Assemblymen Thomas Alfano and Thomas McKevitt held a LIRR Main Line Corridor Third Track Improvement meeting recently at the John Lewis Childs school in Floral Park with members of a task force they assembled from the various communities to address the problem of the proposed third track.

The members of the task force at the meeting included Chairman Mineola Mayor Jack Martins, New Hyde Park Mayor Daniel Patricio, Floral Park businessman Vice-Chairman Thomas Dalton, of Dalton Funeral Homes and Westbury Village Trustee Bill Weiss along with Assemblymen Alfano and McKevitt.

Assemblyman Alfano started the meeting off by stating, "Tonight it's your turn. We are here to hear from the members of the communities affected by this rail expansion. As you know, I have been steadfast against this project from the start and it is only fitting that our first meeting should be at this school in Floral Park since this very school, as well as the Floral Park/Bellerose School will be greatly impacted if this plan goes forward since they are both so very close to the railroad tracks."

Assemblyman McKevitt also greeted the community members saying that he, too, was adamantly against the project. He then turned the meeting over to Chairman Jack Martins, who recognized representative Dalton, who said, "We went through this kind of disruption once before. We survived the elevation of the track and we aren't ready to go through it again."

Mayor Petruccio said, "We, in New Hyde Park, are at the epicenter of this project." He went on to explain that in his village of New Hyde Park they are not only concerned about the installation of a third track, but about the plans to eliminate grade crossings for three north/south venues in the village. He said all you have to do is look at the grade crossing elimination on Roslyn Road, in Mineola, that has been a mess for the last three years. He said, "We are looking at three grade crossing eliminations, three years for each would amount to close to 10 years of disruption in our village, plus what other properties that are slated for either taking or having major disruption and nothing can compensate our residents for that."

Mayor Martins then introduced the first speaker Floral Park Mayor Phil Guarnieri. Mayor Guarnieri proceeded to welcome everyone to Floral Park stating that it is celebrating 100 years this year.

He added he felt it was wise of Assemblyman Alfano to have the first meeting in Floral Park. He said, "This is the launching pad of the opposition against this project. Floral Park was the first to meet with the representatives of the LIRR and the first to question the reverse commute, the first to form a task force and the first to attend all six hearings of the scoping hearings with more than 1200 community members in attendance expressing, eloquently, their objection to the project."

He continued, "We have also retained one of the most prestigious environmental law firms in the country. When the DEIS (Draft Environmental Impact Statement) comes out we just don't want to hear the voice of one set of experts, we want to hear our own experts and that's very critical. I am hoping our sister communities will join in with us."

He continued, "I think we have been defined by the media very unfairly. They have said we are very shortsighted. It's not a question of NIMBY (Not in My Backyard) but we have four tracks running through our village and it's a question of "enough in my backyard."

With that remark he received a rousing, standing ovation.

Guarnieri then continued on what he called a "pedigree" of failed projects put forth by the LIRR over the years that he added, "Could only flourish in a government subsidized agency."

He said, "In the 1960s the Pennsylvania Railroad could no longer absorb the huge operating losses incurred by the LIRR. A deal was consummated by New York State to purchase the LIRR. After the acquisition by the state the LIRR became part of the regional transportation organization, known as the Metropolitan Transportation Agency, or the MTA.

"Never the less the LIRR continued to be a burden to its new owner, the major difference was that the State of New York had deeper pockets and a greater ability to support with money for the operation. The LIRR, for years, and probably still does, requires approximately 50 percent of its operating cost come from the MTA. No wonder so many people say that MTA stands for Money Thrown Away.

"Nor, it is any mystery that ridership on the LIRR peaked in 1949. Yes, it has increased a little bit in percentages, but in numbers it is still very, very small. In spite of all of these facts, brought up from the mineshaft into the sunlight, why are there still powerful money interests supporting the construction of the third track when it has been a culture of waste and dissipation. Why you ask? Because, where there is big money, there is big forgiveness and that's what is happening here and people want the third track because it is in their interest for monetary reasons.

"Not withstanding this, our efforts have borne fruit. By massive outpouring of public interest, we have delayed the DEIS so that we could form an alliance and get 'our ducks in order.'

