Meng Issues Statement On Flushing LIRR Station Improvements

U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) today issued the following statement at the LIRR’s town hall meeting on improvements to the Flushing LIRR station. While Meng was unable to attend the forum, since the House is in session this evening, a member of her staff read it aloud during the event. Meng has long advocated for upgrades to the facility.

“I would like to read a short statement on behalf of Congresswoman Grace Meng, who could not be here today since the House is in session this evening.

Improvements to the Flushing LIRR station have been something I’ve advocated for ever since I was in the State Assembly, and I cannot be happier to see plans for the upgrades finally moving forward.

The Flushing station is in need of critical renovations. The location is old and worn down and currently lacks the proper facilities to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The renovations are essential to serving the needs of the growing population in Flushing, and I applaud the LIRR for getting the project off the ground.

A New York State Comptroller report stated that “Downtown Flushing is a major transportation hub, which has helped the area’s economic development and resiliency.” The report also found that Flushing’s population grew by 2 percent in the last decade reaching over 170,000 residents, faster than the rest of Queens, and employment has grown every year since 2005 at a rate of 3.1 percent, illustrating the need for modern facilities to accommodate the rapid growth that the area is experiencing. Flushing is also a major bus hub, with 21 MTA routes that carry about 69 million passengers annually. Improvements to the LIRR station will help ease pedestrian and vehicle congestion.

The installation of elevators will bring relief to those residents who traveled to other stations to access the LIRR. In 2013, it is unacceptable that our entire infrastructure does not comply with the Disability Act. But obviously, that will soon change.

I look forward to seeing the new station up and running as soon as possible. I am grateful to LIRR President Helena Williams for her outstanding leadership on this project, and I thank the MTA for finally making it happen.