The thousands of local residents who use the Massapequa LIRR Train Station every day can expect to see some major changes at the transportation hub in coming months.

A multi-million dollar renovation plan is getting under way at the train station, which serves over 2,500 customers daily during morning rush hours alone.

The $2.1 million face-lift, which is being funded by the MTA/LIRR Capital Plan and is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year 2000, will consist of both exterior and interior work on the station building. This includes new brick work, gutters, doors, and windows, as well as new tile wall, terrazzo floor and ceiling finishes for the waiting room and ticket office. Sidewalks, handicapped ramps, escalator landings and elevator vestibules will be refurbished, and platform level waiting rooms and deteriorated stairs will be reconstructed. In addition, the station building's heating, electric and plumbing will be renewed and air-conditioning will be added. Existing communication systems will be reinstalled, as will existing security and fire detection systems. The renovation plan also calls for new automatic door locks and emergency strobe lights.

According to State Senator Charles Fuschillo, who helped secure the funds for Massapequa, the project will improve the daily commuting experience of local residents and bring the station in line with modern standards for train stations. In announcing the commencement of construction this week, Fuschillo noted that his push for the renovation was prompted by a desire to bring the station up to par with some of its Long Island counterparts.

"The MTA has a capital improvement fund, and part of my job through the Senate is to negotiate MTA dollars for improvement to train stations and ticket stations," he said in a telephone interview. "And I have targeted - really on the back of the MTA through the Senate - to get as many dollars as possible for train stations in my district."

Typical of other stations on the Babylon line of the LIRR, which runs along Sunrise Highway, the current Massapequa train station was built in the 1950s, and has not undergone any renovations since that time.

Noting that Massapequa's station was built in 1953, Fuschillo said, "It's 46 years old, and everything there is 46 years old...It's antiquated. According to [the MTA] it's falling apart; it is in disrepair. It needs new electrical work; it needs new communication and sound systems. They're talking about improving the security with better lighting in the area. They're going to put emergency strobe lights in. In 1953, the technology wasn't there for this."

He added, "I've traveled throughout the Island and the state, and I've looked at some of the improvements that they have done to train stations...If they are doing that in other areas and the money is allocated for this, then I'm going to do whatever I can to get it for stations in my district."

He cited Hicksville as a station that is currently being refurbished and Ronkonkoma as one that is brand new. In addition to Massapequa, Fuschillo said he plans to jump start the renovation of other stations in the 8th senatorial district, such as Baldwin, Merrick and Freeport.

In addition to being a quality of life issue for his constituents, Fuschillo noted that quality train stations are key to the vitality of downtown areas.

"A lot of the downtowns - throughout the Island, and including Massapequa - continually strive to revitalize and improve the economy and encourage people to shop locally," he said. "Especially in the district that I represent, the train stations are either at the beginning, the end, or the middle of the downtowns. They're really at the center of the communities, and they should be beautified."

In a release to the press, MTA/LIRR officials also commented on the project.

"The Massapequa station building rehabilitation is one of many projects throughout the railroad's system receiving crucial infrastructure investment through the MTA/LIRR Capital Plan," said Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chairman E. Virgil Conway. "Massapequa and other projects like it, comes hot on the heels of the recently completed $46 million, 30-station rehabilitation program in LIRR diesel territories to accommodate the new diesel fleet coming on line."

Added LIRR President Thomas F. Prendergast, "When the Massapequa Station building work is complete, customers will have the convenience of a modern ticketing facility, a totally renovated waiting room with new heating and, for the first time, air-conditioning system, and new rest rooms - all in compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines."

The construction work at the Massapequa station is being done by Freeport-based Applied Projects Company, Inc. To make way for it, the MTA has placed a temporary ticket office and waiting room trailer on the south side of the station to the west of the existing station building for customer use. The ticket vending machine will be relocated to an area outside the ticket office trailer, with a temporary newsstand in the vicinity of the ticket office trailer. The MTA has also noted that the escalator at the east end of the platform and the elevator in the station building will remain in service for the entire construction period. According to Fuschillo, the project will not cause interruption to train service.