Plainview, NY is a hamlet just east of the Long Island Rail Road’s (LIRR) Hicksville train station. Town and MTA officials have long recognized that the Hicksville station as on of the busiest on the LIRR line.
Along with being the busiest, daily ridership is increasing everyday. Hence the availability of parking at or near the Hicksville LIRR Station is becoming even more scarce. Many local retailers and the Broadway Mall are combating illegal parking by commuters by having their cars towed away if they are not customers.
Even a local fire station has taken measures to prevent non members of that station from parking on their station’s lot.
Recognizing the parking problems at the Hicksville LIRR station, several government agencies with input from the LIRR Commuters Council collaborated for a solution.
After much input, the first phase of relief for commuters in the hamlet of Plainview is in the construction phase. A new intermodal transportation facility is being constructed on Old Country Road (between Lincoln Gate and Barnum Avenue in Plainview.
This building will have 3 floors of parking, with one level on ground and two floors above. Similar to European parking garages they will utilize lift technology to store and retrieve vehicles. The first two level will be sheltered from the weather with the top level exposed. There will also be bicycle lockers on the first level.
LIRR commuters will be able to park in this facility, step outside and board the MTA shuttle to the Hicksville LIRR station. At the present time pricing and schedule are not available. The idea is to have a parking permit (residency requirements to be determined) and your LIRR ticket will include the fare on the shuttle.
Future plans call for a light rail system to run from the east end of the Hicksville LIRR station eastbound on Plainview Road to where it meets Old Country Road and terminate in the vicinity of the Old Country Road and Round Swamp Road. With possibilities for later expansion. Official have visited and evaluated a similar system in Portland, Oregon
Should this concept prove successful it is feasible that this program will be expanded to other towns.