Queens, NY - October 30th, 2013 - MTA Long Island Rail Road President Helena E. Williams and Assemblywoman Barbara Clark today unveiled the newly renovated and enhanced Queens Village LIRR Station.
As a part of the project, workers have installed two new heavy duty elevators, one each serving the eastbound and westbound platforms. The new elevators are aesthetically integrated into the historic station building and platforms.
Workers have also repainted the entire station building and added new signage and a new fire alarm system. The platform waiting room has been rehabilitated, and numerous improvements have been made throughout the complex, including replacement of platform railings, a new shelter shed, replacement of platform lighting, bird abatement devices, drainage and erosion control, and security cameras.
“This project is part of the LIRR’s overall strategy to improve access to our stations in Southeast Queens,” Williams said. “The two new elevators will make it much easier for customers to reach the platform level for service East and West, especially those customers with mobility challenges.
“I’d like to thank Assemblywoman Clark for her advocacy and support of this project,” Williams added. “Her office was involved every step of the way and we are grateful for her involvement. The improvements we’ve been able to achieve here are a direct result of New York State’s ongoing commitment to support the MTA Capital Program. Our infrastructure needs continual reinvestment to stay in a state of good repair, and our customers here can attest to how much of an improvement they’ll experience throughout this renewed station.”
Assemblywoman Clark said: “I wish to express my gratitude to Ms. Williams and her administration for finding the means to bring a project that has been the fruit of discussions I have pursued throughout several changes in railroad administration to fruition. I believe that this upgrade will create another mass-transit option for not only those who benefit from the recent amendments to the Americans with Disabilities Act, but also for any individual that may have issues negotiating train platform stairs. This project will expand the vitality of the Queens Village business corridor and benefits of quality service that the LIRR provides to the 1,583 daily commuters that use this station.”
Though Queens Village has been a stop on the LIRR since 1881, the current station building was opened in 1924 in conjunction with a project that elevated this section of track above street level. The current renovations and enhancements were completed for $8.5 million.
The LIRR is also moving forward on a plan to install new elevators at the LIRR’s Flushing station. In addition, the LIRR installed a new elevator at the Rosedale Station in 2008.
Photos of the renewed station, and a historic photo dating to 1924, can be found at the following link. Please use with credit to MTA Long Island Rail Road. http://flic.kr/s/aHsjLCratU
Photo Courtesy of the MTA's official Flickr Page.