MTA Awarded $7.46MM Grant to Advance Preliminary Design to Eliminate Three Grade Crossings

MTA

NEW YORK CITY - The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) was awarded $7,461,000 to advance the planning and preliminary design to eliminate three grade crossings along LIRR's Ronkonkoma Branch.

The three crossings are the Wicks Rd/Fifth Avenue grade crossing in Brentwood, the Straight Path crossing in Wyandanch, and the Lowell Avenue crossing in Central Islip, says the MTA. The crossing in Brentwood is reportedly one of the top five busiest crossings on Long Island. The elimination of these three crossings is part of a larger effort between the MTA and New York State Department of Transportation to eliminate grade crossings at street level. These particular crossings were selected after “months of collaboration” between the MTA and county officials to identify the grade separations that would provide the most benefit to the public.

Previously, federal grants supported grade crossing safety improvements. The MTA says this grant will fund planning, environmental review work, and necessary preliminary engineering to “evaluate and prepare for long-term grade separation solutions at the three locations.” Once this is completed, the MTA will pursue funding for construction.

LIRR President Rob Free said, “This grant paves the path for the LIRR to be a better neighbor to the communities it serves, as seen by the Third Track project’s eight eliminated grade crossings. . . Eliminating these three grade crossings would provide more reliable service for riders while helping residents get around their community more easily and safely, with less traffic and noise. It’s a win for everyone.”