Suffolk County Sees Revitalization in Transportation Proposal

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Leaders of New York's Suffolk County are pitching a $300 million Long Island Innovation Zone to enhance the region's transportation network and create economic development.

The plan Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone announced June 16 calls for a new $125 million airport terminal at MacArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma, N.Y. that would connect to the Long Island Rail Road.

The I-Zone vision also includes $75 million for new dedicated bus lanes along Nicolls Road near Stony Brook University and $10 million to electrify the LIRR line from Ronkonkoma to a relocated $35 million station next to Brookhaven National Laboratory.

"We have the assets to build an innovative economy on Long Island based the research assets we have here," said Bellone, a Democrat who first took office as Suffolk County executive in 2012. "It gives us the opportunity to create a 21st century economy."

Suffolk County, which covers the east end of Long Island, is 86 miles long and is the fourth most populous county in New York with around 1.5 million people. Moody's Investors Service rates it A3.

Bellone and other Suffolk County elected officials announced the creation of the I-Zone following New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's call for improved regional planning. The Democratic governor established the state's Regional Economic Development Council which is aimed at devoting funding for "transformative infrastructure."

Bellone said he would seek local, state and federal funding for the project. The county executive expects to receive some state help in the form of bank settlement funds that Cuomo directed in his 2016 budget toward infrastructure enhancements. He added that borrowing and private-public partnerships will also be considered.

"We're going to look at all forms of financing," said Bellone, a former supervisor for the Town of Babylon.

Bellone said a key to the plan is linking MacArthur Airport with other regional assets such as Stony Brook University, St. Joseph's College, Suffolk County Community College and a proposed mixed-use transit-oriented Ronkonkoma Hub project that is estimated to generate $250 million in economic activity annually.

He adds that the bus rapid transit system in the proposal would enable a north-south public transportation option to accompany the LIRR's existing east-west service connecting Manhattan and Eastern Long Island.

Joshua Schank, president and CEO of the Washington-based Eno Center for Transportation, said bus rapid systems have not gotten much support across the country, but that Suffolk may be an ideal location for this initiative given its high population.

Schank said the transportation links likely won't create major economic development, but that the train connection to MacArthur Airport has potential to draw more visitors who might otherwise fly out of LaGuardia, which does not currently have a public transportation option.

"That is a really interesting and good idea," said Schank of the proposed LIRR airport link. "If you can provide a direct rail connection that is seamless and fast that is very attractive."

MacArthur presently only has passenger service from two air carriers.

Long Island Regional Planning Council Chairman John Cameron said he endorses the I-Zone project because the plan can link Suffolk's transportation resources to large employers, which can go a long way toward retaining the area's millennial population through transit-oriented options in downtown areas.

The Long Island region lost 15% of its 25-34 year-old population from 2000 to 2009, according to the Rauch Foundation's Long Island Index, compared to nationwide average gain of 5%.

"We're trying to get people connected to our transportation systems," said Cameron, founder of Cameron Engineering in Woodbury, N.Y. "It enables us to capitalize on our strongest assets."

Cameron said the plan can bring additional revenue to Suffolk County by attracting new residents and businesses, especially if the Ronkonkoma Hub project comes to fruition.

"It really can enable a major economic development opportunity for Suffolk County," said Cameron. "We need to grow the commercial and residential tax base."

Anthony Figliola, vice president of Uniondale, N.Y-based consulting firm Empire Government Strategies, credits Bellone with bringing policymakers together to connect major businesses and research institutions. He said a critical component of whether the vision proves successful is if enough jobs are created to encourage young people to stay on Long Island.

"Unfortunately, Long Island's success as a suburb of New York City has hurt young people because of the high cost of living," said Figliola, a former deputy supervisor for Suffolk County's Town of Brookhaven. "If the leaders can find ways to entice businesses to stay and grow and pay competitive wages as their southern counterparts do then I believe they have a shot …. It's difficult to plan for Long Island's future without inviting to the table our most important resource, the next generation."

A component of the I-Zone vision involves support from Stony Brook University, which is among the state schools Cuomo has included in his START-UP NY initiative to incentivize high-tech and other start-up businesses to locate on college campuses.

Six technology companies were recently approved by Stony Brook University and New York State to locate their businesses on campus.

"Modern public transportation assets can have a tremendously positive impact on our campus, and indeed, have helped other academic and research communities like ours thrive," said Stony Brook University President Samuel L. Stanley Jr. in a statement. "Public transportation improvements will most certainly enhance Stony Brook's ability to recruit and retain the best students and top early career scientists to Long Island."

Bellone said he hopes the I-Zone will not just retain Long Island's young population, but also attract college graduates from Long Island colleges like Stony Brook and Hofstra that feature many out-of state students. He hopes ground will be broken in 2016 with expected completion in around five years.

"We want to create an environment where people want to move here and stay here and the businesses want to relocate here and grow here," said Bellone. "We're trying to create an innovation ecosystem."

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