87-634: The Port Jefferson Branch is a rail line and service owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York . The branch splits from the Main Line just east of Hicksville and runs northeast and east to Port Jefferson . Several stations on the Main Line west of Hicksville are served primarily by trains bound to/from the Port Jefferson branch, so LIRR maps and schedules for
174-538: A 1967 state transportation bond issue and the United States Department of Transportation . With the completion of electrification to Huntington, six trains would run from electric territory on the branch in the morning, and five would return in the evening, providing direct service to Brooklyn and Penn Station without a change at Jamaica. Since then, the LIRR has aspired to extend electrification beyond Huntington. In
261-482: A Port Jefferson-built schooner ( La Ninfa ) was later converted into a whaling vessel at San Francisco. Port Jefferson's primary role as a port in the 19th century was to build and support vessels engaged in the coastal freighting trades. Many of Port Jefferson's remaining homes from this period were owned by shipbuilders and captains. This includes the Mather House Museum , a mid-19th century home once owned by
348-401: A double-ended freight siding at Greenlawn , an interlocked passing siding east of Northport , and further interlocked sidings at Kings Park , Smithtown and Stony Brook passenger stations, allowing trains traveling in opposite directions to pass each other. Electric trains on the branch operate between Manhattan ( Penn Station or Grand Central ) and Huntington, providing local service on
435-492: A dozen potential sites for a yard between Huntington and Smithtown . Sites beyond Huntington would require extending the electrical infrastructure, which adds expense. Communities near the sites opposed the MTA's efforts to advance work on a new yard, arguing that the MTA was too secretive and that the increased train service and train movements would hurt their communities and decrease their quality of life. One commenter asserted that
522-523: A female householder with no husband present, 3.8% had a male household with no wife present, and 36.1% were non-families. Of all households, 28.3% were made up of individuals living alone, and 9.0% consisted of people living alone who were 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.96. The age breakdown consisted of 20.7% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 31.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age
609-585: A future Capital Program.) As of 2019, the MTA was also considering other options, including extending electrification and/or a second track from Huntington to Port Jefferson. In February 2022, local leaders urged the MTA to consider a Superfund site near the Port Jefferson Station—the former Lawrence Aviation Industries site—for the electric storage yard, as well as extending electrification from Huntington to Port Jefferson. The MTA has not moved forward with this plan or any others. To accommodate
696-608: A future shuttle to link the two transportation networks as well as their respective sections of town, lower and upper Port Jefferson. Suffolk County Transit operates a bus route, the 51, which runs from Patchogue station to Port Jefferson station via Ronkonkoma station , Smith Haven Mall , Stony Brook University , and Port Jefferson. It operates every 30 minutes on weekdays and hourly on weekends. Routes 53 and 55 operate between Port Jefferson station and Patchogue station via Farmingville, New York , and New York State Route 112 , respectively. Port Jefferson's main street forms
783-429: A groundbreaking ceremony was held at Kings Park station for the inauguration of a project to install high-level platforms at that station in preparation of the electrification of the line from Huntington to Smithtown. Kings Park would receive high-level platforms first, with Greenlawn, Northport, and Smithtown also slated to receive them. Work was to be completed in two phases. In the first phase, expected to be completed by
870-403: A luxury hotel. Danfords includes a commercial marina and walkable pier, marking an aspect of the harbor's transformation from industrial to recreational use. Harborfront Park, a project completed in 2004, similarly transitioned the site of a shipyard turned Mobil Oil terminal into a public park with picnic grounds, a seasonal ice skating rink and a promenade. Concurrent to the park's construction
957-758: A projected increase in Long Island Rail Road ridership following completion of the East Side Access project to Grand Central Terminal , and to expand local and reverse-peak service, a third track was built on the Main Line between Floral Park and Hicksville . The construction project, also known as the LIRR Expansion Project , included purchasing properties in the track's right of way, eliminating grade crossings (in conjunction with New York State Department of Transportation ), relocating existing stations, and reconfiguring Mineola Station. The project
