MTA OPPONENTS
SEEK
McCARTHY SUPPORT
Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy visited the area on January 9, 2006 to get first hand
information from local community
leaders who have asked her to oppose the additional MTA track
through our communities. She toured parts of
Floral Park, Bellerose and New Hyde Park.
Floral Park Mayor Phil Guarnieri, who organized the bus tour, said
he was "thrilled to have Congresswoman McCarthy with us." He
added that "When all levels of government work together with area
residents, we can accomplish great things. Clearly public
officials, school officials, business owners and neighbors are
united in our commitment to defeat the MTA's plan to run an additional
track through the heart of our local communities. We are
determined to derail this dangerous proposal that would obliterate
the character of our village and destroy our suburban community."
Seen here boarding the bus are:
Rosaleen Shea - Floral Park/Bellerose PTA President,
Robert Burke - FPBS School Board, Cheryl Ferraro,
Brian Ridgway - Garden City Village Clerk,
Gerry Bambrick - Floral Park Trustee,
Bill Corbett - Past Commander American Legion,
Mayor Jack Martins - Mineola, Tom Tweedy - Floral Park Trustee,
Terry Whalen - President, Floral Park Chamber of Commerce,
Congresswoman McCarthy, John O'Donoghue - FPBS School Board,
Dr. Lynn Pombonyo - FPBS School Superintendent, Mayor Phil
Guarnieri,
Archie Cheng - FPBS School Board, Mayor Donna Sherrer - Bellerose,
Dave Fowler - FPBS School Board, Mayor Joe Troiano - Stewart Manor,
Patrick Farrell - New Hyde Park Village Clerk,
Tim Dalton - Small Business Owner, Don Barbieri - New Hyde Park
Trustee,
Kevin Greene - Floral Park Trustee
************
FLORAL PARK VILLAGE ITEM
June 2005
Message from the Mayor
I am
calling on all residents and the business community to get involved in the fight
to prevent the expansion of the LIRR through Floral Park. The consequences to
our Village are substantial and significant. I have scheduled a planning
meeting with community leaders and our elected officials for June 9th. Contact
the Village Administrator’s Office at 326-6300 for more information. Please
read this Village Item and volunteer in our campaign to let the MTA/LIRR and
elected officials know how we feel on this issue. The character of our suburban
community will be dramatically altered by this monumental intrusion.
Many
homes, businesses and community assets will be impacted by this proposed
expansion.
Dear Resident and Local
Business Proprietor,
We have been tracking the
MTA/LIRR proposed project for an additional track to be added to the Main Line
running at least 10.5 miles from Queens Village to Hicksville. This line runs
through the heart of Floral Park. Many homes, businesses and community assets
are along the proposed third track.
As reported in my May 16,
2005 Mayor’s Message, without prior warning or communication, MTA/LIRR officials
have scheduled three public hearings on the proposed project. Notice of these
hearings were buried in the MTA/LIRR website.
The MTA/LIRR have
distributed slickly produced brochures calling the mega-project the “Main Line
Corridor Improvement Project” focusing more on information about raising
on-grade crossings than on the real purpose of running hundreds of additional
passenger and freight trains along the main line each day and night.
Unbelievably, this misleading brochure failed to include the hearing dates.
The track expansion is
targeted as phase 1 and phase 2. Phase 3 is the elevation of on-grade tracks in
New Hyde Park, Westbury and New Cassel and is tentatively scheduled years into
the future providing funding is available. Meanwhile, and most ominously,
our Village falls into the first phase of this project and construction is
projected to start as early as 2009. Time, therefore, is of the essence.
We have learned from the
MTA/LIRR that this brochure and a subsequent one were mailed to property owners
within a 1/4 mile of the railroad tracks and within a 1/2 mile where on-grade
crossings are located. We feel this is inadequate as all property
owners in the communities
along the Main Line deserve notification.
