LIRR releases draft environmental assessment of Mid-Suffolk Yard-Ronkonkoma Yard Expansion Project

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) made public a study that assesses the potential environmental impact of its proposed Mid-Suffolk Yard/Ronkonkoma Yard Expansion Project, which would enlarge the LIRR's existing Ronkonkoma electric train yard just east of Ronkonkoma Station on land already owned by the MTA.

 

The document explains the site-selection process undertaken by the LIRR and offers the Railroad’s evaluation of the potential environmental impacts of the project.

The 37-acre project site, located along Railroad Avenue in the Town of Islip, is part of the approximately 100-acre Ronkonkoma Transportation Complex, which includes the Ronkonkoma train station, mainline tracks, extensive parking facilities, the existing Ronkonkoma Yard, a materials storage area, sound walls and related facilities.

The larger train yard is needed to support the increase in morning and evening peak ridership that is anticipated will be traveling to both Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal when the LIRR’s East Side Access project is up and running in 2022. The Railroad is planning to expand its electric train fleet with new M-9 rail cars to meet that demand.

The proposed action would enlarge the existing Ronkonkoma Yard with a new lead track and eleven additional tracks for the storage and servicing of LIRR commuter trains of up to 12 cars in length. An additional four-car track dedicated to repair work would be built adjacent to a new two-car Emergency Shed. Also, a new employee facility would replace an existing facility.

 

 

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