Atlantic Avenue LIRR crossing to get safety upgrades

Nearly $2 million in federal funding could be coming to the New York State Department of Transportation. The money would be used for the installation of CCTV cameras at 43 railroad crossings across the Long Island Railroad and Metro-North territories, including the Atlantic Avenue crossing in Oceanside.

The cameras’ intended use would be to investigate crossing incidents, should they occur, and to target railroad operations for potential modifications and upgrades. They are part of a larger $5.2 million grant awarded to the state in September by the Federal Railroad Administration to improve safety.

In a March 10 news release, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer urged the FRA to follow through with the promised funds and to clear the final procedural hurdles required to hand the money over to the NYSDOT. “The FRA must quickly clear the tracks,” he wrote, “and release $5 million in life-saving funding for grade crossing and safety upgrades on and across New York State.”