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#17328451364361044-599: A section of New York State Route 25A , a scenic and historic route through Long Island's North Shore from the New York City borough of Queens eastward to Calverton . Just southeast of the village is the eastern terminus of New York State Route 347 , a multilane divided highway that connects to the Northern State Parkway in Hauppauge . New York State Route 112, an important north–south route, begins just south of
1131-592: A single-track bottleneck. The line east of Port Jefferson was abandoned in 1938. The right-of-way is now owned by the Long Island Power Authority and used for power lines. A parallel rail trail for bicycling, running, and walking opened in 2022. The Port Jefferson Branch was electrified from Mineola to Huntington Station in 1970. The former Northport Branch was abandoned in 1985, and the Kings Park Psychiatric Center spur ( see below )
1218-625: A six-car length platform on the new second track at Cold Spring Harbor. Construction for the project required off-peak service outages starting in June 1985, and its completion was delayed from fall 1985 due to delays in property acquisition in Cold Spring Harbor. Instead of electrification, the LIRR ultimately pursued dual-mode locomotives that could switch between diesel power and electric power to serve Penn Station (where diesel emissions are banned). Senator Norman Levy said that "The people who ride
1305-601: A slight increase in peak-hour service upon its completion. The MTA had also left provisions for a third track in construction of other infrastructure along the line, such as the Mineola Intermodal Center located adjacent to Mineola station, Mineola Boulevard Bridge, Roslyn Road Underpass in Mineola , and the replacement Ellison Avenue Bridge over the Main Line in Westbury . In January 2016, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced
1392-481: A stable elevation with the construction of a causeway . The village changed its name from "Drowned Meadow" to "Port Jefferson", in honor of Thomas Jefferson . Numerous shipyards developed along Port Jefferson's harbor, and the village's shipbuilding industry became the largest in Suffolk County . Two whaling vessels were built for New Bedford at Port Jefferson in 1877 (ship Horatio and bark Fleetwing ), and
1479-638: A transportation improvement plan which included several million dollars in funding to restart third track development. Governor Cuomo said that unlike previous third track proposals, his plan would involve building the third track within existing LIRR right of way, which would reduce the number of existing homes and businesses affected by installation of the third track. While previous proposals would have affected around 250 properties, 80 of which were homes, Governor Cuomo's proposal would only require taking small amounts of property from 50 properties in total, including around 20 homes. This reduction in properties affected
1566-421: A yard would turn the communities along the line into the MTA's "storage closet" for East Side Access . Other opponents of the plan argued that the MTA should extend electrification to Port Jefferson and use its existing diesel rail yard. The MTA budgeted $ 8 million in its 2015–2019 Capital Program for environmental studies, design work, and land acquisition for a new electric yard. (Construction would be funded in
1653-498: Is The Cove, a small cove dredged in the early 20th century by the Seaboard Dredging Company. The original name was Seaboard Hole, but it was changed for the sake of appealing to tourists, and several large sand dunes artificially created by the dredging can also be found here. As of the 2010 United States census , there were 7,750 people, 3,090 households, and 1,975 families residing in the village. The population density
1740-517: Is an incorporated village in the town of Brookhaven in Suffolk County, New York , on the North Shore of Long Island . Officially known as the Incorporated Village of Port Jefferson, the population was 7,962 as of the 2020 United States census . Port Jefferson was first settled in the 17th century and remained a rural community until its development as an active shipbuilding center in
1827-476: Is divided into two centers that lie 1-mile (1.6 km) apart along Main Street and at differing elevations. These are known as Lower Port Jefferson and Upper Port Jefferson , respectively the waterfront and the railroad station sections of town. The first is currently the center of tourism, while the latter is undergoing plans for revitalization to the economic viability of its historic self. Further from Main Street,
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#17328451364361914-422: Is governed at the local level by a mayor, four trustees , and a town justice . The Port Jefferson Union Free School District covers Belle Terre and most of Port Jefferson. In 2008, the district had 1375 students. There are three schools: Port Jefferson union free school district (UFSD) is bordered on the west by Three Village Central School District , on the south by Comsewogue School District , and on
