In Elmont, LIRR opens first new station in nearly a half-century

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."

By Alfonso A. Castillo

alfonso.castillo@newsday.com@alfonsoreports

Alfonso Castillo has been reporting for Newsday since 1999 and covering the transportation beat since 2008. He grew up in the Bronx and Queens and now lives in Valley Stream with his wife and two sons.