These public meetings are a
critical part of the scoping process mandated by the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969. The purpose of the hearings is to solicit public
comment as part of the overall environmental impact study and subsequent
environmental impact statement. The environment in this case refers to not only
the physical and natural environment but also the social, economic, community
and benefit area environments.
How outlandish it is that
the scoping document prepared by the MTA/LIRR’s consultant concludes there will
be no significant neighborhood impact or community disruption anticipated in
association with the proposed improvements.
These public meetings will
be the first opportunity for members of the public to have their voices heard.
Be assured that I will fully participate in this process to ensure that the
concerns of Floral Park are fully heard and addressed. I urge everyone to mark
their calendars and plan to attend these public hearings. Those wishing to
speak are requested to register at the meeting location upon arrival.
Unfortunately, the LIRR is
not a good neighbor in Floral Park. They have not maintained the existing
infrastructure. Our station has deteriorated, with crumbling cement pillars and
walls and pigeon feces on the walkways and overpasses. Stones, “metal pretzel
pieces” and other debris fall from the tracks onto cars parked beneath in the
commuter lots, thereby endangering pedestrians.
Residents complain
constantly to the Village about the LIRR and problems associated with rodents,
deteriorated fencing, overgrowth of grass and weeds, litter and other large
debris. Residents are also forced to report to the LIRR when the tracks loosen
creating more vibration and noise. The Village is equally as frustrated with
the lack of response from the LIRR regarding these concerns.
Why doesn’t the LIRR have a
sensible maintenance plan in place to address these concerns on a regular basis
without us having to contact them? Last
year, feeling the frustrations of our residents, the Village sent DPW crews
along the tracks to do a major clean-up. We also hired a private company to
perform additional pigeon cleanup around the station and specifically at the
Tulip, Tyson and Carnation Avenue overpasses.
During recent track work we
experienced the LIRR’s total disregard for residents living in the vicinity of
the tracks. Work crews with loud equipment worked all night long. The LIRR
seems to lack a genuine concern for our residents and commuters. This presents
a major concern for us.
We have absolutely no faith
in the LIRR embarking on such a ridiculous mega-project when they can’t or
refuse to address what they have now!
We have an extensive plan
and are asking everyone to volunteer in our
C.A.R.E. (Citizens Against
Rail Expansion) coalition. Neighboring
villages and local communities have teamed with us in opposition. We see only
negative impacts for Floral Park. There are no benefits for us with the
addition of a third track.
Anyone
wishing to receive information from the MTA/LIRR regarding the Environmental
Impact Study can call 718-558-7934 or send a request to Peter Palamaro, Public
Affairs Dept., Jamaica Station #1131, Jamaica, NY 11435. www.mta.info
Mayor
Phil Guarnieri
Citizens
Against
Rail
Expansion
We want
to make a dramatic statement and be heard. Please volunteer to:
· Appear
at the public meetings to make comments and listen to others.
· Picket
the public meetings carrying opposition posters and buttons.
· Join
our Petition Campaign drive and obtain signatures. We will collect and send
copies to all our elected officials.
· Distribute
flyers throughout Floral Park and other locations along the 11.5 mile stretch.
Contact Village Hall at
326-6300
The LIRR
is claiming……
A prediction of 30% to 40%
increased rider ship by 2020.
Yet they lose rider ship with
every fare increase. In fact in March 2005, they cut the number of rush hour
trains to balance the budget.
A need for additional
reverse commute options.
Why then are current
reverse-commuter fares 33% less than westbound fares? And why are the trains
half full?
For safety and convenience
of riders, motorists and pedestrians, they have linked the elevation of five
on-grade crossings with almost 10.5 miles of additional track by establishing 3
phases for the project.
What are they talking about?
There is no reason to link the proposed elevation of the on-grade crossings with
the third track. These elevations can be done independently without connecting
it to the construction of an enormously expensive new third track. Elevation of
the on-grade crossings is probably a good idea…..a third track is definitely
not!
