LIRR unveils Flushing-Main Street station with $24.6M renovation

The Long Island Rail Road on Thursday unveiled its latest renovated train station.

LIRR president Phillip Eng gathered with elected officials and community leaders in Queens for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the railroad’s Flushing-Main Street station, which just underwent a $24.6 million overhaul.

The improvements to the Port Washington Branch station, used by 2,200 customers daily, include two new elevators, a new ticket office and new pedestrian walkways and plazas connecting directly to busy Main Street.

“It’s more convenient. ... It looks much better,” said Joe Lo, 60, of Bayside, who uses the station frequently and described its former condition as “a little messy.”

“Now it’s a lot more neat and cleaner,” Lo said.

Eng called the project an early step in a $6 billion effort to upgrade the LIRR system through 100 different infrastructure projects.

“It’s a historic day for Flushing, a historic day for Queens, and ... just the beginning,” Eng said. “We’re moving full steam ahead with our modernization efforts. And we want everyone to know there’s a lot more to come.”

Two other projects aiming to improve LIRR service are on tap for this weekend, and will cause service disruptions for some customers.

LIRR crews will begin work this weekend to replace the Gibson station pedestrian overpass, which railroad officials said is “primarily supported by wood and is nearing the end of its useful life.” During the overpass removal, buses will replace trains between Valley Stream and Far Rockaway on Saturday.

Train service will be suspended again there on Nov. 3, when the new structure is scheduled to be installed.

Also Saturday and Sunday, buses will replace trains between Great Neck and Port Washington as the LIRR conducts rail safety tests in the area.

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.