As part of the scoping process to possibly add a third track to the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) Main Line, the LIRR is in the process of conducting public meetings regarding the project.

Meetings have been scheduled for Tuesday, June 14, at Jericho Terrace, located at 249 Jericho Turnpike in Mineola; Thursday, June 16, at Floral Terrace, located at 250 Jericho Turnpike in Floral Park; and Tuesday, June 21, at Antuns, located at 244 Old Country Road in Hicksville. Meetings will be held between 4-6 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. on each of the aforementioned dates.

The proposed action would consist of the addition of a third track to the existing two track configuration between the Queens Interlocking in Queens County and the Divide Interlocking in Nassau County, with crossover service to the Oyster Bay Branch east of the Mineola station.

In addition, up to five roadway grade crossings are being considered for separation. They are Covert Avenue in New Hyde Park, 12th Street in New Hyde Park, New Hyde Park Road in New Hyde Park, School Street in Westbury and Urban Avenue in New Cassel. These grade crossings do not include the elimination of the Roslyn Road grade crossing elimination, which is already under way.

The LIRR, with the assistance of its environmental consultant, DMJM Harris, will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, LIRR President James Dermody said.

"The scoping process for this project is now under way, and will include an upcoming series of public meetings," Dermody said. "Public input is being sought in accordance with this process and will be incorporated into the EIS."

The project area includes approximately 11.5 miles of the LIRR Main Line between Queens Village and Hicksville, encompassing nine stations: Queens Village, Bellerose, Floral Park, New Hyde Park, Merillon Avenue, Mineola, Carle Place, Westbury and Hicksville.

According to the LIRR, the railroad is expecting a significant increase in its service levels by the year 2030. According to the LIRR, the purpose of the proposed Main Line Corridor Improvements, particularly the addition of a new third track is to provide additional capacity for the railroad, provide operational flexibility, reduce severe congestion during peak travel periods, allow for sufficiently frequent reverse and intra-island community service to draw riders out of their automobiles and accommodate anticipated service growth throughout the LIRR system.

Also, according to the LIRR, existing main line configuration is limiting in terms of peak-direction train movement because of the necessity to operate reverse-peak direction trains.

However, Mineola Mayor Jack M. Martins has raised some concerns about the impact that adding a third track may have on the Village of Mineola. "There are communities that are disproportionately affected by certain actions. It just seems that Mineola is always a community that when somebody wants to start a new initiative whether it's the county with its HUB or potential sale and consolidation of county facilities or whether it's the potential construction of a third track on the Main Line, there's a potential impact to the village," said Mayor Martins.

Mayor Martins' concerns include the possibility of a third track causing more traffic and creating more of a parking issue and how the third track will be laid out logistically in Mineola.

What the third track will be used for could also be a cause for concern. "We've gotten assurances from the MTA that it's going to be used for passenger trains only, but it certainly lends itself to being used for freight," Mayor Martins said. "The reality is that is can be very easily adapted to freight. The construction will be done in such a way to allow for freight."

The mayor is also concerned that if the third track is built, that it will be built in portions. "They keep talking about going from Queens to Hicksville. What happens if they decide they only have funding to go from Queens to Mineola? How do they build to Mineola with a second phase going from Mineola to Hicksville? What are the ramifications to this community?" the mayor asked.

Mayor Martins planned on attending a New York Conference of Mayors convention earlier in the week in Saratoga but planned on leaving early to attend the LIRR meeting at the Jericho Terrace.