MTA announces opening of three new elevators at LIRR Floral Park Station

The Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) Floral Park Station has three new elevators, one for each platform, that provides access from the street level to the platform level, making the station fully accessible to all in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.  

The enhancements are part of the LIRR Expansion Project, which will introduce 10 miles of new track between Floral Park and Hicksville.  

These improvements were developed based on community feedback received as part of a comprehensive environmental review and public involvement process for the LIRR Expansion Project in 2017.  

In all, when the LIRR Expansion Project is completed, eight railroad grade crossings will have been eliminated, seven bridges replaced or expanded, five stations completely rebuilt, 10 miles of a third track installed and infrastructure such as power substations and interlockings built.  

The three new elevators at the Floral Park station cost $10 million, which the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) says is comparatively less expensive than similar projects in the subway system–where utilities and stairs must be moved and, in some cases, entire mezzanines must be expanded and reconfigured. This value was achieved by following the design-build project delivery system, where projects are bundled to improve efficiency and reduce costs.   

“This project continues to be a model for how the MTA can deliver infrastructure projects better, faster and cheaper,” said Janno Lieber, president of MTA Construction & Development. “We’re especially proud of the enhancements being made despite the COVID pandemic, which shows the MTA’s continued dedication to accessibility.”   

Over the past 17 months the authority has completed 12 accessibility projects since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, spanning across four boroughs of New York City. Most recently, the MTA has completed accessibility projects at the 57 St station on the N, Q, R, W lines in Midtown Manhattan, the Gun Hill Rd station in the Bronx and to the Manhattan side of the Court Sq-23 St station in Queens.  

“Providing safe, reliable and equitable service for all is paramount. I’m proud of how the LIRR workforce has continued to work side by side with 3TC throughout this pandemic delivering on our commitment to make Floral Park Station accessible with these new elevators,” said Phil Eng, LIRR president. “Our customers and the communities that we serve deserve a world class system and this brings us one step closer. The LIRR Expansion Project has already completed major infrastructure improvements that has resulted in better service for our riders and we’re excited for all that’s still to come."  

In December 2020, the MTA announced a major accessibility project that will include eight stations throughout the five boroughs and will result in 17 new elevators as the Authority remains committed to increasing its number of fully ADA-compliant stations.