Upgrades are Part of a Nine-Station Upgrade Package
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Road today announced that it has made the Long Island Rail Road’s Amityville and Lindenhurst Stations accessible to all in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Crews have completed building, testing and activating elevators connecting from the street to both stations, which are elevated some 200 feet above street level.
The MTA has made three stations on the Babylon Branch fully ADA accessible since May, when it completed similar upgrades at Copaigue.
“As the Long Island Rail Road continues to reach post-pandemic ridership records, it is especially important that everybody is able to use this amazing system,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. “We need this system to be accessible for parents with strollers and people with mobility issues. And I am proud that the LIRR is now 90 plus percent accessible, 113 stations out of 126 stations, thanks to MTA Construction & Development and the project team who continue to deliver projects on time and under budget.”
“C&D is taking lessons learned from subway accessibility contracting and applying them to the railroads with great success,” said MTA Construction & Development President Jamie Torres-Springer. “Innovative procurement methods like bundling and design-build allow the MTA to delivering projects better, faster, and cheaper.”
“The goal of the LIRR is to provide fast, safe and reliable service every day to work, school and local entertainment,” said LIRR President Rob Free. “Providing the best customer experience is only possible if everyone can access the railroad and the elevators here, in Copiague and Amityville help to make that possible.”
“Transforming the LIRR, especially the fully elevated Babylon Branch, into one that’s accessible for all remains a top priority for all of us in MTA leadership,” said MTA Chief Accessibility Officer Quemuel Arroyo. “Opening the third elevator this year is a major step forward for access for Long Islanders and brings us a step closer to achieving an accessible system.”
The LIRR received $17.9 million in federal formula funds which includes money from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to do the work at Lindenhurst station, part of a nine station, $169 million, design-build stations upgrade package. Massapequa Park, St. Albans, Laurelton, Locust Manor, Valley Stream (escalator replacement & elevator replacement) and Auburndale (elevator replacement) stations will also be made ADA compliant. Copiague Station was made fully accessible on May 16, 2024, and Amityville Station was made fully accessible with the help of $15.4 million in federal formula funds on June 10, 2024. In addition to the new elevator and sidewalk, upgrades include new ADA parking, electrical and mechanical improvements, replacement of platform tactile strips, communication and safety security systems, wayfinding and ADA signage, LED lighting, and Help Points.
On weekdays, 51 westbound and 50 eastbound trains stop at Lindenhurst. On weekends the station sees 42 westbound trains and 41 heading east. Copiague is part of the Babylon Branch and also serves customers with connections to Montauk service at Babylon and transfer to NICE buses at Freeport to get to Jones Beach.
Part of the Babylon Branch, Lindenhurst customers can make connections to Montauk service at Babylon and transfer to NICE buses at Freeport to get to Jones Beach.