LIRR Third Track Project Officially Completed

WESTBURY, NY — Gov. Kathy Hochul was on Long Island today to celebrate the completion of the LIRR's Third Track project. The new, 9.8-mile track runs from Floral Park to Hicksville, and gives the railroad more flexibility when conducting trains along the busy corridor.

The Third Track project was completed on time and under budget, Hochul said. When the LIRR terminal in Grand Central Station opens later this year, the Third Track will help increase service by 41 percent.

"The completion of the historic Third Track project connects commuters with a more resilient and flexible railroad with frequent service, modern stations, ADA accessibility and more travel opportunities for Long Islanders and visitors," Hochul said. "I applaud the MTA, local communities and the hard-working women and men of organized labor who worked together to deliver this transformative project on time and under budget."

The Third Track is the centerpiece of the larger $2.5 billion Long Island Rail Road Main Line Expansion Project, which includes the renewal of five LIRR stations along the route (New Hyde Park, Merillon Avenue, Mineola, Carle Place and Westbury), the elimination of eight at-grade railroad crossings, upgrades at seven railroad bridges, parking expansions, installation of new sound-blocking barriers and landscaping improvements. With only minor station work left to complete, the project is heading to be $100 million under budget almost four years after breaking ground.

The Third Track is physically the southernmost track on the roadbed and will carry eastbound service. It opened in three sections, with the first leg opening Aug. 15 through New Hyde Park and Merillon Avenue and the second stretch to Mineola on Aug. 30. Construction was completed without the need for residential real estate property acquisitions.

"This project is being delivered on time and $100 million under budget, thanks to design-build contracting and many other new and innovative project management strategies," said Janno Lieber, MTA chair and CEO. "It's especially incredible that this was all accomplished during a global pandemic and with no residential property takings. It shows that the MTA can deliver on its promise to bring megaprojects faster, better and cheaper. And this expansion will be a huge boon for Long Island businesses, since it will increase access to the region's talent pool by enabling not only a 40 percent overall increase in LIRR service, but a huge uptick in reverse peak train frequency. It's a win-win-win."

The LIRR Main Line Expansion Project is part of a much larger $17.7 billion investment to transform and modernize the Long Island Rail Road. That money is funding more than 100 projects, including the opening of service to Grand Central Madison, construction of a more spacious LIRR Concourse at Penn Station and a new entrance at 33rd Street, renewal and upgrading of 36 stations and 17 bridges, activation of the Positive Train Control safety system, installation of 13 miles of second track between Farmingdale and Ronkonkoma, upgrades to 15 electrical substations, parking capacity increases, yard expansions, and more. Additionally, the MTA, together with NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak, plans to seek federal funding to rebuild Penn Station into a new, single-level terminal.