The Yaphank Train Station is being moved across William Floyd Parkway to make it more accessible to the public. Local officials turned out at the Shirley location to break ground for the new facility.
The new station will connect to a nearby industrial park and be convenient to the residents of the former Parr Meadows property and the Brookhaven National Laboratory. It also adds a convenient connection to the main line for people of the Mastic-Shirley area to the south and the north shore communities.
“The idea I had as town councilman, which former Supervisor and current Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine championed for over a decade while continually driving past an empty Yaphank train station, is finally coming to fruition,” said Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico.
“Now, this new station in our bustling industrial park on the east side of William Floyd Parkway should be complete by this time next year,” the Supervisor continued. “In pools of mud that destroyed everyone’s shoes, Legislator Jim Mazzarella and I joined many others at this ceremonial groundbreaking to announce the beginnings of this new station.”
“It’s good to see the MTA address the needs of our local communities,” said Assemblyman Joe DeStefano of the Long Island Rail Road’s parent agency. “The current station was hardly used and now the railroad will be able to benefit from additional riders.”
The new station, located near the Suffolk Police 7th Precinct, will relieve commuter pressure on the Mastic-Shirley Station, which recently saw the construction of new waiting areas. The current location, adjoining the county offices on Yaphank Avenue, saw little use by Suffolk employees who normally drive to work.