Legislator Stern recently sent this letter to his constituents in the 16th Legislative District, regarding the freight-rail-truck Intermodal facility proposed by the New York State Department of Transportation.

Dear Neighbor:

As Suffolk County Legislator representing the 16th Legislative District, which includes the Commack Road Corridor/Sagtikos Corridor, I have worked extensively these past two years on the issues of development and infrastructure not only in my district but also throughout Suffolk County.

The Commack Road/Sagtikos Corridor is a textbook example of a “perfect storm” when towns and different levels of government fail to communicate or coordinate projects. This area has seen the development of a “Big Box” shopping center on Crooked Hill Road in Smithtown, is witnessing the beginning of construction of the Tanger project in Babylon, which will draw millions of cars each year to the area, and is considering the proposed Heartland Village Development on the Islip portion of the former Pilgrim State property. Clearly this is a community under severe development pressure.

We now are faced with a freight-rail-truck Intermodal facility proposed by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), which is intended to decrease regional truck traffic by encouraging use of freight rail for shipping and reducing the use of large tractor-trailers to deliver merchandise throughout Long Island. This project alone is projected to draw hundreds of trucks per day to the area.

The cumulative impact of this additional traffic, along with truck traffic to the “Big Box” Development, Tanger and the proposed Pilgrim State Project will be enormous.  But NYSDOT seeks to proceed with this project with tunnel vision.  NYSDOT officials stated that the only project they are concerned with is their own and no real consideration was given to the cumulative impact this project will have on truck traffic in an already congested area.

The project initially included plans for a roadway to be used exclusively for commercial truck traffic, running parallel to the Sagtikos Parkway to divert such traffic using the Intermodal and other area developments from Deer Park Avenue, Commack Road and other local roads. However, NYSDOT amended its plan and the project as proposed now does not contain this dedicated roadway.

I remain absolutely opposed to this project. This is a residential community already under severe development pressure and this is an inappropriate location for this facility.   In addition to the traffic concerns, it is also important to note that the proposed facility abuts the Edgewood Preserve, a critical wildlife habitat, special groundwater protection area and one of the few remaining open spaces in Western Suffolk County. The impact that this project will have on this fragile eco-system cannot and should not be minimized. For this reason alone this project should not go forward.

If this project proceeds as planned, hundreds of additional trucks per day will be forced onto local roads.  This is simply intolerable and contrary to everything that local officials from all levels of government have been working toward for the past two years- a more regional approach to planning.  It is even more frustrating and inexcusable that this disregard comes from the NEW YORK STATE AGENCY, which should take a broader view of the impact of its project on the region.

Although the ultimate authority lies with the New York State administrative agency (NYSDOT), I will do everything possible to fight this project. I will continue to work with the community and other elected officials to protect our neighborhoods and ensure our quality of life.

The Intermodal freight rail project, if properly implemented in a suitable location might indeed have a positive effect regionally.  However, as planned, it will have a profoundly negative impact on the Commack Road/Sagtikos Corridor, with not only no relief from truck traffic, noise and particulate pollution, but in fact making an already challenging situation worse for the region. The NYS DOT’s plan is absolutely unacceptable.

Please be advised that the Public Comment period has been extended until September 24, 2007. You may send written comments to the New York State Department of Transportation, Region Ten, 250 Veterans Memorial Highway, Hauppauge, New York 11788. Please include PINs 0339.12 and 0339.13 with your comments. You may direct your comments to Project Manager Joseph Zacharia.

If you have any further questions or concerns with respect to this matter please feel free to contact me or my aides Deborah Harris or Mary Young.

Sincerely,

Steve Stern