In Elmont, LIRR opens first new station in nearly a half-century
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The first new Long Island Rail Road station to be built in nearly a half-century opened in Elmont on Tuesday, in time to transport thousands of hockey fans to the Islanders' home opener at the nearby UBS Arena this Saturday.
But it will take a while before fans leaving the arena can head west on a train — and even longer before commuters can use the station to get to work every day.
MTA officials, elected leaders and other project supporters arrived at the new Elmont station on Tuesday morning to mark the official opening of the new $105 million train stop after having taken the 10-minute train ride from Jamaica.
"This is the first new Long Island Rail Road station in quite some time. It's the embodiment of the region's profound awareness that public transportation is the future," Metropolitan Transportation Authority acting chairman and Chief Executive Officer Janno Lieber said upon arriving at the station, which began construction in May 2020, in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"This was a commitment made to have this done in time for what we all call the 'puck drop.' Everybody was not certain that this was going to get done. But here we are," Lieber added.
Gov. Kathy Hochul, in a statement, called the new station "the type of project that my administration will continue to pursue as we strive to make Long Island more accessible and give Long Islanders the quality public transportation they deserve."
LIRR trains will begin stopping at the new station on Saturday afternoon, and will operate before and after all events at the UBS Arena, which is about three-quarters of a mile south. Free shuttle buses will take eventgoers from the train station to the arena's doors.
Although now technically open, the Elmont station remains far from complete. Only an eastbound platform — long enough for eight train cars — has been built. LIRR officials don't expect to be able to operate westbound trains from the station until next summer.
Although the project plans — negotiated with Elmont residents and their representatives — call for a full-time station, project officials don't expect to be able to operate regular, round-the-clock service at the station until after the completion of the LIRR's Third Track project. That will provide the needed extra capacity on the railroad's Main Line.
That project is not scheduled to be finished until the end of 2022. It could be delayed because of an ongoing legal battle with the Village of Garden City, which has raised several concerns about the impact from the project's construction.
Regardless, Assemb. Michaelle Solages, a lifelong community resident, called Tuesday "a new day for Elmont."
"It's just exciting to be able to turn around and look at a Long Island Rail Road station with our community's name on it," Solages said. "The person who dropped me off [at the station] said, 'Wow, my property values are going to increase.' This community has been excited and waiting for economic opportunity."
Islanders co-owner John Ledecky called the opening of the station "another milestone moment" in the development of a new home for the NHL franchise.
"This new station will provide an essential transportation option for hockey and music fans," Ledecky said. "We want fans to take the most sustainable way to come to a game. It's fast. It's efficient. It's effective. It's 30 minutes from Penn Station directly to the station here."
Islanders season ticket holder Patrick Dowd can lay claim to have already taken the train to the arena, having been among a small group of fans invited on Tuesday's ride. He came even though he lives in Bay Shore, nearly 30 miles from the arena.
"Driving's a possibility, but the reality is that the train is probably the best option," said Dowd, who noted the arena is now served by two LIRR stations — the new Elmont station and the 116-year-old Belmont station, which will also be in service during events. "So I have two possibilities. At the Nassau Coliseum years ago, there was no possibility."
Where is the new station located?
Elmont Station is on the LIRR’s Main Line, between Bellerose and Queens Village stations, and just east of the Cross Island Parkway. It will be accessible on the south side from Belmont Park's north parking lot, and from the north from Superior Road in Bellerose Terrace.
When will the station open?
The LIRR has completed construction of the new station’s eastbound platform, and will run eastbound Hempstead branch trains there starting on Saturday, Nov. 20 — the day of the Islanders’ home opener at the new arena. The service will be available immediately before and after all arena events.
How do I get home after an event?
Until the westbound platform is completed in summer 2022, customers heading home in that direction after an event can either take a train from the old Belmont Park station to Jamaica, or ride a free shuttle bus to Queens Village station and transfer to a westbound train there.
How will travelers get from the new LIRR station to the arena and back?
Riders can make the approximately ten-minute walk to the station, or ride one of eight electric shuttle buses that will transport riders between the station and the arena on a loop route.
What will it cost to take the train to and from the new station?
Elmont Station is in fare zone 4, so a one-way, off-peak ticket to or from Penn Station will cost $9.25. A peak, one-way ticket to or from Penn would cost $12.50, but the LIRR is not charging peak prices during the pandemic and has said it will not for the rest of 2021. A monthly commuter pass will be priced at $270.
What branches will have access to the station?
At the outset, the station will be served only by Hempstead branch trains on arena event days. The LIRR eventually could run trains there on other Main Line branches, including Huntington/Port Jefferson and Oyster Bay. LIRR customers from other branches could transfer at Jamaica for connecting service to Elmont.
How often will trains stop at the station?
Initially, the station will only be serviced immediately before and after arena events, but the plan is to eventually introduce full-time service to and from Elmont after the completion of several capacity-expansion projects, including the third track between Floral Park and Hicksville.
How long will it take to get there?
The LIRR expects the Elmont trip to take about 34 minutes from Penn Station, about 11 minutes from Jamaica, about 25 minutes from Hicksville and about 50 minutes from Ronkonkoma.
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