The NY State Dept. of Transportation says that the environmental impact statement for a freight rail yard on part of the old Pilgrim State Hospital site in western Suffolk County will begin this summer.

Yards on Long Island capable of handling freight are largely small sidings that do not offer much room for greater rail freight activity. Like New York City, Long Island is extremely truck dependent because of weak rail links across the lower Hudson. But even if better links are forged, or more rail traffic seeks to reach Long Island via the Hudson Line from the north, there is little capacity to process it.

To meet this problem, rail advocates and the state DOT have been analyzing rail freight opportunities on Long Island. The state is turning the Pilgrim site over to other uses. It features good proximity and access to the LIRR Main Line, which freight trains use during off hours, and the Long Island road network, which would distribute and collect goods for long-range rail transport.

An earlier DOT concept study (see MTR #426)found that even if a cross-harbor rail tunnel and LIRR Main Line third track were not built, a rail yard at the Pilgrim site would be a good investment. Clearly, however, these other projects would increase its utility significantly.

Under optimal conditions, by 2020 the terminal would serve large containers coming in via the cross harbor rail freight tunnel and Hell Gate Bridge. The facility would ensure that Long Island businesses and local communities reap the avoided-truck benefits of the cross harbor tunnel. Currently, only 1% of freight tonnage on Long Island is handled by rail.

Last year, the state budget office apparently held up the Pilgrim project’s EIS. NYSDOT’s assurance that the project is proceeding is welcome news.v