The Coalition for the LIRR Third Track, a group of fourteen environmental, business, planning, transit and community groups, announced its formation late last month. The alliance will work over the next year to ensure that the Long Island Rail Road’s Main Line Corridor Improvement Project, an effort to construct another track on the LIRR Main Line from Bellerose to Hicksville and improve roadway crossings of the train line, is included in the MTA’s 2005-2009 capital program.

"Long Island will only keep itself moving amid population and economic growth if it develops a more robust transit system. A third track, along with the connection to Grand Central, is vital," Tri-State Campaign executive director Jon Orcutt told Newsday.

A preliminary draft of the MTA capital program may be released this summer.

The third track project will provide:

More frequent service on the LIRR Main, Oyster Bay, and Port Jefferson branches, which will allow Long Island to take better advantage of the new Grand Central connection starting in 2012.

Better service for reverse commuters from NYC to serve Long Island’s expanding job market.

Increased redundancy, or more options to bypass train breakdowns, accidents and other problems.

More rail freight train usage of the LIRR network, which means less truck traffic through Long Island neighborhoods.

Less congestion on roadways as better service attracts riders who now drive to work.

Improved roadway crossings of railroad tracks and smoother traffic flow on local road networks.

Reporting on the coalition’s formation, the local Floral Park Dispatch said some residents and elected officials are concerned about the project’s possible noise and other quality of life impacts.