"The New York State Capital Review Board, in an unprecedented decision, refused to fund the track until there was full disclosure and that's never been done before.

"In 2006 we were informed by the LIRR that they were dramatically down caling the project in Floral Park and that it would be starting further east. Even if Floral Park were left unscathed, we would still object to this third track.

"Recently we got together to hold a petition drive in the six villages of CARE (Citizens Against Rail Expansion) and of the 10,000 signatures to present to Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy, we, here in Floral Park, got 5,000 signatures."

"Remember the reverse commute was needed to bring out people to the East end of Long Island. However, we did a survey and found out the trains were half empty. So, right from the start there was no justification for a reverse commute.

"Then it was for an east side access and now it's for a passing lane in the event of broken down trains. As one trustee, in New Hyde Park said, 'Now we have a $1.3 million passing lane.'

"So, more needs to be done and meetings are a good thing. I am grateful to the assemblymen for putting this meeting together. First of all what we need is the release of the DEIS. The LIRR has submitted that to the MTA and their excuse is that they are unable to release it until the MTA puts its imprimatur on it. But to me, that's just a subterfuge. The DEIS belongs to all of us and we need it and we need to see it right now.

"Also, I am hoping this committee will work with us. When do we get the release of the DEIS, we need at least 180 days to review it. It has taken more than two years to draft so our sister communities along with our law firm needs that kind of time.

"Further, I am hoping that this committee will join with me in requesting that public hearing will be held in every one of the communities along the LIRR Main Line Corridor.

"Plus, it seems to be since the original justification for the scoping hearings was a reverse commute and it is now a passing lane, the scoping process should be started anew again.

"Plus, the New York State Senate has provided CARE with $25, 000 so I am going to be asking our New York State Assemblymen if they also provide us with some funds for legal representation for this village and its sister communities. This is going to be a very critical time for us and may result in an expense contest in the courts, so we will need as much financing as possible.

"So, I'm looking for your support and if we stick together, I know there is nothing we cannot accomplish."

Chairman Martins introduced the LIRR President Helena Williams who proceeded to give a comprehensive PowerPoint presentation, which she said would be a quick up-to-date information on the project.

Williams said that all the hard work of all the people on the various task forces is actually working. She said, "I came in June and since then you folks have continued to do a lot of hard work and guess what, the railroad heard you. So you all need to give yourselves a round of applause. I appreciate you all being here tonight.

"The hard work is not over, we need to continue to re-evaluate this project, we need to visualize what it means to each community. We do take one million riders a year into high-paying jobs, we take them into entertainment and sports venues. So, we recognize that there is a base of commuters that depend on the LIRR as well as to use recreationally. So we need to develop a railroad for the future.

"It is also important to note a passing lane has always been what is needed which can also be used as an express lane. She then started the PowerPoint presentation. (Which has been described in detail in an earlier issue of the Illustrated News.)

Williams added, "When I first started and looked at the plans I was so excited because for the first time in 100 years, the LIRR was giving its riders an opportunity to not only travel to Pennsylvania Station, as has always been the case, but to also go have an east side access to Grand Central Station." She stated that it is their hope that in 2015, LIRR will have 24 trains per hour to Grand Central, amounting to 254 new cars.

She continued, frame by frame, with the PowerPoint, but as she was going through it a Floral Park School Board trustee stood up and said, "Excuse me I mean no disrespect to you, but you have gone on for 12 minutes and you have not mentioned anything in these slides that has any impact on Floral Park and since I have already seen these slides, I would like to hear from our residents."

Chairman Jack Martins said, "Mrs. Williams was kind enough to give up her time to come here and I think we need to listen to her presentation."

The trustee said, "Well, will she stay and listen to what everyone has to say?"

Martins said, "Well, I am sure she will stay as long as she is able and I am very sure that there will be others who will make sure she hears what everyone has to say."

LIRR President Williams then continued and concluded her presentation and sat down without further comment.

There were many, many residents who spoke including one young school board member and two high school students expressing concern about the impact on their school if another track was constructed.

The meeting ended and it expected that both Assemblymen Alfano and McKevitt will be scheduling other meetings in other areas that the LIRR Improvement Project will impact.