Long Island is a complex interworking of municipalities, natural resources, thriving businesses, and countless communities that house our three million residents. After World War II, masses migrated to Long Island’s newly formed suburbs where highway systems and local roads, bridges, and innovative infrastructure were needed to accommodate the city-dwellers who decided to call Long Island home. Robert Moses famously designed the roadway systems that connect us to our beaches and parkland. The rest of our development sprung up out of need, opportunity, and happenstance. For a region of our stature, thoughtful, well-researched planning is critical to help bring Long Island into her next generation. Road Warriors talks to John D. Cameron, Chairman of the Long Island Regional Planning Council, about the infrastructure needs—past and future—that will do the work of bridging today’s LI with tomorrow’s world.
What is the mission of the LIRPC?
The Long Island Regional Planning Council (LIRPC) is established to build productive linkages between communities, provide focus on issues best handled on a broad geographic scale, and foster the development of regional comprehensive planning. In furtherance of these goals, the LIRPC shall conduct research, surveys, and studies which address regional needs, issues, and opportunities. It serves as a forum for discourse and debate and focuses on Long Island’s economy, equity, tax and governance, environment, and infrastructure. The LIRPC uses its inherent powers to effectuate positive change and implement the Region’s long-range planning goals and strategies.
How important are public works/infrastructure projects to the continued development of Long Island?
Public works and infrastructure projects are essential to Long Island’s sustainability. From modernizing our transportation and energy networks to upgrading water and wastewater systems, infrastructure investments are critical to accommodating population growth, creating economic development and affordable housing, addressing climate change impacts, and maintaining the competitiveness of Long Island as a hub for innovation and tourism. Well-maintained and future-ready infrastructure is the backbone of a prosperous Long Island.
What are the most important infrastructure/construction projects the LIRPC has supported in the last decade? What do you propose in the next 10 years?
Over the last decade, the LIRPC has been a key advocate for infrastructure projects that address Long Island’s most pressing needs, particularly in wastewater management, transit-oriented development, transportation, and nitrogen pollution reduction. Key initiatives include:
- The Bay Park Conveyance Project: This groundbreaking project will convey treated wastewater 10.9 miles from the South Shore Water Reclamation Facility (SSWRF), which currently discharges into Reynolds Channel, to the Cedar Creek Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP) ocean outfall pipe. The ocean outfall discharges approximately three miles offshore in the Atlantic Ocean. This project’s significance cannot be overstated, as it is set to divert 75 million gallons per day of treated wastewater, reducing nitrogen loading in Reynolds Channel and the Western Bays by up to 90 percent! The results of the project will spur the ecological recovery of the Western Bays marshlands, which will protect coastal communities from storm surge and sea-level rise. The improved water quality will enhance and expand water-based recreational and commercial opportunities.
- Long Beach Consolidation Project: This project will transform the Long Beach Water Pollution Control Plant into a fortified diversion pump station, connecting it via an underwater force main to the South Shore Water Reclamation Facility for improved wastewater treatment.
- Long Island Nitrogen Action Plan (LINAP): The Long Island Nitrogen Action Plan (LINAP) is a comprehensive initiative aimed at reducing nitrogen pollution from wastewater, stormwater, and fertilizers in our surface and groundwater. Nitrogen is the leading cause of water quality deterioration in Long Island’s estuaries. Excess nitrogen can cause toxic algal blooms that lead to low oxygen conditions, fish kills, and degraded wetlands and marine habitats. Nitrogen also contaminates the groundwater which is the sole source of Long Island’s drinking water. LINAP focuses on how best to reduce nitrogen loading to groundwater and surface water through technical, management, and regulatory/policy actions.
- Suffolk County Water Quality Restoration Act: This landmark legislation establishes a Countywide Wastewater Management District and secures a dedicated funding source to combat nitrogen pollution in surface and groundwater. Funded by a 0.125% sales tax increase, the Act is projected to generate $3.1 billion over 50 years, supporting sewer expansions, cesspool and septic system upgrades, wastewater reclamation, and nitrogen reduction programs. It also extends the 0.25% sales tax supporting the Suffolk County Drinking Water Protection Program through 2060, ensuring long-term financial backing for water quality initiatives.
- Suffolk County Coastal Resiliency Initiative (SCCRI) Cesspools to Sewers Program: With the assistance of federal, state, and town funding, SCCRI sewer expansion projects underway will eliminate approximately 5,500 cesspools and septic systems, improving water quality, boosting economic development, and protecting against storm surges by strengthening wetlands. This represents the largest expansion of sewer infrastructure in Suffolk County in nearly 50 years.
- Transit-Oriented Development (TOD): Transit-oriented development has become a cornerstone of Long Island’s strategy to revitalize communities, reduce suburban sprawl, and attract young professionals and families. Successful TOD projects are transforming downtown areas into walkable, vibrant neighborhoods centered around Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) stations in Patchogue, Farmingdale, Wyandanch, Ronkonkoma, and Hicksville. The LIRPC has done economic impact analyses on the revitalization of Patchogue and Farmingdale Villages. The LIRPC has also supported Wyandanch Rising, the Ronkonkoma Hub, and Midway Crossing.
