The LIRR Expansion project involves adding a third track on the 15.7km section from Floral Park to Hicksville, which is used by services from New York to Port Jefferson, Oyster Bay, Ronkonkoma, and Montauk.

This stretch of line is used by around 40% of LIRR passengers, but capacity is severely constrained at peak times, when both tracks are used to operate trains either into or out of the city, limiting the potential for journeys within Long Island. The addition of a third track will enable bidirectional peak operation and reduce the risk of delays spreading across the network when failures occur. It will also eliminate seven level crossings on the project section.

New York Governor Mr Andrew Cuomo says the FEIS confirms that the expansion project will improve LIRR service, reliability and safety, for both residents and commuters on Long Island.

Officials say the study’s findings demonstrate that the LIRR expansion project will improve service and reduce delays for passengers throughout the network by adding a third track to the bottlenecked, double-track section of the main line in Nassau County.