Wantagh station
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Wantagh
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South Track at Wantagh Station as an eastbound M7 train arrives
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| Location | Wantagh & Railroad Avenues Wantagh, New York |
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| Coordinates | 40°40′23″N 73°30′33″W / 40.672937°N 73.509098°WCoordinates: 40°40′23″N 73°30′33″W / 40.672937°N 73.509098°W | ||||||||||
| Owned by | Long Island Rail Road | ||||||||||
| Line(s) | Montauk Branch | ||||||||||
| Platforms | 1 island platform | ||||||||||
| Tracks | 2 | ||||||||||
| Construction | |||||||||||
| Parking | Yes | ||||||||||
| Bicycle facilities | Yes | ||||||||||
| Other information | |||||||||||
| Fare zone | 7 | ||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||
| Opened | 1867 (SSRRLI) | ||||||||||
| Rebuilt | 1885, 1966–1967, 2016- | ||||||||||
| Electrified | May 20, 1925 750 V (DC) third rail |
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| Previous names | Ridgewood (1867–1891) | ||||||||||
| Traffic | |||||||||||
| Passengers (2006) | 5,781 | ||||||||||
| Services | |||||||||||
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Wantagh is a station on the Babylon Branch of the Long Island Rail Road. It is located on Wantagh Avenue and Railroad Avenue near NY 27 (Sunrise Highway) in Wantagh, New York. It is commonly used as a terminal and origin for some Babylon branch trains during the rush hours.
Wantagh was originally named Ridgewood and was built as a South Side Railroad of Long Island depot between 1867 and 1875. The station was replaced in 1885 and renamed "Wantagh" in 1891. Like so many stations along the Babylon-Montauk Branch, the original grade-level station was decommissioned when the current elevated stationed opened on October 22, 1968, after construction from 1966 to 1968. The elevated station opened the same day as Seaford and were identical in design. The former station was restored as part of the Wantagh Museum in 1969 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. It was one of many that were elevated throughout Nassau and Western Suffolk counties from the 1950s continuing through the 1970s.
Following the completion of Massapequa's renovation, Wantagh is set to receive a full renovation very similar to what was done at Seaford in 2009. Plans include demolishing and rebuilding the platform, replacing escalators, staircases, lighting, canopies, and waiting areas in addition to adding an elevator, making that station wheelchair accessible. The official project of renovating the station started in late June 2016 and is expected to be complete by 2018. On February 26th, 2018 the first phase of the project was completed with the Eastern half rehabilitated. This included the elevator in service, a heated waiting room, a heating system underneath the platform to melt snow, and the two Eastern staircases back in service. Unfortunately, it was completed nine months behind schedule, and complaints from commuters are pouring in. During the winter time when they were putting in the heating pipes full of water, the temperatures were in the teens for a few weeks causing the pipes to burst from being frozen. The condition of the new platform has been described as haphazardly and shoddy with noticeable concrete patches near the platform edge, and the elevator breaking down three times. The LIRR has responded to the contractor to pay for the damages no matter the cost, and fix the problem fully. Despite the delay, the second phase has gotten underway and will be completed by Fall 2018. Afterwards the Western half will see a new escalator, new staircases, and an improved stairway exit over Wantagh Avenue. In mid-March 2018 just a few weeks after Phase I was completed, the LIRR released a statement that the way in which the platform will be fixed is changes to the snow-melting underneath the new platform, and all patchwork will be sealed heavily to prevent any further issues. How much this will cost is to be determined, but the railroad wants the contractor no matter the cost to be sure it is suitable for commuters above building codes and what the railroad wants.
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