Wantagh station renovation begins

“This time, it’s Wantagh’s turn,” Long Island Rail Road President Patrick Nowakowski said last week, as construction was about to get under way on the Wantagh train station. Officials gathered for a groundbreaking ceremony last Thursday at the former Triangle Park to signal the beginning of a project that has been years in the making.

The park, on the south side of the station, once housed a gazebo, benches and the community’s Christmas tree, but has since been reduced to flattened dirt, as it will serve as the construction staging area for the next 21 months. The $23.9 million project will include the replacement of the entire concrete platform; new canopies, lighting and escalators; the installation of an elevator; an upgraded public address system and an art project.

“This is an exciting time,” Nowakowski said. “It’s a lot of improvements that will come to this station.”

For the nearly 6,000 commuters who use the station on a daily basis, he added, “We promise them, at the end of the day, they will have a much better facility.”

The east end of the platform was to be closed beginning Monday. Commuters will have to use the west end in the meantime, so those returning from Penn Station will have to make sure to sit in the rear cars to exit at Wantagh. Nowakowski said that when renovations there are complete, the other half will be closed.

He explained that this is part of a years-long commitment to upgrade stations along the Babylon Branch. With the exception of the ground-level waiting room and ticket office, Wantagh has not had a major renovation since the tracks were elevated in 1968.

State Sen. Michael Venditto, whose district includes Babylon Branch stations from Freeport to West Babylon, said this project is part of the state’s commitment to ensure that Long Island is getting money for critical infrastructure projects. The renovation is being funded by a combination of funds from the state, county and Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

Assemblyman David McDonough said that he understands the project will cause some inconvenience for commuters, but he is confident that people have been properly notified. He noted that the LIRR will continue to run the same number of trains to and from Wantagh.

County Legislator Steve Rhoads added that when this is all done, it will improve the quality of life for commuters and all who live and work in Wantagh. Chamber of Commerce President Chris Brown said that he has been in regular contact with officials to ensure that parking won’t be disrupted for the businesses surrounding the station.

The creation of a construction staging area did mean the loss of nearly 20 spots beneath the trestle. Brown said that he has been assured that Triangle Park, now surrounded by fencing covered in green dust screens, will be restored to its original condition when the project is done, including a new gazebo. The annual holiday lighting ceremony, he added, will be moved for two years to the Wantagh Museum grounds, which houses the building that was the community’s first train station.

The American and POW flags that flew at Triangle Park were presented to American Legion Commander Ken Kelly and past Commander John Menechino last week. Post 1273 will keep the flags for the duration of the construction.

The project is expected to create about 100 construction jobs. Fortunato Sons Contracting, which most recently renovated the Massapequa train station, was selected as the primary contractor. Barney Fortunato made a promise to the audience last week: the project will come in on time and under budget.