Syosset (LIRR station)

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Syosset
Location:	Syosset, New York
Line(s):	Port Jefferson Branch
Opened:	1854

Syosset is a train station on the Long Island Rail Road's Port Jefferson Branch in Syosset, New York. It is located at Jackson Avenue and Underhill Boulevard, south of New York State Route 25A. Syosset's downtown commercial district was built around the station.^[1]

There are no public transportation connections at the station; however, taxi service is available.

[edit] Gap at Syosset

The train station is located on a curved portion of the Port Jefferson Branch tracks. In order for a train to navigate the curve safely and not hit the platform, a wider than normal gap between the platform and train is necessary. At places where train doors open, most of the gaps span ten inches or more;^[2] some gaps measure 15 inches.^[3] Black ice may exacerbate conditions that would cause commuters to fall into the gap. On January 30, 1996, in separate incidents, three commuters in a 90-minute period fell into the gap at the station due to icy platform conditions.^[4]

To remedy the gap situation, the LIRR has implemented physical and operational solutions. Among the changes: the LIRR has installed platform gap lighting and camera surveillance systems, shifted platforms, is using platform conductors to monitor train boarding, and is instructing crews to announce the gap at the station and to assist passengers.^[2]^[3] Further improvements, including changing railroad operation standards and the viable use of retractable gap fillers (such as those used in a few New York City Subway stations) are being examined. The railroad has also retained a consultant to review train operations to suggest further changes.^[2]

Some Syosset residents and politicians, such as current Nassau County Presiding Officer Judy Jacobs, insist the best solution to eliminate the gap problem is to force the LIRR to close the Syosset station and reopen the Landia station to the southwest. Landia is on a straight portion of track. Simultaneously, a mall is being proposed near the Landia station site. Michael Pally, an MTA board member representing Suffolk County and who also works for a real estate firm that represents the company proposing construction of the mall, believes the Syosset station should be closed because more parking spaces would be available at Landia. Opponents of the mall believe that opening Landia while closing Syosset will just be a ruse to direct people to the mall. The Town of Oyster Bay, which controls the Landia station site, is still gathering information before it makes a decision to ask the LIRR to conduct a Landia station feasibility study.^[5]