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Friday, May 5, 2017
Vol. 66, No. 18
MOTHER’S DAY GIFT & DINING GUIDE
GARDEN GETS GREENHOUSE
MARAGOS EXPLAINS COUNTY NUMBERS
PAGES 37-44
PAGE 2
PAGE 6
MTA clears way for third track project Approves environmental report with promises to mitigate adverse effects BY N O A H M A N S K A R The Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Board of Directors voted last Wednesday to accept the results of the environmental study of the Long Island Rail Road’s third track project. The vote ended a yearlong effort to evaluate the impact of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s plan for a third track along the LIRR’s Main Line from Floral Park to Hicksville. The railroad’s ďŹ nal environmental study, released April 12, conďŹ rmed that the project would have a minimal impact and promises measures to mitigate noise, traďŹƒc and quality-of-life eects. “The success of our region depends upon modern, up-to-date transportation systems and this visionary project imagined and shepherded by Gov. Cuomo represents the LIRR’s transformation from a 19th-century rail system to a 21st-century one,â€? Veronique Hakim, the MTA’s interim director,
said in a statement. “I’m grateful to the Board for its support, again, in advancing this proposal.â€? The MTA board’s vote was one of the ďŹ nal hurdles for the $2 billion project, which has faced hot local opposition. It must still be added to the MTA’s 2015-2019 capital plan to get funding. That will require approval from the state’s Capital Program Review Board, composed of one member of the state Senate, one member of the state Assembly and a member from Cuomo’s oďŹƒce. Planners are expected to award a bid this summer to one of four groups of ďŹ rms that will both design and build the project. The project, ďŹ rst proposed in January 2016, would eliminate seven street-level railroad crossings along the corridor, build sound-deecting walls and add parking spaces in addition to installing the third track. Continued on Page 61
PHOTO COURTESY OF BILL GRESTALFI
Taking the oath Capt. Victor Amestegui was sworn in as a Mineola Junior Fire Department officer by village Mayor Scott Strauss. More than 200 guests attended the department’s recent annual installation of officers dinner. See story on page 26.
Mineola boosts effort to build veteran’s new home BY N O A H MANSKAR Cpl. Christopher Levi’s new house will be built in Melville, but Mineola is helping to raise the walls.
Tony Lubrano, the Mineola Chamber of Commerce president, and his philanthropy group, Warriors for a Cause, have rallied their connections in the construction industry to help the Stephen Siller Tunnel
to Towers Foundation build a “smart home� for Levi, who lost both his legs serving with the Army in Iraq. By the end of an event last Wednesday at Piccola Bussola, Continued on Page 75
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