Long Island lawmakers are demanding details of the proposed Long Island Rail Road third-rail expansion.

"It's time for the secrecy to end," says Assemblyman Tom McKevitt (R-East Meadow).McKevitt, Assemblyman Tom Alfano (R-Franklin Square) and Assemblyman Rob Walker (R-Hicksville) are setting up a task force to deal with the issue. The politicians say they will start holding public hearings on the railroad plans by spring.

The Metropolitan Transit Authority has already submitted a draft of the expansion plans to the federal government. LIRR officials say they are prohibited by law from taking those initial proposals public.

LIRR officials say the plans will eventually be subject to public hearings. They admit some homeowners and businesses will lose property as a result of the expansion.

"These are sacrifices that need to be made in the Main Line corridor, but we're trying very hard to reduce the number of properties that are impacted," says LIRR spokesman Joe Calderone.

Related information: LIRR says study justifies need for Third Track project