MTA, Suffolk close deal to transform part of Lawrence Aviation site into rail yard
Alfonso A. Castillo, newsday.com
"Today, we deliver on that commitment by securing this property and ensuring that the Port Jefferson community has this beloved greenway permanently preserved while also allowing the MTA to plan for long-term upgrades to LIRR service for tens of thousands of riders," Hochul said in a statement.
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A rail yard has long been seen as a necessary component to improving service on the Port Jefferson line — one of the railroad’s busiest branches, but also one hamstrung by operating on a single, unelectrified track. Port Jefferson commuters rely on diesel trains, which are fewer in number and less reliable than the LIRR’s electric fleet, and typically have to transfer trains to complete trips to and from New York City.