NEWYORK: Governor Kathy Hochul announced the opening of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) new Yaphank-BNL Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) station.
Relocated from its original site, the new station provides improved access to the Brookhaven National Laboratory and critical regional roadways like the William Floyd Parkway and the Long Island Expressway.
Train Yaphank-BNL is the first new LIRR station opened on the island since the Elmont-UBS Station opened in 2021, and only the second new station in fifty years. Train service begins tomorrow, with the first trains departing Yaphank-BNL at 5:36 a.m. to Greenport and 8:02 a.m. to Ronkonkoma on Saturday, July 18.
“The LIRR is the lifeblood of Long Island, and through projects like the brand new Yaphank-BNL station, we are investing in it like never before,” Governor Hochul said.
“By locating this new and improved station right next to major employers and critical regional connections, we are ready to move the entire east end towards a future of economic growth and opportunity.”
The new station is fully accessible in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, with ramp access to the platform.
Other customer-focused improvements include a 50-car parking lot with an integrated bus loop for pickups and drop-offs, a plaza area featuring an information totem with train schedules and bike racks, and a Help Point intercom on the platform.
The platform can accommodate two train cars, matching the length of trains that operate between Ronkonkoma and Greenport.
“Relocating Yaphank station to be closer to the action was the right choice for a fast-growing community focused on the future. Now that it’s open, we can ramp up the feasibility study now underway that’s exploring new ways to improve and increase service on the Ronkonkoma branch,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber.
“Customers on eastern Long Island are getting a modern, fully accessible station designed to better meet their needs today and into the future. Yaphank-BNL improves the customer experience with better amenities, stronger regional connections and the reliable service riders expect from the LIRR,” said Long Island Rail Road President Rob Free.
“Modern, accessible infrastructure is the key to strengthening the region’s transit network. We’re proving that we can deliver transformational upgrades like the new Yaphank station better, faster, and cheaper than ever — giving riders the reliable service they deserve,” said MTA Construction & Development President Jamie Torres-Springer.