Did you
know………………..
That 5 of the 11 LIRR train
lines run through Floral Park.
That 364 commuter trains
rumble through Floral Park on a daily basis, another 491 each weekend and 30
additional trains each day are either empty, for freight or work related. This
means one train every 4 minutes and during rush hour one train every 2 minutes.
The proposed third track
could add a 33% or more increase in the number of trains and frequency of same.
Many homes in Floral Park
and Bellerose are along the 1.5 mile railroad route and residents may be
displaced and land condemned.
In addition, many
businesses may be displaced and access to them will be severely impacted.
Two existing train stations
are located within Floral Park and will require extensive construction to
accommodate new tracks.
Many residents and business
owners today can recall the events of the last major railroad elevation project
in the early 1960’s. The village was inundated with work crews and equipment
taking over our few parking facilities, disrupting the shoppers, commuters and
businesses but at least Floral Park benefited by having the on-grade tracks on
Tulip Avenue elevated. This project however, provides no discernable benefit to
our Village…..only
a lot of aggravation and hardship.
MORE VILLAGE CONCERNS
The taking of private
property from residents and business owners.
A dramatic change in the
aesthetic character of our Village.
Quality of life
issues…...more noise, vibrations and pollution. The erection of large concrete
retaining walls 30 to 40 feet high.
More off-peak and nighttime
train volume.
Long term effect on our
parking facilities located in the vicinity of the station.
Village assets in harms way
include our two elementary schools, public library, village hall, recreation
center, swimming pool, recycling yard, Atlantic Avenue fire house.
Disruption of emergency
services.
The increased chance of
derailments especially when track is used to haul freight, garbage, hazardous
wastes, chemicals and fuel.
Floral
Park associations and groups that have given their support to opposing the
MTA/LIRR mega-project:
FISH of
Floral Park * Floral Park Chapter AARP * Floral Park Woman’s Club *
OLV School
Board * North End Civic Association * Floral Park Chamber of Commerce *
Community Spirit Fund *
Floral Park Conservation Society * Floral Park-Bellerose Senior Citizens Center
* Citizen Presbyterian Church * Friends of the Floral Park Public Library * West
End Civic Association * Covert Avenue Chamber of Commerce
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C.A.R.E. GROUP MEETS
Leaders from seven communities
opposing the MTA/LIRR Track Expansion met recently at the Floral
Park Village Hall to discuss future activities to oppose the $800
million project. The group thanked New York State Senators
Kemp Hannon, Mike Balboni and Dean Skelos and other public officials
who are assisting them in opposing this project which they deem
"costly, unnecessary, disruptive and a waste of taxpayer money."
The group opposes the additional track from Queens Village to
Hicksville but supports elimination of on grade traffic crossings.
Seen above are (l. to r.)
Bellerose Mayor Donna Sherrer, Bellerose Trustee Ronald DeSouza,
Stewart Manor Mayor Joseph Troiano, Bellerose Trustee Mary
O'Donoghue, New Hyde Park LIRR Task Force member Ed Powers, South
Floral Park Mayor Angel Soto, New Hyde Park Mayor Dan Petruccio, New
Hyde Park Deputy Mayor Bob Lofaro, Floral Park Mayor Phil Guarnieri,
Garden City Trustee Nicholas Episcopia, Floral Park Trustee Tom
Tweedy, Western Garden City Property Owners Association President
John Traxler, Northwest Civic Association of Hicksville Trustee
Gregory Yatzyshyn and Association member Elizabeth Yatzyshyn, Garden
City Village Clerk Brian Ridgway, and Floral Park Village
Administrator Virginia Appel. Attending, but not pictured,
were members of Citizens Against Rail Expansion (CARE) Dennis
McEnery and William J. Corbett, both of Floral Park.
Other community leaders from
Mineola, Westbury and Carle Place have announced their opposition to
this $800 million project.
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