The Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) opened the newly renovated New Hyde Park Station, another step towards the completion of the $2.5 billion Third Track Project.
“The LIRR Third Track Project is a premier example of the MTA’s new approach to delivering capital projects, with enhanced oversight and simplified design-build contracting that results in crews completing projects on time and, in this case, under budget,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. “The Third Track Project team worked closely with the community and was able to upgrade the station, eliminate three dangerous and delay-causing adjacent railroad crossings, and create public space for everyone to enjoy.”
Three ramps and a pedestrian overpass were constructed at New Hyde Park Road, two ramps to each platform at the South 12th Street underpass and seven new ADA parking spaces. Additionally, crews built an accessible pedestrian overpass over New Hyde Park Road to connect the station with commuters from Garden City.
“The MTA continues to make progress ensuring accessibility for all customers and the renovated New Hyde Park station is another example of that,” said Quemuel Arroyo, MTA Chief Accessibility Officer. “New and returning customers will find a more accessible and inclusive station."
Making the entire LIRR system accessible to all in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a priority and the new station doubles the number of ramps from two to four, creates two access points between platforms and two sidewalks.
“For the New Hyde Park community and our riders, this is a major milestone, with larger and more comfortable platforms, improved security and a more seamless integration with the surrounding community adding up to a massively upgraded station,” said MTA Construction and Development President Jamie Torres-Springer. “For Long Island as a whole, it’s the latest step toward the tremendous service enhancements that Third Track will enable, supporting mobility and vitality throughout the region.”
“One of the main ideas of the Third Track Project was to create a better customer experience for LIRR riders and this new station is another part of it,” said Catherine Rinaldi, interim president LIRR and president of Metro-North Railroad. “Riders will be greeted by larger platforms, comfortable shelters and more room to move. It will be the perfect greeting to everyone who passes through it daily on their way to work, school and all of their other activities. All of this translates into a better customer experience for all.”
Additional station improvements developed through input and support received from the local community include:
- A new ADA accessible pedestrian underpass at S. 12th Street.
- Platform replacement and expansion to accommodate 12-car trains.
- New platform canopies; new platform furnishings and accoutrements including benches, shelters and signage.
- CCTV security cameras to improve safety.
- Wi-Fi and USB charging stations.
- Digital information displays.
In addition to the upgrading and renewal of station elements, three railroad crossings near the station were eliminated at New Hyde Park Road, South 12th Street and Covert Avenue. Before the elimination of these grade crossings, gates were in the down position 32 to 42 percent of the time during morning and evening peak periods, respectively, leading to traffic jams and adverse effects on the environment from idling vehicles. These are three of the eight that have been eliminated overall as part of the Third Track Project, and the need to eliminate these grade crossings was further illustrated by six fatal collisions at grade crossing locations in the LIRR Main Line corridor between 2007 to 2017.
Approximately $247 million was spent to upgrade the station and the surrounding area. The renovated station building features new bike racks and a plaza with green space at Third Avenue east of Baer Place.
Native New Yorker Sandy Litchfield was commissioned by MTA Arts & Design and LIRR to create artwork in laminated glass for three of the station’s new platform shelters. ‘Forestation Syncopation’ unveils the ways natural and built environments interact, as seen from the train journey passing through New Hyde Park and the surrounding area.
