Station Road Civic Association

LIRR Tree Cutting

LIRR Tree Cutting

Chrissy & Rhea met with a LIRR official and Eliot Shimel from Assemblyman Lancman's office demanding that the clear cutting of trees along Depot Road be stopped. The LIRR official assured us that the tree cutting at the Broadway Station would cease immediately until we are able to meet early next week. What has been done already is a disgrace and should be replanted.

If anyone sees any tree cutting along the railroad property please call Rhea or me immediately.

We are going to meet with railroad officials on Monday or Tuesday.


The following are the issues we presented to the LIRR today. If anyone wants to add anything please let us know immediately. We like to present our issues to our officials prior to any meeting, with the expectation that they come to the meeting prepared.

1. The clear cutting has to be stopped permanently. It is not necessary to cut trees beyond the fence line for the purposes of installing fencing. Clear cutting cannot be the answer to the slip sliding problem. Clear cutting destroys the habitat of local and migratory birds, small mammals, etc., it removes a natural sound barrier between the railroad and surrounding residential property; it devalues the surrounding residential property; it is an esthetic nightmare. The railroad needs to think outside the box on this issue to create a solution that is acceptable to all effected parties. Perhaps a combination of netting at station platforms and regular maintenance in leaf season can be a starting point.

2. The areas already clear cut along Depot Road must be re-planted with evergreen trees to restore the sound barrier and habitat. Bushes will not provide either of these and will require maintence( ie. pruning) that the railroad will not be willing to commit to. THe proposed fencing will not provide a sound barier either.

3. The litter inside and outside the fence must be regularly removed along both Station Road and Depot Road between 162nd Street and 170th Street, as applicable to each street.

4. A determination should be made as to whether or not the railroad has jurisdiction over the property currently outside the fence on Station Road between 167th Street and 168th Street but in line with the LIRR property to the west of 167th Street.

5. An explanation of the necessity for high security fencing along Depot Road east of the platform access ramp in such close proximity to the platform access areas. Have there been documented incidents of trespassing or vandalism tied to this area of fencing. There is no dispute that the fencing should be replaced, only with the choice of replacement.