2001-552: Is home to Theatre Three , a non-profit theatre company founded in 1969. Each year Theatre Three stages four musicals and two plays and additionally performs A Christmas Carol during the annual Dickens Festival. Theatre Three is held in Athena Hall, a performance space dating to 1874. The village was home to two notable landscape painters in the late 19th century, William Moore Davis and Leon Foster Jones. Both artists produced numerous depictions of Port Jefferson and its harbor. They were
2088-523: The International Union of Railways in its official publications and thesaurus. Also Centering spring cylinder . Also Railway air brake . Also Main Reservoir and Reservoir . Also see Reverser handle . A metal casting incorporating a slot that allows the casting to fit over the rail near the wheel of a derailed car. The locomotive then pushes or pulls the car so that
2175-572: The North Shore from the Nissequogue River eastward to Mount Misery Point. Port Jefferson's original name was Sowaysset , a Native American term for either "place of small pines" or "where water opens. The first known home within the present village boundaries was erected in the early 1660s by Captain John Scott , an important leader in Long Island's early history. This house, named Egerton,
2262-535: The 1870-chartered Smithtown and Port Jefferson Railroad opened from a mile south of Northport to Port Jefferson , turning the old line into Northport into the Northport Branch , the result of another argument between Charlick and Northport. The Port Jefferson Branch was extended to Wading River in 1895, and became known as the Wading River Branch. The line was once slated to continue eastward and rejoin
2349-594: The 1923 sale of the Bayles Shipyard to the Standard Oil Company and demolition of all but two of its structures, Port Jefferson's shipbuilding industry came to a close. This resulted in an economic downturn, and the closing of many of the grand hotels in Hotel Square, as tourism declined along with the industry. Port Jefferson Harbor then became a depot for the oil transportation and gravel industries, and, since
2436-464: The 1940s, the site of a Long Island Lighting Company coal-fired power plant . The harbor also had activity as a rum-running center during the Prohibition era . Decades later, Port Jefferson's economy had recovered, with tourism as its base. The village of Port Jefferson was incorporated in 1963. The revitalization of lower Port Jefferson soon followed as local tourism brought increased revenues and
2523-460: The 1980s, the railroad prepared to extend electrification to at least Northport , or Smithtown , although electrification of the Ronkonkoma Branch on the Main Line was seen as a higher priority, in part because the Main Line's central location in Suffolk County would benefit a larger number of people. In December 1983, the LIRR announced that it was taking steps in the electrification of
2610-487: The 23 miles from Huntington to Port Jefferson could cost approximately $ 414 million. In its 20-Year Needs Assessment, the agency lists electrification eastward as a long-term goal. In September 2018, LIRR President Phillip Eng said the LIRR is still exploring the possibility of electrifying the remaining section of track between Huntington and Port Jefferson. The Port Jefferson Branch and Main Line have been known to have some of
2697-469: The Hospital's coal power plant. This spur was first used in 1896 for coal and passenger use on Sundays. The route was the second-largest spur in the Long Island Rail Road system when it was first completed. The route came to an end during the late 1980s. Nowadays, this abandoned route is a right-of-way for biking and is open to the public today. Only small fragments of rail remain, as it most of it
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2784-484: The LIRR to complete them in lieu of third track expansion, but the MTA has long insisted that a third track is a necessary component of LIRR's East Side Access expansion. In March 2015, LIRR president Patrick Nowakowski declared that the LIRR would not proceed with the project without the support of the local communities. Small segments of the third track already existed: one segment between Merillon Avenue and Mineola, built in
2871-420: The LIRR's president, disagreed over the station's location, so Charlick abandoned the grade and relocated the extension south of Cold Spring, refusing to add a station stop near Cold Spring for years. Another argument at Huntington led to the line bypassing the town two miles (3 km) to the south, though a station was built. The line was extended from Syosset past Huntington to Northport in 1868, and in 1873
