View Photos of President Lieber Thanking Essential Workers at Elmont Station
MTA Construction & Development President Janno Lieber joined labor leaders and contractor representatives today at the forthcoming LIRR Elmont station in Long Island to thank essential workers for their hard work in moving the project forward despite the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Workers were presented with “Essential and Proud” t-shirts and helmet decals by Lieber and the following Long Island labor leaders and contractor representatives: Matthew Aracich, President of Building & Construction Trades Council of Nassau/Suffolk Counties; Anthony Simon, General Chairman of SMART; Sheryl Buro Deputy Executive Director/CFO of the Long Island Contractors Association; John R. Durso, President or Local 338 and President Long Island Federation of Labor; Bill Murray, American Council of Engineering Companies New York.
“At the outset of the pandemic, when the whole world was switching to remote work, Governor Cuomo designated public transit construction as essential, and what could be more essential to New York’s ability to function – in good times and bad – than public transit,” President Lieber said. “But what was amazing was that we knew from the get-go that the workforce wanted to work – and not just for the paycheck. I have spent 14 years on the rebuilding of the World Trade Center, so I know our unionized building trades workers love to rise to the occasion in emergencies. It’s in their DNA.”
“Throughout the pandemic, the workforce has stepped up in a big way to continue working safely on projects in support of improving train service for the public,” said Anthony Simon, General Chairman, SMART Union. “I want to thank the entire workforce for their continuing diligence and commitment to building and supporting these great projects.”
Throughout the pandemic essential workers kept projects like the Elmont station on schedule and completed work safely, as New York adjusted to the new normal.
The new Elmont Station will be the first full-time LIRR station built in nearly 50 years and provide direct service to Belmont Park and the new home of the New York Islanders, the UBS Arena. Long Islanders who live east of Belmont on the Hempstead, Oyster Bay, Port Jefferson and Ronkonkoma branches will now have a one-seat ride straight to Belmont Park. This will reduce travel times and is expected to increase the number of event attendees who use public transportation rather than driving, helping alleviate congestion on Long Island.
The station is expected to receive service approximately every half hour during peak times and hourly during off-peak periods. The parking lot north of the Belmont race track, which has 2,860 spaces, will be shared by commuters and arena patrons.
Learn more about the Elmont Station here: https://www.amodernli.com/project/elmont-station/.