This NYT editorial endorses the effort of a Long Island town supervisor to transform the Ronkonkoma LIRR station, one of the busiest stations on the nation's busiest commuter line from a sea of parking into a vibrant TOD with a convention center.
Brookhaven town (Suffolk County) supervisor, Mark Lesko "is pushing a (transit oriented development) plan to redevelop 50 acres around this Long Island Rail Road station with shops, homes, offices, public art and a convention center."
Ronkonkoma station is the terminus of one of eleven LIRR branches and also the switching point to the non-electrified Greenport branch.
Ronkonkoma station "is minutes from a large state research university and hospital in Stony Brook, and about an hour by express train from Manhattan...and Mr. Lesko believes he has 'buy-in' from the community."
From Sachem Patch: Brookhaven Seeks Developers for Ronkonkoma HUB: "The Ronkonkoma Hub is bursting with potential to create what may be the most exciting transit-oriented development location on the entire East Coast," Supervisor Mark Lesko said in a statement."
In addition to Ronkonkoma, Brookhaven has already initiated plans for a smaller, mixed-use TOD with affordable housing on a smaller site around the Bellport Long Island Rail Road station.
Thanks to Mark Boshnack
FULL STORY: Editorial: Rethinking Ronkonkoma
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