The Officers of Save Our Village New Hyde Park Association, Inc. accepted the LIRR's recent invitation to attend its informational meeting on the Mainline Corridor Improvement Project on May 31, 2007. At this time, representatives of several civic organizations, the NHP Fire Dept., the NHP-GCP School Board and others were presented with a "project update" regarding its "Mainline Corridor Improvement Project."

Specifically at this meeting, representatives of the LIRR presented an alternative plan for the at-grade crossing elimination at Covert Avenue in New Hyde Park. According to this plan, a series of quadrant gates (a four-gated system) would be installed and a potential "quiet zone" would be imposed at this site. Although the plan claims to reduce the number of residential and small business condemnations along Covert Avenue, it is important to note that it will actually increase gate down time at this crossing and therefore promote even greater roadway congestion! Not only does SOV anticipate that the NYS Dept. of Transportation will have great difficulty endorsing such a proposal due to its inherent weaknesses, we also assert that such a plan may, in fact, be detrimental to the health and safety of our community and to those who travel along this roadway. Finally, this alternative continues to allow for the installation of the third track through New Hyde Park in a manner that is even less costly than the original proposal. Not only is SOV highly speculative about the need for the third track, but we also remain unconvinced about the benefits it will afford the residents of our community.

Once again, SOV encourages those who propose and/or endorse railroad modification: (1) to learn more about its consequent economic and environmental effects on our community, (2) to advocate for the deliberate and vigorous exploration of viable alternative proposals that reduce roadway congestion and promote safety, and (3) to responsibly endorse the best plan that imposes the least collateral damage to family homes and properties, small businesses, and the environment in our immediate area - regardless of its cost.

When compared to other municipalities along the mainline corridor, New Hyde Park will bear the largest burden of numerous environmental and economic consequences which will permanently and negatively impact the entire footprint of our village. Additionally, the lengthy and complicated construction process will adversely affect life as we know it in New Hyde Park for a very long time. Save Our Village New Hyde Park Association, Inc. asserts that there are viable alternatives to the present proposals which must be judiciously considered and, ultimately, endorsed because they eliminate roadway congestion and the dangers that exist at the crossings as well as preempt the need to condemn taxpayers' properties, as well. Thus, we respectfully encourage the MTA, LIRR, and the NYS Dept. of Transportation to go back to the drawing board and create a plan that considers more than the budgetary impact it will have on their own purses! The residents of New Hyde Park will settle for nothing less than the best plan - one which reduces roadway congestion, promotes greater safety, preserves our suburban quality of life and eliminates the need to condemn and eliminate residential and small business properties in our community.

President Robert Femminella, MS, MS, CNS

Vice President Diane Bentivegna, BS.Ed., Ed.M.

SOV New Hyde Park Association, Inc.

http://nhpsaveourvillage.blogspot.com