OP-ED: The case for reopening the Old Woodhaven Queens LIRR Station
Why not reopen the still intact underground Woodhaven, Queens Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) Station that was closed in 1976? When looking out the window traveling between the Jamaica, Queens and East New York LIRR stations, you can catch a quick view of the old station platform.This station is located on the LIRR Atlantic Branch, which runs from Jamaica to Flatbush Avenue in downtown Brooklyn, N.Y. It would require a minimum amount of work to restore this station. Scope of work would probably have to include repairs to old entrances, stairs, lighting and platform along with signal modifications. Adding elevators to bring it into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act for resumption of service might be the most expensive project component.
Based upon the latest recovery schedule for the $11.2 billion MTA LIRR East Side Access to Grand Central Terminal project, service is promised to begin by the end of December 2022. Once underway, this new LIRR service to Grand Central Terminal will be able to reach the east side of midtown Manhattan within 20 minutes. There are also transfer opportunities to either the E,J and Z subway and numerous bus lines serving various Queens neighborhoods at Jamaica Station.
The MTA previously budgeted $40 million for rebuilding the old Elmhurst LIRR Station on the Port Washington branch. This station closed in January 1985. This proposed project has to recreate a station from scratch as the original elevated platform and stairs were torn down. Since most of the original underground Woodhaven LIRR station still exists, sitting unused for decades, the cost would be less.
Reopening abandoned stations, especially those whose physical structures are still in tact, on existing LIRR branches to serve communities which continue to grow, makes for a great long term investment.
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Larry Penner
Larry Penner is a transportation advocate, historian and writer who previously served as a former director for the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 New York Office of Operations and Program Management. This included the development, review, approval and oversight for billions in capital projects and programs for New Jersey Transit, New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority, NYC Transit bus, subway and Staten Island Railway, Long Island and Metro North railroads, MTA Bus, NYCDOT Staten Island Ferry along with 30 other transit agencies in New York and New Jersey.