In today's LI Newsday, the Town of Riverhead's Supervisor was quoted saying the use of rail to transport the Island's freight is of huge importance. Hmmm....didn't the Town of Riverhead kill the reactivation of Calverton and service to 84 Lumber and one or two other customers out in the Town of Riverhead?
I saw it too and thought the same.
Freight rail would ease
congestion on LI roads
Traffic and congestion in the metropolitan area have been on the rise in recent years. It affects everyone economically, environmentally and socially. I recently became aware that a group of Department of Transportation officials estimate freight growth will be upwards of 70 percent by 2020. A large portion of this will be transported on our highway system. Some of that, no doubt, will be dumped on Interstate 495, which is already congested - especially during the summer months.
New York State should be actively looking at transportation alternatives for hauling freight. In New York in 2000, congestion cost citzens $5.6 billion annually in wasted time and fuel; by the year 2020 that could be $11.5 billion.
The use of freight rail provides an alternative for hauling goods and is one way to help combat this problem. Rail provides many public benefits, such as reducing fuel consumption and damage to highway infrastructure, and it's better for the environment, which in turn will save taxpayers, businesses, motorists and our planet.
Phil Cardinale
Editor's note: The writer is Riverhead Town supervisor.
Riverhead