New York Governor Hochul Announces Ground Breaking on New Long Island Rail Road Yaphank Station in Suffolk County

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) officials broke ground on the new Yaphank Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) station strategically relocated to be closer to William Floyd Parkway, the Long Island Expressway and Brookhaven National Laboratory.

“The new Yaphank station promises to be a world-class, fully accessible experience that connects riders to additional amenities faster than ever before,” Governor Hochul said. “Today, we are delivering for Long Islanders once again — continuing on the path to strengthen the local economy and bring these riders the modern, efficient transit experience they deserve.”

The new station will be fully accessible to all in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and outfitted with a number of improvements, including:

  • A parking lot with space for 50 cars will have an integrated bus loop to accommodate pickups and drop offs.

  • A plaza area with an information totem providing train schedules and bike rack.

  • A Help Point intercom on the platform.

In the coming weeks, the construction site will be graded and utilities will be installed. Construction is targeted for substantial completion in the second quarter of 2026 with the station scheduled to be commissioned soon after. Once the new station is up and running the existing Yaphank Station will be demolished.

The Long Island Rail Road reached Yaphank in 1844 when LIRR service was started to Greenport. During World War II, the station was vital to the war effort due to its access to nearby Camp Upton.

The existing Yaphank Station is located on the Ronkonkoma Branch in Suffolk County, serviced by a diesel-operated fleet. The station has long had low ridership and is geographically restricted for future expansion and improvements. The new location chosen for the station presents a better opportunity for usage considering the nearby industrial park and proximity to Brookhaven National Laboratory. The new station’s platform will accommodate two train cars, which is similar in size to the existing station and sized to the length of trains serving the line between Ronkonkoma and Greenport.

The $20 million project to undertake the relocation of the existing Yaphank Station to a point further east on the LIRR’s Main Line will be supported by funding from within the MTA capital program.

-via Press Release

This article was posted on: April 4, 2025