MTA: Train station work ahead

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced that the planned $23.9 million rehabilitation of the Long Island Rail Road’s Wantagh station is getting under way. Long Island-based Fortunato Sons Contracting Inc. will be the primary contractor for the project, and is expected to create more than 100 construction jobs during the project, which is set to begin early next month.

The infrastructure project, financed by the MTA Capital Program, will include a new concrete platform, a segmented canopy, a platform-level waiting room, a new escalator and elevator, new lighting, a new communications system and signage, and a distinctive public art project. It will be the first significant upgrade of the facility since it was built nearly 50 years ago. The addition of an elevator will also make the station handicapped-accessible for the first time.

“This station rehabilitation project is part of the MTA’s ongoing commitment to Long Island and will benefit thousands of customers who depend each day on the LIRR,” MTA Chairman and CEO Thomas Prendergast said. “Governor Cuomo has made it clear that New York state needs to support projects like this, which create construction jobs and help the local economy.”

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced an initiative to speed up station enhancement projects by changing MTA contracting procedures to allow private-sector companies to use their own designs. Although the design of the Wantagh station upgrade had been completed prior to this initiative, the LIRR is closely monitoring this “design-build” approach in order to adopt the best practices for future capital projects. The new approach is being used on other LIRR projects, as well as 31 New York City Transit subway stations.