Congressman Crowley, Councilman Dromm Call on LIRR to Reopen Elmhurst Station

(Queens, N.Y.) – Today, Rep. Joe Crowley (D-Queens, the Bronx) and Council Member Daniel Dromm (D-Queens) called on the MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) to reopen the Elmhurst Station, a move that will help to further revitalize Elmhurst and the surrounding area. The station, which was closed in 1985, is located on Broadway between Cornish and Whitney Avenues.

“Reopening the Elmhurst Station will go a long way toward revitalizing the Elmhurst community and growing Queens’ economy,” said Rep. Crowley. “This is more than an investment in improving residents’ commutes; it’s about making Elmhurst a destination for all New Yorkers and visitors. Councilman Dromm and I are joining forces in calling on the LIRR to join us in making this idea a reality. The truth is Elmhurst residents already endure the noise and inconvenience of a train running through their neighborhood, why shouldn’t they enjoy the benefits of it becoming an integral part of the neighborhood?”

“Restoring service to Elmhurst on the Long Island Railroad is vitally important for the development of Elmhurst and the surrounding areas here in Queens” said Council Member Dromm. “By linking its residents to Manhattan, we are effectively spurring the job creation and economic growth necessary for communities like Elmhurst to flourish. The reopening of this station is something that will be a boon to all New Yorkers as it would burst opens the doors to one of the world’s most diverse and vibrant neighborhoods.”

The Elmhurst Station, which sits on the Port Washington Branch commuter rail line, helped the communities of Elmhurst and East Elmhurst grow and thrive by opening up residents’ access to Midtown Manhattan. The station was closed due to a reported decrease in ridership following significant changes to train schedules that made the station unattractive to commuters. Since the station’s closure, Elmhurst’s growing population has suffered from a lack of efficient public transit into Manhattan. Reopening the Elmhurst Station will increase residents’ access to Midtown, help create jobs in the community, and provide an economic boost to the many small businesses in the area.

“According to the 2010 Census, Elmhurst and East Elmhurst are home to one of the most diverse populations in the country, a trend that will likely continue in the near future. As the elected representatives of these communities, we want to build on these advancements and ensure the economic potential of this vibrant neighborhood is met,” write Crowley and Dromm in the letter.

“The Elmhurst and Newtown community are eager to see the restoration of the Elmhurst LIRR station. Doing so will increase transit options for residents and help spur economic and residential development. We strongly support Congressman Crowley and Councilman Dromm’s efforts and the Newtown Civic Association looks forward to working with their offices and the LIRR to make this vision a reality,” said Robert Valdes Clausell, Director and Treasurer of the Newtown Civic Association.

The full text of the letter to Helena Williams, President, Long Island Rail Road is below:  

January 24, 2012

Helena E. Williams

President

Long Island Rail Road

Jamaica Station Building 

93-02 Sutphin Boulevard

Jamaica, NY 11435

Dear President Williams:

Recently, New York City has embarked on an effort to increase access to the City’s core. Major projects, such as East Side Access and the proposed 7 Line Subway extension, will not only ensure greater access throughout the city for residents, but will also generate economic growth and create jobs at a time when our city desperately needs it. In keeping with these efforts, we strongly support the reopening of the Elmhurst Station on the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) and would like to meet with you to discuss how our offices can work together to achieve this goal.

The history of Elmhurst is closely related to the neighborhood’s access to Midtown Manhattan. For example, between 1898 and 1985 the Elmhurst Station fueled the area’s growth, in large part because residents were able to reach Midtown in a matter of minutes. Unfortunately, when LIRR terminated service in the early 1980s and eventually closed the station in 1985 Elmhurst’s development was severely undermined.

Despite the challenges created by the lack of adequate transit services to Midtown, Elmhurst has recently begun to reclaim its position as one of Queen’s most dynamic communities. According to the 2010 Census, Elmhurst and East Elmhurst are home to one of the most diverse populations in the country, a trend that will likely continue in the near future. As the elected representatives of these communities, we want to build on these advancements and ensure the economic potential of this vibrant neighborhood is met. Part of this effort must include providing residents with better access to Midtown and, as a result, the reopening of the Elmhurst Station.

The benefits of this project, however, go far beyond Elmhurst. The Queens Center Mall in Elmhurst has become the city’s largest shopping destination, and most importantly, an engine of private job creation in the City. Increasing access to Elmhurst and the Queens Center Mall will benefit this vital commercial center, while giving New Yorkers access to new employment opportunities. Also, visitors from across the region would be able to visit hundreds of small businesses in the community. 

The potential to provide an economic boost to the neighborhood and the City is simply too obvious and too important to pass up. At a time when funding for important transportation projects throughout the region is far scarcer than the demand, this project can be completed at a fraction of the cost of competing projects, which makes reopening Elmhurst Station an ideal candidate for consideration. Additionally, the increased capacity created by East Side Access will ease previous concerns that over congestion would occur at Penn Station by reopening this station.

We look forward to working with LIRR to develop a plan to make this vital project a reality.

Sincerely,

Joseph Crowley                                                                                                    

Member of Congress

Daniel Dromm

New York City Council Member