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Mineola (LIRR station)
Encyclopedia
Mineola is a train station on the Main Line
of the Long Island Rail Road
in the village of Mineola, New York
. All trains for the Port Jefferson
, Ronkonkoma
, and Oyster Bay
branches run through this station, as well as a few for the Montauk Branch
. As of May 2011, 145 trains stop at this station every weekday, more than any other station east of Jamaica
. It is the eighth-busiest station on the LIRR in terms of weekday boardings, with 10,348 boardings per day in 2006.
, as of 2010 noting that the town is about halfway through the process of revitalization.
. The station was renovated in June 1872, but a second depot was built between May and June 1883. This station was razed in 1923, and the third one was relocated to the north side of the tracks on September 22, 1923. The enclosed shelter was built at the old station house's location (See below). A reconstruction project took place in 2001.
With its connection to the Oyster Bay Branch, the Mineola station has always been a major railroad junction, but even moreso in the 19th and much of the 20th Century. On the south side of the station a wye existed between the power sub-station for a line that connected the West Hempstead Branch
with the Oyster Bay Branch
. Sometimes referred to as the Garden City Branch, the east branch of this wye began at Third Street then crossed Main Street, then the main line itself before connecting with the Oyster Bay Branch until it was eliminated in 1928. The rest of the line was eliminated in 1966.
s and two tracks, both slightly-offset platforms long enough to accommodate 12 railway cars. The north platform, next to Track 1, is generally used by westbound trains (toward New York City
); the south platform, next to Track 2, is generally used by eastbound trains. The south platform could become an island platform
, if a third track on the Main Line is built.
The main station house is on the north side of the tracks, at Front Street and Mineola Boulevard. The station is wheelchair accessible
and has a crossover and a grade crossing for pedestrians at the east end. A smaller enclosed shelter is on the opposite (south) side of the tracks. The Oyster Bay Branch
splits away at a grade crossing just east of the pedestrian crossing.
operates bus service to the Mineola Intermodal Center on the south side of the station. Prior to the opening of the intermodal center on October 16, 2006, bus stops were located at 3rd Street, a block away from the station. Seven MTA Long Island Bus
routes stop there, as well as local taxicab services.
Main Line (Long Island Rail Road)
The Main Line is a rail line owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York. It begins in Long Island City and runs along the middle of Long Island about 95 miles to Greenport...
of the Long Island Rail Road
Long Island Rail Road
The Long Island Rail Road or LIRR is a commuter rail system serving the length of Long Island, New York. It is the busiest commuter railroad in North America, serving about 81.5 million passengers each year. Established in 1834 and having operated continuously since then, it is the oldest US...
in the village of Mineola, New York
Mineola, New York
Mineola is a village in Nassau County, New York, USA. The population was 18,799 at the 2010 census. The name is derived from a Native American word meaning a "pleasant place"....
. All trains for the Port Jefferson
Port Jefferson Branch
The Port Jefferson Branch is a rail line and service owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York. The branch splits from the Main Line just east of Hicksville and runs northeast and east to Port Jefferson...
, Ronkonkoma
Ronkonkoma Branch
The Ronkonkoma Branch is a rail service operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York. On LIRR maps and printed schedules, "Ronkonkoma Branch" refers to trains running along the railroad's Main Line from Hicksville east to the line's terminus at Greenport.The section of the...
, and Oyster Bay
Oyster Bay Branch
The Oyster Bay Branch is a rail line and service owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York. The branch splits from the Main Line just east of Mineola station, and runs north and east to Oyster Bay.-History:...
branches run through this station, as well as a few for the Montauk Branch
Montauk Branch
The Montauk Branch is a rail line owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York. The branch runs the length of Long Island, 115 miles from Long Island City on the west to Montauk on the east...
. As of May 2011, 145 trains stop at this station every weekday, more than any other station east of Jamaica
Jamaica (LIRR station)
Jamaica is a major hub station of the Long Island Rail Road, and is located in Jamaica, Queens, New York City. It is the largest transit hub on Long Island and is one of the busiest railroad stations in the country with over 200,000 daily passengers...
. It is the eighth-busiest station on the LIRR in terms of weekday boardings, with 10,348 boardings per day in 2006.
