Work being done on the Long Island Rail Road's Central Extension, from Franklin Avenue to Garden City East, has prompted some residents to call Village Hall in an effort to find out what is happening at that location.

Village Administrator Robert Schoelle assures residents that the work being done is strictly preparatory for the rehabilitation of the Franklin Avenue crossing and has nothing to do with the proposal from several years ago to cart freight through the central extension, which is now primarily used twice a year, when the circus comes into town and leaves again.

The work that is planned for the Franklin Avenue crossing for late June requires the closing of part of the Hempstead branch, according to Schoelle. In order to do this rehabilitation work, which is mainly safety and maintenance work on the tracks at the Franklin Avenue crossing, the LIRR must close the section of the tracks at Franklin Avenue. The railroad will bus passengers from the train at Garden City to the Country Life and Hempstead stations and vice versa. In order to do this the trains will be slid down a short distance, 100 feet east of Washington Avenue, on the central extension. To put the commuter trains on this short section of the central extension involves laying a third rail on that section. Schoelle noted that residents saw the third rail being installed and became concerned that this was part of a plan, which the village has opposed, to cart freight through the central extension to the yard which runs from Commercial Avenue to Stewart Avenue.

This plan came about when New York and Atlantic Freight Companies purchased the freight business from the LIRR. In doing so, New York and Atlantic bought the freight use of every line except for the central extension. They attempted to buy the use of the central extension but the Village of Garden City strongly objected and with the help of New York State Senator Kemp Hannon was able to get a moratorium on the plan. Although this moratorium has expired, there are still restrictions in place that will, for the time being, prevent the central extension from being used to transport freight. When questioned about the issue, Hannon stated, "I am confident that we are going to resolve it to the satisfaction of the residents."

Town of Hempstead Councilman Joseph Kearney notes that early on there was some misinformation that the plan was to cart garbage out to and ash from the resource recovery plant, run by the Town of Hempstead. He stated that he is "vehemently opposed" to the idea of freight being carted on this extension and adds that he, along with other town and state elected officials will do whatever necessary to insure that this does not happen.

Currently, village officials want residents to be aware that the work being done on the central extension is in no way related to freight coming through the village. "It is routine maintenance," said Schoelle. "There is no skullduggery there."