Ridership on the Long Island Rail Road reached record levels last year and is expected to grow again, as eco-minded commuters ditch their cars for more economical, greener mass transit. But this positive trend could go off track if the LIRR doesn't clear up a longstanding infrastructure bottleneck.Right now, there are only two tracks on the LIRR main line between New Hyde Park and Hicksville. During peak periods, there is so much traffic on the line that the LIRR can't offer reverse-commute service. And when there are breakdowns or track disruptions, the LIRR's ability to reroute trains is severely hampered.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has been hoping to add a third track to this crucial nine-mile stretch for years but put the brakes on the plan recently because of budget concerns. To keep this project steaming ahead, NYLCV has teamed up with the Long Island Regional Planning Board, the Tri-State Transportation Campaign and other organizations to form the Long Island Transit Coalition. The group is lobbying state elected officials to fully fund projects in the MTA's Capital Program, including the addition of a third track to the Main Line as well as the completion of the East Side Access project.

The two initiatives are interconnected in the most literal sense. Crews are already working on the East Side Access project, which will bring LIRR trains into Grand Central Terminal (right now they only serve Penn Station) to improve transit mobility. As existing service into Penn Station continues, and more peak service is added into Grand Central, however, traffic on the Main Line corridor will come to a crawl - unless capacity is added with a third track.

- Dan Hendrick

Newsletter Issue

• Ecopolitics Monthly --- April 2007