While the Herricks Road Crossing elimination project is indeed a good step to lighten the traffic burden and eliminate a "dangerous" grade crossing they neglected to make mention of just how this project has affected the local residents who live along its borders.

While it remains a fact that this entire project seems to have been brought in ahead of their estimated time schedule, for nearly three years we have had to endure living with "limited" use of our backyards, construction noise all hours of the day and night, and now with this so-called completion in hand, we have a main line, high speed railway system within five feet of our property lines.

With these tracks being within such a close proximity of our borders, keep in mind that a train car's width brings things just that much closer. And at such a huge rate of speed, making it more of an impact. The residents involved were never informed of this "change in plan" as to the final location of the main line tracks. Needless to say that this has severely degraded "our quality of life" and property values. I have petitioned the local levels of government to urge the Department of Transportation and the Long Island Rail Road to erect sound barriers similar to the ones used on the Long Island Expressway's HOV Project, but have been told "let's wait and see" and perhaps we will do a "study." While the traffic situation has been solved, and one grade crossing out of five within the borders of Mineola eliminated, and the local residents' lives and property impacted, is this truly a blessing?

Bob Rabey