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, which organized the coalition, has stated in the past that "further growth on Long Island would only demand more efficient transportation." The Long Island Association believes the Main Line Corridor Improvements Project is the "most important transportation project solely on Long Island."

The scoping sessions were held to collect comments for an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which will be prepared in 2006 with public hearings slated for early 2007. The final EIS, which will document the elected course of action, is expected in the summer of 2007 with a record of decision anticipated later that year. Construction is not slated to begin until 2009, with an estimated project completion date sometime in 2016.

The EIS will consider alternatives to meet passenger service needs - build alternatives and a no-build alternative will be evaluated. The build alternatives include different track alignments, including northern alignments, southern alignments and alignments that combine the two.

The no-build or "do nothing" alternative would eliminate construction of a third track as well as station and grade crossing improvements altogether. "This alternative will be used as a basis of comparison to understand the effects of the build alternatives," Pica said during a June scoping meeting.

Of learning of the comment period extension, Floral Park Mayor Phil Guarnieri said the Long Island Rail Road Third Track Task Force Committee is meeting again soon to form a strategy and take advantage of this latest development.

Comments from each scoping meeting are being entered into a project record. Additional comments, which can now be sent up until Dec. 31, 2005, can be submitted in writing to Peter Palamaro, LIRR Public Affairs, Jamaica Station, 1131, Jamaica, NY 11435. Visit www.mta.info/mta/planning/mainline for more project information and future project updates. The LIRR will provide written responses to the comments after Dec. 31.