Gov. Hochul signs bill to preserve open space on Port Jefferson Station property

The long-embattled plan to transform the former Lawrence Aviation property in Port Jefferson Station into a LIRR rail yard appears to be back on, as Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a bill Monday to preserve part of the property as open space and "someday improve Long Island Rail Road service."

Hochul joined local lawmakers in Smithtown to sign the bill, which sets aside a portion of the 126-acre site, spanning Setauket to Port Jefferson Station, as a state greenway. Planners had previously considered rerouting Route 25A through the property — a former state and federal Superfund site that underwent a $48.1 million cleanup that concluded last year.

In signing the conservation easement, Hochul said she was ensuring the property is "never, ever, ever converted into a road."

MTA spokesperson Aaron Donovan would not comment on the matter, other than to say the transit authority is working with officials in Hochul’s office, the state Department of Transportation and Suffolk County.

Donovan said last month the LIRR "remains interested in this property but has always made clear that for the purchase to move forward, the property cannot be encumbered by competing rights and privileges."

Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine on Monday called the MTA’s concerns about the property "all nonsense."

Now that "the governor has explained to the MTA the importance of" the rail yard plan, Romaine said, he expected the deal to be finalized within the next five weeks.

"I am assuming they will close on this property for $10, and that will be that," Romaine said.

In 2023, Suffolk County took possession of the property and entered into a tentative agreement to sell 40 acres to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority for $10 for its conversion into an LIRR rail yard — a critical step toward expanding service on the Port Jefferson branch and, potentially, electrifying its tracks.

After numerous delays, the land deal appeared to collapse last month, with a deadline to close the deal passing and the MTA remaining reluctant to finalize an agreement. Even with the guarantee a road will not be built through the site, MTA officials have expressed concern about the DOT holding a claim to a portion of the property — potentially forcing the LIRR to some day accommodate, and fund, an overpass at the site.

Hochul suggested the MTA’s concerns could be addressed and a rail yard could be built at the site while she’s still governor.

"I think this is all in the realm of possibility. It's something that should happen and it is long, long, long overdue," Hochul said. "I believe we can do this."

A rail yard has long been seen as a first step toward a future expansion of the LIRR’s Port Jefferson line, which runs on a single, unelectrified track. Having a yard and two electrified tracks would allow the railroad to run more frequent and reliable service on the branch, which carried 15.1 million riders last year.

State Sen. Monica Martinez (D-Brentwood), who sponsored the Senate bill conserving the property, also expressed confidence the MTA would come on board.

"I’m sure those conversations will take place and I’m sure some sort of collaboration and cooperation and will make this happen," Martinez said. "This was the promise that was made decades ago, and therefore it’s time for it to be fulfilled."

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.