Claim Community Is Underserved
Rep. Joe Crowley and City Council Member Daniel Dromm called on the MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) on Tuesday, Jan. 24 to reopen the Elmhurst station, which was closed in 1985.
The station is located on Broadway between Cornish and Whitney avenuesm, and sits on the Port Washington Branch commuter rail line. The station was closed due to a reported decrease in ridership following significant changes to train schedules that made the station unattractive to commuters.
“Reopening the Elmhurst Station will go a long way toward revitalizing the Elmhurst community and growing Queens’ economy,” said Crowley in a statement. “This is more than an investment in improving residents’ commutes; it’s about making Elmhurst a destination for all New Yorkers and visitors.”
“The truth is Elmhurst residents already endure the noise and inconvenience of a train running through their neighborhood,” he added, “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” added 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 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,” said Robert Valdes Clausell, Director and Treasurer of the Newtown Civic Association.
