MTA: Overdue upgrades at LIRR's Valley Stream station 'down payment' for Long Island

LIRR upgrades estimated at $36 million in Valley Stream are a "down payment" on more planned station improvements on Long Island, the chairman of the MTA said Friday.

But Nassau’s comptroller said multiyear renovation projects, like the one in Valley Stream, are no substitute for regular maintenance efforts at several deteriorating stations throughout the county.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chairman Janno Lieber and other MTA officials on Friday unveiled the results of a three-year-long renovation project at Valley Stream, where 137,000 riders catch their train each month.

The upgrades include a new elevator, escalator and staircase — all replacing older, smaller structures — as well as new sidewalks, improved lighting, and repairs to crumbling concrete structures holding up the elevated station.

"This was an area typical of our entire mass transit system, where the structure had not been looked after in years. We’re fixing it all over the region," Lieber said. "There’s a lot to look forward to. Valley Stream is a down payment on the bigger MTA capital program for Long Island."

The MTA's 2025-29 capital program aims to spend $1.2 billion on LIRR station improvements, which include making at least two more stations accessible for people with disabilities.

Originally built in 1867, then elevated in 1933, the Valley Stream station has long been criticized by locals for its deteriorating conditions, leading elected officials in 2022 to publicly implore the MTA and the state to address their concerns.

"We got a lot of complaints. So I’m grateful to the Long Island Rail Road for listening to those concerns, putting action on it, and delivering such a beautiful train station that’s worthy of this community," Assemb. Michaelle Solages (D-Elmont) said. "There were promises made and there were results delivered."

Among the harshest critics of LIRR station conditions has been Nassau County Comptroller Elaine Phillips, who in October issued a report that found many stations in the county were "egregiously neglected in terms of maintenance." Valley Stream was among the stations receiving the most "poor" ratings from 935 respondents in a survey conducted by Phillips’ office.

On Friday, the comptroller applauded the MTA for a "great capital improvement" at Valley Stream, but questioned, "Where was the maintenance for all these years?"

"It really looks nice ... but let’s not wait to do that day-to-day maintenance," said Phillips, who believes painting of corroded concrete structures and measures to address pigeon droppings throughout the station could have been dealt with long ago. "Regular maintenance could possibly prevent the need for some of the extensiveness of these capital projects."

Lieber said criticisms like those made by Phillips' office "ignore the investments being made" by the MTA throughout the LIRR system, and growing satisfaction ratings from riders.

LIRR President Rob Free noted that several other stations identified by Phillips’ office as needing attention are in line for upgrades, including Long Beach and Floral Park.

"It’s full steam ahead. We’re going to make repairs and beautify these stations and make sure they’re in a state of good repair," Free said.

The LIRR is due to receive about $6 billion in upgrades in the MTA’s latest five-year, $68 billion capital program.

Valley Stream Mayor Edwin Fare, who said he did not know about and was not invited to the MTA’s news conference at which the upgrades were unveiled, said in a statement that he was "happy to see the MTA improving conditions for commuters."

Among those commuters is Vanessa Landi, who was glad to have a working escalator at the station after many months of rushing up the stairs to make her train.

"It was really frustrating. ... I was getting out of breath," said Landi, who appreciates the more spacious stairway and escalator. "It kind of opened up. It looks more clear, fresher."

By Alfonso A. Castillo

alfonso.castillo@newsday.com@alfonsoreports

Alfonso Castillo has been reporting for Newsday since 1999 and covering the transportation beat since 2008. He grew up in the Bronx and Queens and now lives in Valley Stream with his wife and two sons.