- The LIRR Expansion Project (Third Track) and East Side Access: Completed in 2022, the addition of a third track along the LIRR Main Line between Floral Park and Hicksville has been a game-changer for Long Island commuters. The Third Track Project added 9.8 miles of track, increasing capacity and flexibility on one of the busiest rail corridors in the region. It improved reliability and reduced delays by allowing reverse-peak and off-peak service. It enhanced flexibility for scheduling and maintenance, making the LIRR more resilient to disruptions. It has provided better service for commuters traveling to and from New York City, as well as those traveling within Long Island. The project also included upgrades to several stations, the elimination of dangerous street-level grade crossings, and the installation of sound walls to minimize community impacts.
Opened in early 2023, East Side Access is one of the most significant infrastructure projects in the LIRR’s history. It provides direct LIRR service to Grand Central Madison, a brand-new terminal beneath Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan. It has cut commuting times by up to 40 minutes per day for Long Islanders traveling to Manhattan’s East Side and reduced congestion at Penn Station, redistributing passenger flow and enhancing the commuter experience. It has boosted property economic development potential for communities with LIRR access. Together, the Third Track Project and East Side Access represent a transformative period for the LIRR, solidifying its role as the backbone of Long Island’s transportation network and enhancing regional competitiveness. - Belmont Park Project: A redevelopment project at Belmont Park is slated for completion by fall 2026. This historic upgrade will modernize the racetrack, enabling year-round racing, improved customer experiences, and the return of major events like the Belmont Stakes. Redevelopment is a vital investment for Long Island, creating thousands of jobs and preserving Belmont’s legacy as a premier sports venue. The newly redeveloped Belmont Park will serve as an internationally recognized destination for sports, entertainment, retail, and hospitality, while strengthening the local economy and boosting tourism.
Looking forward, the next 10 years should prioritize:
- Repairing Long Island’s aging roads and decrepit bridges.
- Electrifying the Long Island Rail Road: Expanding electrification along diesel-only branches (e.g., Port Jefferson, Oyster Bay, and Montauk lines) will improve service reliability, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and enhance connectivity for more Long Islanders.
- Wastewater Management: Continuing to upgrade wastewater treatment plants to incorporate advanced nitrogen-removal technology. Expand sewer infrastructure to areas still reliant on outdated cesspools and septic systems, particularly in Suffolk County. Expand access to Innovative Alternative Onsite Wastewater Systems in areas where sewering is not an option.
- Expanding Transit-Oriented Development (TOD): Creating additional TOD projects across Long Island will provide more economic development, affordable housing options, reduce suburban sprawl, and encourage sustainable growth.
- Flood Mitigation and Climate Resilience: Integrating climate adaptation measures into infrastructure projects to ensure resilience against rising sea levels, storm surge, and extreme weather events.
- Affordability: Addressing high property taxes and the lack of affordable housing is critical for the region’s economic stability and long-term growth. High property taxes place a significant financial strain on residents, particularly young families, first-time homebuyers, and retirees. At the same time, the shortage of affordable housing limits opportunities for young professionals and essential workers to establish themselves, leading to a talent drain that impacts local businesses and services. Prioritizing tax reform and affordable housing solutions will create a more balanced, inclusive, and sustainable community that supports economic development and improves quality of life for all residents. To support the demand for housing, Long Island’s supply must be significantly increased if we are to be sustainable for the future.
How would Long Island benefit from its own MPO?
Having its own Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) would give Long Island greater autonomy in determining transportation priorities, funding allocation, and strategic planning. Currently, Long Island shares an MPO with New York City, which dilutes our region’s unique needs and challenges. A dedicated Long Island MPO would ensure a more focused approach to addressing our transportation infrastructure. Additionally, it could streamline federal funding opportunities and allow for more community-centered decision-making. The present funding formula is highly inequitable in providing Long Island its fair share of transportation funding.
What are the major challenges to the future of Long Island’s development?
Long Island faces several significant challenges, including:
- High property taxes: The high cost of living is driving younger generations and businesses away, threatening economic growth and workforce sustainability.
- Lack of affordable housing: The lack of affordable housing on Long Island poses a significant challenge, directly limiting opportunities for young people and fueling the region’s ongoing housing crisis.
- Aging Infrastructure: Much of Long Island’s infrastructure is outdated and in need of significant investment to meet modern demands.
- Climate Change: Rising sea levels, increased storm intensity, and flooding pose existential threats to coastal communities.
- Resistance to change: Long Islanders treasure the quality of life they have and are resistant to anything they perceive as threatening to that quality. We must remember that change is inevitable; whether we decide to control that change or have it happen is up to us. The decision is ours to make.