Third rail shifts train times, and raises concerns

It took nearly four years, but construction of the $2.5 billion third track project connecting the Long Island Rail Road with Manhattan’s new Grand Central Madison station is complete, according to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority

The new 9.8-mile track runs from Floral Park to Hicksville, and transit officials say it will increase LIRR service by 41 percent system-wide, giving the railroad more flexibility to minimize service disruptions when Grand Central Madison opens later this year.

“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,” Gov. Kathy Hochul stated in a release following the announcement.

“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.”

According to the MTA, Grand Central Madison will connect more than 160,000 LIRR riders to the East Side of Manhattan. It will officially open to the public in December.

Due to the potential disruptions the multi-billion-dollar capital project might cause, the LIRR announced tentative schedule changes earlier this year. Opinions have been mixed with commuters showing equal levels of enthusiasm and apprehension about what the changes in departure and arrival times could mean for their daily commutes.

Jeff Scott, a commuter from Lynbrook, said he is excited for the Grand Central addition.

“I think it’s long overdue and will help cut down time for commuters working on the East side,” Scott said. “I still travel in for meetings so this is great.”

Several residents had the opportunity to share their opinions about the schedule changes with local elected officials, who have been stepping in to try and help address their concerns. Last month, Assemblywoman Judy Griffin hosted a virtual town hall meeting to give LIRR commuters in her district an opportunity to speak up about issues with the proposed changes.

“It is paramount that the LIRR management use a practical, proactive and thoughtful approach that includes feedback from commuters before finalizing these potential changes to the schedule and service,” Griffin wrote in an emailed statement.

“The biggest issues I communicated to the LIRR are starting early morning trains in Seaford or Babylon which will result in crowded trains and an inability for commuters in Freeport, Baldwin, RVC to get seats.

“For instance, many commuters including a large team of nurses rely on the 6:58 a.m. from RVC to get them into their hospital shift starting at 8 a.m. They can’t be late so even a slight change in time can have a severe impact.

“Another problematic issue a commuter from Lynbrook addressed is that after work many people go to dinner, theater, sporting events, etc. and there is a lack of service from Penn to Lynbrook and other stations at these times.”

Participants in her conference, Griffin said, helped shine a light on potential issues with scheduling and destination changes, which she planned to discuss with the LIRR.

In addition to her virtual meeting, Griffin said she visited some of the more active train stations in the area to help raise awareness and gather feedback from local commuters, which she also planned to share with the LIRR.

“I looked at the schedule and it’s very challenging for those going into Penn Station who need to be to work by 9 a.m.,” Ali O’Hara, another Lynbrook commuter, said of the tentative new schedule. “You either have to switch at Jamaica or take a significantly earlier train.”

Griffin said that a key takeaway from her online discussion with LIRR riders is that Jamaica station, which has long served as a major transfer point, will play an even larger role in the future, because all trains will now stop there. Having more access to the Queens hub, she said, could be even more helpful for those traveling to Brooklyn, Penn Station, or Grand Central.

Another LIRR regular from Lynbrook, Michael Hawxhurst, said he commutes to Penn, close to his office, and believes there will be some minor changes to his schedule.

“I think people had thought the new service would be in addition to what we have and not just switching some trains over,” Hawxhurst said. “For those who go to Brooklyn, the changes are a complete mess.”

The newly built third track is part of an unprecedented $17.7 billion investment to transform and modernize the LIRR with more than 100 different projects, including Grand Central Madison service, construction of a more spacious concourse at Penn Station, renovations and upgrades of 36 stations and 17 bridges, activation of a new safety system, improvements at 15 electrical substations, parking capacity increases and yard expansions.