2958-454: The Main Line at either Riverhead or Calverton . From 1905 to 1928, Wading River was also the site of a LIRR demonstration farm . The other one was east of Medford station on the Main Line . The grade crossing with New York Avenue in Huntington was eliminated in 1909 as that road was lowered below grade. In 1910 and 1911 work was undertaken to reduce grades and eliminate sharp curves along
3045-563: The Main Line between Hicksville and Floral Park were located in Mineola. In November 2020, Willis Avenue's elimination project began that saw its Main Line and Oyster Bay Branch crossings eliminated with the road going underneath the tracks. Main Street and the pedestrian crossing were removed shortly thereafter. After the Third Track Project was completed, all Main Line grade crossings from Hicksville westward were eliminated, noise from horns
3132-554: The Main Line, namely those in Westbury, Mineola, and New Hyde Park. The first two crossings that underwent elimination would be Urban Avenue in Westbury and Covert Avenue in New Hyde Park. Construction to eliminate began from February–April 2019 with the closures of both roads. On the weekend of July 20–21, 2019, the trestle carrying the three tracks was installed at Urban Avenue. After construction of retaining walls, pedestrian walkway, and
3219-542: The Mather shipbuilding family that now serves as the center of a museum complex and headquarters for the Historical Society of Greater Port Jefferson. P. T. Barnum , the famous circus owner, owned a tract of land which ran through the village. His intention was to make Port Jefferson the home base for his circus, founded in 1871. The residents blocked his plans, and he eventually sold his land. Barnum Avenue now runs through
3306-506: The South Side track extension east of Huntington). As a result, electric trains must deadhead to Huntington for rush hour service from as far away as West Side Yard in Manhattan , about 37 miles (60 km) away. A new yard for electric trains would resolve this inefficiency and allow more frequent service on the branch. In the early 2000s, the MTA performed environmental studies for over
3393-532: The area that was once Barnum's. The section of town at the intersection of the two streets, then known as Hotel Square, became an active center of Port Jefferson's early tourism industry in the mid-19th century, with a variety of hotels and restaurants. This included the John Roe house, which was converted into the Townsend House hotel. The village's first post office was added to this intersection in 1855. With
3480-422: The branch in a piecemeal fashion and wanted to wait until the railroad had the funds to electrify from Huntington to Port Jefferson all at once. In anticipation of electrification, from late 1985 to early 1986, the LIRR built full-length high-level platforms at all stations between Huntington and Port Jefferson. Because electrification has not occurred, these 12-car platforms are unique in the LIRR's diesel territory;
3567-413: The branch, with the first step being the addition of a second electrified track from Syosset to Huntington. The second built along the south side of the existing track. The second track was expected to be open in 1986. In August 1983, Long Island Lighting Company started relocating its power line along the right-of-way between these points. The following month a contract to prepare the site and to construct
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3654-411: The branch. Trains to the Ronkonkoma Branch provide supplemental service; these usually run express, stopping only at Mineola and/or Hicksville. Additional service to Mineola is provided by Oyster Bay Branch trains, and a handful of Montauk Branch trains also stop at Mineola and Hicksville on weekdays, though the vast majority of Montauk Branch trains that run on the Main Line do not stop. Service on
3741-621: The construction of a parking structure at Mineola station. A groundbreaking ceremony for the Third Track project was held on September 5, 2018. All eight grade crossings in the Third Track construction area were removed by February 2021. The first phase of the third track opened on August 15, 2022, and a second phase opened on August 30. The entirety of the third track was complete by October 3, 2022. West of New Hyde Park , trips go on to terminate at Penn Station , Hunterspoint Avenue , Grand Central , or Jamaica . Stations east of Port Jefferson on
3828-470: The crossing gates down, killing nine of them. The project took five years and cost $ 85 million. Work continued for a year to widen the overpass to allow for a future third track. Other crossings eliminated along the branch include Mineola Boulevard in Mineola (1930), crossings within Hicksville when the station was elevated in the early 1960s, and Charlotte Avenue in Hicksville (1973). Ten years later in 2008,
3915-577: The cultural, commercial and transportation hub of the neighboring Port Jefferson Station , Belle Terre , Mount Sinai , Miller Place , Poquott , and the Setaukets . The original settlers of the Town of Brookhaven , based in the neighboring hamlet of Setauket , bought a tract of land from the Setalcott Indians in 1655. The deed included the area of contemporary Port Jefferson along with all other lands along
