Senator John Flanagan (2nd Senate District) today announced that legislation he sponsored in the Senate to preserve open space and protect Long Islanders from further traffic problems has passed both houses of the New York State Legislature.

The legislation, which Senator Flanagan sponsored in the Senate with his colleagues Senator Owen Johnson (4th Senate District) and Senator Caesar Trunzo (3rd Senate District), would transfer the land that has been set aside for the Long Island Truck & Rail Intermodal (LITRIM) Facility into the Edgewood Oak Brush Plains State Preserve.

The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) has proposed building the LITRIM facility along the Sagtikos Corridor, which includes parts of Brentwood, Deer Park and Dix Hills.

Those plans have caused great anxiety for area residents due to the negative impact the project would have on traffic congestion in the surrounding communities.

These traffic concerns are due to the fact that town officials have approved three major construction projects in the area since the LITRIM project was originally proposed.

This transfer would preserve this land, which was formerly part of the vast Pilgrim State Psychiatric Center property in Brentwood, and basically protect the area from the LITRIM project.

The legislation was successfully sponsored in the Assembly by Assemblymembers Phil Ramos (6th Assembly District), Andrew Raia (9th Assembly District) and James Conte (10th Assembly District).

"With Assembly passage, we are one step closer to putting an end to this project and protecting the community. The LITRIM facility would create significant traffic congestion when combined with locally approved projects and it is important that New York State avoid compounding this local problem," stated Senator Flanagan. "I look forward to Governor David Paterson signing this measure into law to protect this region’s way of life."

Residents who would like to join with Senator Flanagan in calling on Governor Paterson to sign this legislation into law should click here.

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