Skelos Unveils Designs For New Valley Stream Train Station

Long Island Rail Road (“LIRR”) President James Dermody, Valley Stream Mayor Edward Cahill, Assemblyman Bob Barra (R-Lynbrook) and Hempstead Town Councilman James Darcy (R-Valley Stream) today held a press conference at Valley Stream Village Hall unveiling the proposed designs for Valley Stream’s new train station.

“This is the first time that local residents will have a variety of station design options and the opportunity to select the one that best suits their community,” said Senator Skelos. “This should be an exciting process and I encourage everyone in Valley Stream to get involved.”

“We are working with Senator Skelos and the Village of Valley Stream to make long-needed improvements at the station. We are here today to get the community’s input on the three design options,” said LIRR President James Dermody.

Originally constructed in 1933, the Long Island Rail Road will raze Valley Stream’s existing train station and construct a new, $4.3 million handicapped-accessible facility that is 28% larger than the current station. Working with local officials, Senator Skelos, as the State Senate’s representative on the MTA’s four-person Capital Program Review Board, included funding for the new station within the MTA’s capital construction plan.

In October 2005, Senator Skelos announced the funding for the new station and that the LIRR would be beginning the project’s design phase. At today’s press conference, the LIRR unveiled three proposed designs for the new station, providing the community with an opportunity to select its new station.

“This is an important project for the Village of Valley Stream and local commuters,” said Assemblyman Barra. “The new train station will beautify the community and welcome everyone to Valley Stream. I hope that Village residents take the opportunity to review the designs and provide their thoughts and suggestions about the new station.”

“On behalf of the residents of our Village and the thousands of daily commuters who use our station, I thank Senator Skelos for his outstanding leadership in bringing a new Valley Stream train station to fruition,” said Mayor Edward Cahill. “The efforts of Councilman Darcy and Assemblyman Barra have been vital to this project and I look forward to continuing this beneficial collaboration for Valley Stream. I encourage all Valley Streamers to review the plan designs and cast their votes for this exciting new addition to our community.”

“I commend Senator Skelos for his efforts in securing the funds necessary to rehabilitate our Village’s train station,” said Hempstead Town Councilman James Darcy. “I look forward to the completion of this project for which Mayor Cahill, Senator Skelos and I have worked so long and hard.”

Valley Stream residents can view the designs at Village Hall and voice their preference on available comment cards. In addition, residents can access the designs on Senator Skelos’ website www.senatordeanskelos.org and vote online. The public comment period will conclude on Friday, September 29^th and the winning design will be announced in early October.

The three designs each include a variety of interior and exterior amenities. The new brick station will feature a ticket office, waiting room (with seating), public restrooms, equipment rooms, pay telephones and public address/passenger information display systems. In addition, the project will renovate the station’s elevated platform and the platform waiting room and beautify the surrounding area with brick pavers, trash receptacles, lighting and bicycle racks.

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