LIRR's New $2.6B Track Debuts, Promising More Trains And Fewer Delays

NEW HYDE PARK, NY — The first section of Long Island Rail Road's Third Track debuted Monday morning, a milestone that the transit agency said will reduce congestion and boost capacity on the busy commuter line.

One of the region's most significant mass transit ventures, the $2.6 billion track will eventually run along an existing 9.8-mile segment of the Main Line, between Floral Park and Hicksville.

The first section of the track, which opened to riders Monday, stretches from Queens Village to Merillon Avenue in Garden City. The second section will open in two weeks and run from Garden City to Carle Place, while new portions of the rail will be put into service in the next several months.

On Monday, Gov. Kathy Hochul and MTA officials rode on the LIRR line to celebrate the milestone. Officials later held a news conference outside the LIRR station at New Hyde Park.

"The opening of the Third Track marks a huge milestone for commuters and visitors that is decades in the making," Hochul said. "Thanks to this extraordinary project, LIRR trains will run more often and passengers will have a smoother ride than ever. Our partners at the MTA and the hard-working women and men of organized labor delivered an on-time, under-budget project — and that's something worth celebrating."

According to officials, the project came in around $100 million under budget.

The LIRR Main Line Expansion Project, as it's called, is part of an unprecedented investment of $17.7 billion in 100 projects to transform and modernize the LIRR, according to officials. Those projects include the opening of service to Grand Central Madison this year, the renewal and upgrading of 36 stations and 17 bridges, and the elimination of eight at-grade railroad crossings.

Major construction on the Third Track began in late 2018. When fully opened later this year, Hochul says riders will spend less time commuting, and more time with family.

"Literally hundreds of thousands of riders every single day are going to benefit from this," Hochul said, explaining that the Third Track will bring more trains and fewer delays for riders, including those who reverse commute to Long Island during rush hour.

With that, Hochul said service at New Hyde Park station, alone, will also increase by 67 percent.

"Long Island leaders have talked for generations about adding a Third Track and finally it's here," MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said. "The MTA is investing billions in Long Island and the results are clear: more frequent service and greater reliability, along with first-ever reverse commuting service to give Long Island businesses access to a much bigger labor pool."

In addition to a Third Track, the New Hyde Park and Merillon Avenue stations have been upgraded with expanded platforms, digital signage, new platform canopies, and accouterments including benches and shelters. New CCTV security cameras and USB charging stations have also been installed.

In addition, each station is now more ADA accessible, featuring new ramps, a pedestrian overpass, and new ADA parking spaces.

"The beginning of the LIRR Third Track is here and now Ronkonkoma, Port Jefferson/Huntington, and Oyster Bay branch customers will finally start to see the benefits of this transformative project," LIRR Interim President Catherine Rinaldi said. "The Third Track team has upgraded stations with a host of modern amenities, created a more resilient system that can better handle service disruptions, and made it easier for LIRR customers to make convenient reverse peak trips."