Members of six local villages affected by the proposed MTA/LIRR track expansion from Bellerose Village to Hicksville petitioned Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy March 3 with some 10,000 signatures asking her to oppose the billion-dollar project.

Attached to the petitions was a list of 136 local organizations and government leaders who, too, oppose this plan they say would add a "costly passing lane to the line at taxpayer expense."

Congresswoman McCarthy told Anton Community Newspapers she appreciated receiving the petitions. "I share the concerns of my constituents and will certainly bring up these concerns to the Long Island Rail Road and other supporters of the project. I have said that I will not support the third track project unless the railroad addresses these and other concerns that could disrupt the quality of life for my constituents."

The Nassau County Village Officials Association, which represents 64 local villages, Senators Kemp Hannon, Frank Padavan and Craig Johnson, Assemblymen Tom Alfano, Mark Weprin, Rob Walker and Tom McKevitt, County Legislators Vincent Muscarella, Richard Nicolello and John Ciotti, Mayors Phil Guarnieri (Floral Park), Daniel Petruccio (New Hyde Park), Donna Sherrer (Bellerose Village), Jack Martins (Mineola), Angel Soto (South Floral Park) and Ernest Strada (Westbury) and their respective trustees, along with former Mayors Gerard Lundquist (Garden City) and Joseph Troiano (Stewart Manor) are among those opposing the project.

Further, the Carle Place Civic Association, Garden City Environmental Advisory Board, the Unified New Cassel Community Revitalization Corporation (UNCCRC), Garden City Bird Sanctuary, New Hyde Park Save Our Village, Garden City Chamber of Commerce, My First School in Floral Park, Hicksville Chamber of Commerce, Sewanhaka Central High School District Board of Education, the Bellerose Village Volunteer Fire Department, the Covert Avenue Chamber of Commerce (Floral Park and Stewart Manor) and the Joint Bellerose Business District Development Corp. are also included in the 136 groups and public officials against the idea.

Critics say extensive construction will disrupt local villages and result in more freight trains "rumbling through their suburban neighborhoods" and believe the project will facilitate the shipment of garbage.

"Over the past two months, an extraordinary effort by communities along the proposed third track corridor, which includes the villages of Floral Park, Bellerose, Garden City, New Hyde Park, Westbury and Mineola, and some 136 organizations and government officials, all of which reside in the 4th Congressional District, have gathered some 10,000 signatures urging Representative McCarthy to join with her constituents," Mayor Guarnieri said.

"Since the MTA wants federal money and federal oversight and in light of the fact that Representative McCarthy co-sponsored a bill that specifically earmarked the funding explicitly for the 'Third Track Expansion Project studies,' it is imperative that she now stands with us so that the elected representatives, civic and community leaders and the overwhelming majority of constituents who reside in her district forge an undivided and united front against this onslaught of our communities and way of life...

"The representatives from all levels of government gather here today to join in pleading, urging and insisting that Representative McCarthy express the will of the people of the 4th Congressional District and not the high-priced lobbyists and special interest groups pushing a billion dollar boondoggle that is not only unwanted, but demonstrably unneeded," Mayor Guarnieri continued.

At the March 3 press conference in front of Congresswoman McCarthy's Garden City office, Mayor Guarnieri was joined by several members of Citizens Against Rail Expansion (CARE), a coalition of 135 local civic groups and public officials from all the communities from Bellerose to Hicksville who have joined forces to oppose the addition of another track.

LIRR officials believe the track expansion project will provide for a "much-needed passing lane" to bypass broken down trains. CARE members skeptical about the MTA/LIRR's latest argument also asked Congresswoman McCarthy to use her influence in Washington to obtain a copy of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), which the MTA/LIRR and Federal Transportation Agency (FTA) is withholding from public view.

Opponents believe this tactic denies critics access to the DEIS in order to properly prepare their opposition when public hearings are scheduled later this year.

"...The MTA/LIRR filed the DEIS with the Federal Transit Administration for review and comment more than three weeks ago. Since that time, it has refused to release a copy to all inquiring parties, including the villages along the Main Line corridor and the media. The excuse given for this resistance is that the DEIS may contain errors that need to be corrected. We believe that this is nothing more than a cynical response to a legitimate request for information," Mayor Guarnieri said.

"In order to have a clear understanding of the MTA/LIRR's proposal, as well as be in a position to provide meaningful input during the DEIS hearings, it is imperative that we be furnished with a copy of the DEIS now!"

Mayor Guarnieri added, "We then call upon Representative McCarthy to come to our aid with all dispatch in obtaining this critical document so it can come under complete public view and scrutiny. As it presently stands, the MTA/LIRR expects the DEIS to be released by the FTA in May. During the months of June and July, the MTA/LIRR plans to hold the DEIS hearings. Both the timing and duration of these hearings will greatly limit, if not preclude, the full participation by all these who have relevant information and comments to place in the record.

"Because this is such a monumental project, replete with numerous and complicated economic, environmental and quality of life issues, we implore Representative McCarthy to use all her influence to assure that there will be public hearings in all the communities along the Main Line Corridor and that the hearing period for the DEIS should be expanded to at least 180 days," Mayor Guarnieri said.