Belmont Park Station reopens with boost from New York Racing Association

After undergoing more than $5 million in infrastructure improvements, MTA Long Island Rail Road's (LIRR) newly renovated Belmont Park Station reopened yesterday.

The New York Racing Association, which will host the Belmont Stakes Triple Crown race tomorrow, provided $1 million to restore the covered bridge that connects the station to the racetrack, LIRR officials said. The railroad covered the remaining costs of the station.

Other renovations include updates to platforms, staircases and lighting. Belmont Park's new platforms now accommodate 10-car trains, which can carry roughly 25 percent more customers than before, LIRR officials said in a press release.

Renewal of the station was completed in five months.

LIRR is anticipating a large turnout for the Belmont Stakes, where thoroughbred American Pharoah will vie to become the first winner of the triple crown since 1978.

"I challenged my team to redesign and rebuild this service in time for the 2015 Belmont Stakes and to assume this year’s Belmont would be another Triple Crown affair," said LIRR President Patrick Nowakowski in a statement. "They did it, reconstructing the entire station and redesigning the post-race operation plan despite a very difficult winter."