Valley Stream Long Island Rail Road commuters cope with cold amid construction

As frigid temperatures roll in and residents bundle up to brave the wind chill or the occasional downpour, some Long Island Rail Road commuters at the Valley Stream station will have to make do with less than the usual winter weather safeguards.

Since Dec. 12, the station’s elevated platform waiting rooms have been closed from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays as construction crews are in the throes of repairing their canopy roofs.

“The roofing shingles are being removed and replaced,” said Metropolitan Transportation Authority spokesman David Steckel. “The canopy structure is being inspected as the roof is replaced and repairs made as needed.”

The project won’t be expected to be completed until March 2024. During this time, commuters will either have to wait out the elements on the platform until their train arrives or wait at the ground-level station building waiting room until their ride is announced.

That may mean a little extra legwork and planning for commuters. Despite the inconvenience, Steckel said closing the waiting platforms while re-roofing is underway is a “precautionary measure.” Commuters can also use the station’s elevator or escalators to expedite the hassle, notwithstanding any possible maintenance glitches.

Acting Long Island Rail Road President Robert Free says the renovations at the Valley Stream main station, which on any given weekday makes roughly 7,800 customer trips represent a substantial investment. 

“The MTA has made an unprecedented $17.7 billion investment in recent years to transform and modernize the LIRR, with 100 capital projects systemwide, and Valley Stream station is no stranger to this effort,” said Free in a statement. “The LIRR is investing $32 million in capital funds for state-of-good repair work that is already underway at the station. When finished, LIRR customers waiting for their train on the platform will be protected from the elements by a new canopy roof.”

Additional renovations include six rows of repainted and refurbished columns, railings, and multiple bridges, and in 2024 a contract will be awarded to replace the station’s elevators and escalators.

“These improvements will improve our customer’s experience and make for a more pleasurable commute,” noted Free.

While the LIRR has a policy of letting waiting rooms stay open for longer amid snowstorms or a blast of prolonged freezing temperatures, the railroad is more reluctant to make those same accommodations when the weather isn’t as extreme but still supposedly makes commuters want to shelter for warmth. The Valley Stream waiting area’s standard hours of operation are from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and closed on the weekends.