(The following is a letter Senator Craig Johnson wrote to Long Island Rail Road President Helena Williams concerning the proposed third track.)

I read with great interest an article in Newsday regarding your plans for the third track. As you know from meetings I have had with you since you became LIRR president, I am vehemently opposed to the third track project until the MTA/LIRR presents a clear and honest plan that meets with the approval of local residents, civic leaders and government officials. One aspect of the article which stood out to me the most was your quote - "A pair of options for the Long Island Rail Road's plan to establish a third track along a 10-mile stretch of its main line will be unveiled at a series of public hearings this spring." This is welcome news and I appreciate your willingness to allow the residents who could be most adversely affected by the plan to let their voices be heard.

To that end, I respectfully request that you hold a series of public meetings in close proximity to the following communities in my Senate district - Bellerose, Floral Park, New Hyde Park, Garden City Park, Carle Place, Mineola, Westbury and Hicksville. The residents of these communities will bear the brunt of any plans you put forward and therefore deserve as many opportunities as possible to speak their minds.

I also request that you give local civic groups an opportunity to host meetings for their members with representatives from the MTA/LIRR in attendance. There are a number of local groups in my district who have taken a keen interest in the third track project and one of their biggest complaints, which I share, has been the lack of direct communication from the MTA/LIRR to the community about the true nature of the project. I would be happy to help set these meetings up and I offer my assistance in any way that will help bring about a new, open dialog between the MTA/LIRR and the residents who have made their homes and raised their families along the main line corridor.

Thank you for taking the time to consider my request. Should you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Craig M. Johnson