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3/1/2021
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (MTA) Long Island Rail Road Expansion Project is closing the Main Street grade crossing in Mineola, New York, the eighth and final crossing to be permanently eliminated as part of the project.
The crossings had created nuisances to nearby residents with the sounding of train horns and crossing bells, and to motorists who had to experience traffic backups with the closure of crossing gates, according to a press release issued last week by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office.
The crossings posed safety risks to motorists, pedestrians and train occupants because the crossings were in the busiest segment of the LIRR for both train and vehicular traffic.
The expansion project also includes the renewal of stations, raising of bridges and upgrading of switches and infrastructure.
Crews will also add a third track to the LIRR mainline to reduce congestion, expand the railroad's capacity by up to 50 percent in concert with service to Grand Central Terminal and promote reverse-commuting to Long Island from New York City.