Location
Mineola lies in the center of the town of the same name. Specifically, it is situated to the west of Mineola Boulevard between Station Road to the south and Front Street to the north.Transit-oriented development
As one of the LIRR's busiest stations and near the center of Nassau County, the Village of Mineola Planning Committee created a master plan for the town meant to encourage transit-oriented development within a few blocks' radius of the station. Much of the plan involves creating links in the surrounding street grid, streetscape improvements, and pedestrian zones. The Long Island Index, which aggregates data and plans about the island, has listed Mineola as one of the most high-profile targets for smart growthSmart growth
Smart growth is an urban planning and transportation theory that concentrates growth in compact walkable urban centers to avoid sprawl and advocates compact, transit-oriented, walkable, bicycle-friendly land use, including neighborhood schools, complete streets, and mixed-use development with a...
, as of 2010 noting that the town is about halfway through the process of revitalization.
History
Mineola Station was originally built on the south side of the tracks in 1837 as "Branch Station", then later renamed "Hempstead Branch Station" when the Long Island Railroad was expanded to HicksvilleHicksville (LIRR station)
Hicksville is a station on the Main Line of the Long Island Rail Road located in Hicksville, New York. It is the busiest station east of Jamaica by combined weekday/weekend ridership...
. The station was renovated in June 1872, but a second depot was built between May and June 1883. This station was razed in 1923, and the third one was relocated to the north side of the tracks on September 22, 1923. The enclosed shelter was built at the old station house's location (See below). A reconstruction project took place in 2001.
West Hempstead Branch
The West Hempstead Branch is an electrified rail line owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York.The branch separates from the Main Line just east of Jamaica Station, and runs southeastward to West Hempstead...
with the Oyster Bay Branch
Oyster Bay Branch
The Oyster Bay Branch is a rail line and service owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York. The branch splits from the Main Line just east of Mineola station, and runs north and east to Oyster Bay.-History:...
. Sometimes referred to as the Garden City Branch, the east branch of this wye began at Third Street then crossed Main Street, then the main line itself before connecting with the Oyster Bay Branch until it was eliminated in 1928. The rest of the line was eliminated in 1966.
Station layout
Mineola station has two side platformSide platform
A Side platform is a platform positioned to the side of a pair of tracks at a railway station, a tram stop or a transitway. A pair of side platforms are often provided on a dual track line with a single side platform being sufficient for a single track line...
s and two tracks, both slightly-offset platforms long enough to accommodate 12 railway cars. The north platform, next to Track 1, is generally used by westbound trains (toward New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
); the south platform, next to Track 2, is generally used by eastbound trains. The south platform could become an island platform
Island platform
An island platform is a station layout arrangement where a single platform is positioned between two tracks within a railway station, tram stop or transitway interchange...
, if a third track on the Main Line is built.
The main station house is on the north side of the tracks, at Front Street and Mineola Boulevard. The station is wheelchair accessible
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is a law that was enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1990. It was signed into law on July 26, 1990, by President George H. W. Bush, and later amended with changes effective January 1, 2009....
and has a crossover and a grade crossing for pedestrians at the east end. A smaller enclosed shelter is on the opposite (south) side of the tracks. The Oyster Bay Branch
Oyster Bay Branch
The Oyster Bay Branch is a rail line and service owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York. The branch splits from the Main Line just east of Mineola station, and runs north and east to Oyster Bay.-History:...
splits away at a grade crossing just east of the pedestrian crossing.
Mineola Intermodal Center
MTA Long Island BusMTA Long Island Bus
MTA Long Island Bus is the name used by MTA Regional Bus for its bus network serving primarily Nassau County. It also serves parts of western Suffolk County as well as parts of Queens. Long Island Bus is the trading name of Metropolitan Suburban Bus Authority, a name which has not been used...
operates bus service to the Mineola Intermodal Center on the south side of the station. Prior to the opening of the intermodal center on October 16, 2006, bus stops were located at 3rd Street, a block away from the station. Seven MTA Long Island Bus
MTA Long Island Bus
MTA Long Island Bus is the name used by MTA Regional Bus for its bus network serving primarily Nassau County. It also serves parts of western Suffolk County as well as parts of Queens. Long Island Bus is the trading name of Metropolitan Suburban Bus Authority, a name which has not been used...
routes stop there, as well as local taxicab services.
MTA Long Island Bus Connections
- N22: Hicksville-Jamaica.
- N23: Mineola-Manorhaven.
- N24: Roosevelt Field/Mitchel Field/East Meadow-Jamaica.
- N40: Freeport-Mineola.
- N41: Freeport-Mineola.
- N78: Mineola-Plainview.
- N79: Mineola-Walt Whitman Mall.