Did you know?

On July 6, 2007 a serious railway accident occurred involving freight cars owned by the New York and Atlantic Railway. Police and other officials had to evacuate several blocks surrounding the accident site where a train carrying 33,000 gallons of propane gas derailed in Queens. Thankfully, officials said that no hazardous material leaked from the train and the evacuation was a precautionary measure. The accident occurred near Otto Road in Glendale on tracks owned by the freight company - about half a mile from the Maspeth site where another train derailed in January of 2007.

It is important to note that freight trains on Long Island are operated by New York & Atlantic Railway on tracks owned by the LIRR. The proposal of a 3rd track along the LIRR's mainline corridor increases the capacity for greater freight traffic to pass through the suburban neighborhoods that lie within the corridor - like New Hyde Park. SOV New Hyde Park remains opposed to LIRR's Third Track Project due to the inherent negative consequences it could potentially impose on our community. Increasing the capacity of freight traffic along the railroad justifies our immediate concern about the increased potential for freight derailments and other accidents.

Are our village, town, and county government agencies prepared to address the immediate consequences of a potentially catastrophic event in our neighborhood - within the immediate proximity of our homes, schools, houses of worship, and businesses? Although SOV New Hyde Park continues to explore this important issue, we encourage all residents who live along the mainline corridor to make their concerns known to those who have influence on issues related to the health and safety of our communities. Please email, snail mail, and call your representatives!

News Alert: New Plan?

At a recent meeting with representatives of the LIRR, an alternative plan for the crossing elimination at Covert Avenue in New Hyde Park was presented to the officers of SOV and others. According to this alternative, a series of quadrant gates (a four gated system) would be installed at the Covert Avenue crossing and a potential “quiet zone” would be imposed at this site.

Although the plan claims to reduce the number of residential and small business condemnations along Covert Avenue, it is important to note that it will actually INCREASE gate down time at this crossing and therefore promote even GREATER roadway congestion! Not only does SOV anticipate that the NYS Dept. of Transportation will have great difficulty endorsing such a proposal due to its inherent weaknesses, we also assert that such a plan may, in fact, be detrimental to the health and safety of our community and to those who travel along this roadway.

Additionally, this alternative allows for the installation of the third track through New Hyde Park in a manner that is even less costly than the original proposal. Not only is SOV highly speculative about the need for the third track, but we also remain unconvinced about the benefit it will afford the residents of our community.

Thus, we respectfully encourage the MTA, LIRR, and the NYS Dept. of Transportation to go back to the drawing board and create a plan that considers more than just the budgetary impact it will have on their own purses! The residents of New Hyde Park will settle for nothing less than the best plan – one which reduces roadway congestion, promotes greater safety, preserves our suburban lifestyle and eliminates the need to condemn residential and small business properties in our community.

SOV New Hyde Park Can Help You!

SOV New Hyde Park Association, Inc. is a nonprofit independent civic association. We seek to become proactively involved with issues that affect our community's future stability by working cooperatively with others to preserve our suburban quality of life. [Part 4, Mission Statement, SOV New Hyde Park Association, Inc.]

The LIRR Project continues to be a high priority for SOV. In response to several requests, however, SOV has informed the Mayor of NHP that we are extending help to our neighbors as a civic association. If you have an issue that relates to our quality of life in New Hyde Park, please feel free to contact us. As a civic organization, we will listen to your concerns and, if appropriate, we will present them to the appropriate agency on your behalf to help encourage a prompt resolution to the matter.

SOV Board and Officers

CONTACT US:

We can be contacted via:

• CORPORATE ADDRESS: 103 Covert Ave., New Hyde Park, NY 11040
• EMAIL MESSAGE BOX: SOV.NHP@GMAIL.COM
  
• TELEPHONE: SOV NHP Assoc. Inc., call our president at: 516-581-7046

• SOV New Hyde Park encourages our supporters to keep aware of local issues by viewing the following resources:
  
• Cable Channel 115: NHP-GCP Issues and Topics - which is produced, edited and directed by a private citizen; it airs every Thursday evening from 8-10 PM
• www.floralparkaircraft.com : a website dedicated to the issues of air traffic, safety, noise abatement and other quality of life issues that affect NHP and surrounding communities
• If you are interested in reading articles re: SOV's activities in the two local newspapers [NHP Illustrated News and the NHP Herald Courier], they may be purchased at:
• Mike's New Hyde Park Convenience - 804 Jericho Tpke. , NHP
• Gifts and More - 1644 Hillside Avenue, NHP

SOV wishes to thank all NHP residents and business owners as well as residents from surrounding communities who continue to support its efforts. SOV's growing numbers clearly represent its strength and voting power! We appreciate your constructive feedback, your consistent encouragement and support, and your participation.