Elmont commuters say LIRR station difficult to access
There is no direct bus connection, and parking costs $5 per day. A full-time commuter riding the train five days a week would pay approximately $1,250 per year.
Some residents say the Elmont-UBS Arena train station is nothing more than a costly perk - even though it was touted as a benefit for the community when it was built.
The new station opened in March as the first transit connection for the Elmont community in more than five decades.
But walking to the train station from Hempstead Turnpike takes nearly 30 minutes.
There is no direct bus connection, and parking costs $5 per day. A full-time commuter riding the train five days a week would pay approximately $1,250 per year.
By comparison, Town of Hempstead commuter lots charge $10 per year.
"If a town over is paying what I pay for two days for the whole entire year it’s definitely not fair," says commuter Kastombia Wanamaker, of Elmont.
The train station was part of the deal to build UBS Arena. The goal was to provide Elmont with a much-needed transit link.
The station’s parking lot is owned by UBS Arena. In a statement, UBS Arena President Kim Stone wrote,
“We are pleased to be an integral part of the Elmont community. Bringing the first new LIRR station in over fifty years is an achievement we’re proud of. Access to the commuter lot is dedicated for Elmont residents exclusively and fees go directly to the operation and maintenance of the lot.”
