Residents mixed on LIRR third rail proposal

Long Island residents are mixed about Gov. Andrew Cuomo's plan to build a third set of tracks along the LIRR's main line. The third track would run between Floral Park and Hicksville, and estimates

News 12 Staff

Mar 8, 2016, 3:39 AM

Updated 3,106 days ago

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Long Island residents are mixed about Gov. Andrew Cuomo's plan to build a third set of tracks along the LIRR's main line.
The third track would run between Floral Park and Hicksville, and estimates suggest it would take about five years to build. To sweeten the proposal, the governor said he would try to get federal funding to eliminate seven grade crossings he says are extremely dangerous.
"Personally, I want to do it before I am on another accident site," he said.
Thousands of residents living along the main line are against the project, but commuters have also said that any inconveniences are for the greater good.
"There are so many people who live on Long Island and you have to think of suburban crawl," said Deborah D'Orazi, of Manhasset.
Floral Park residents who live near the proposed building site, like Bill Corbett Sr., say they believe the third rail is not the answer to improving transportation.
"It will put a lot of small businesses out of work. It's going to delay transportation in the area," said Corbett Sr.