4002-619: The derailed wheel runs up the rerailer and back on to the track. Also see Extended Wagon Top Boiler . Also see Waist sheet . Also see Expansion knee . Also see Valve gear. Also see Grate Also see Train air signal apparatus. Also see Control system. Also Adhesion railway . Also Adhesion railway . Also see Hub. Also Adhesion railway . Also see Whistle stem. Also Coupler Yoke , Bell Yoke , Guide Yoke , Valve Yoke . Port Jefferson, New York Port Jefferson , also known as Port Jeff ,
4089-497: The east by Mount Sinai School District . Port Jefferson features a major ferry route, a Long Island Rail Road terminus, multiple bus lines, and an extensive network of roads. The Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Ferry is one of two routes connecting Long Island to New England . The other route is the Cross Sound Ferry at Orient Point and no bridges or tunnels exist despite past proposals. Port Jefferson's ferry company
4176-623: The electrified portion that have the heaviest traffic include Mineola (Main Line), Hicksville (Main Line), and Huntington . On the non-electrified portion, the heaviest traffic tends to be to the Stony Brook station where Stony Brook University is located. The line from Hicksville to Syosset was chartered in 1853 as the Hicksville and Syosset Railroad and opened in 1854. The LIRR later planned to extend to Cold Spring Harbor , but Oliver Charlick ,
4263-643: The end of 1984, six-car high-level platforms would be installed. These platforms would be extended to accommodate twelve-car trains in the second phase, to be done by the middle of 1985. Bruce McIver, president of the LIRR at the time, estimated in 1986 that electrification of the branch would cost $ 320 million, including new rolling stock. He argued that the limited funds the railroad had set aside for electrification would be better spent on other improvements, such as signal and yard upgrades near Penn Station. Financial constraints acted as another obstacle to electrification to Northport. McIver also did not want to electrify
4350-405: The former Wading River Branch were abandoned on October 3, 1938. Rail line Rail transport terms are a form of technical terminology applied to railways. Although many terms are uniform across different nations and companies, they are by no means universal, with differences often originating from parallel development of rail transport systems in different parts of the world, and in
4437-455: The four-lane wide Roslyn Road in Mineola was eliminated in the same fashion. Several hazardous crossings still exist west of Huntington east of DIVIDE interlocking, such as Robbins Lane and Jackson Avenue in Syosset. East of Huntington, Park Avenue in Huntington and Main Street in Port Jefferson are considered quite hazardous. The Third Track project closed the seven remaining grade crossings on
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#17328451364364524-426: The frigate HMS Pomone and brig HMS Despatch sent their boats into the harbor under cover of darkness, capturing seven sloops . To protect local interests, a small fortress was set up on the west side of Port Jefferson Harbor. In 1836 the local leadership initiated the community's transition from a "swampish hamlet" to a busy port town. The 22 acres of the harborfront, which flooded at high tide, were brought to
4611-519: The full run it continues toward the western terminus of Pennsylvania Station in Manhattan or to Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn . The average commute from Port Jefferson to Manhattan via the Long Island Rail Road takes approximately 2 hours. Train service to New York City first reached Port Jefferson in 1873. The ferry terminal and train station are approximately 1-mile (1.6 km) apart. In March 2014, mayor Margot Garant announced interest in establishing
4698-482: The governor's plan "dead on arrival." In December 2017, the LIRR awarded a contract for the project to the consortium 3rd Track Constructors for $ 1.8 billion, with construction beginning in 2018 and completion estimated for 2022. The first part of the contract included the reconstruction of the Carle Place, Mineola, and Floral Park stations; the construction or reconstruction of six railroad crossings and underpasses; and
4785-469: The harbor on his way to bury treasure at Gardiners Island . Another legend is that: during the Revolutionary War , naval commander John Paul Jones had a ship fitted here. However, there is no factual support for these assertions, and the historical works quoted do not present them as definitive facts. John Paul Jones's career in particular is well documented, and there are no accounts of him visiting
4872-555: The high-level platforms along the Montauk , Greenport and Oyster Bay diesel branches are all much shorter. Work to install centralized traffic control between Smithtown and Port Jefferson started in fall 1974 and was completed in March 1975. This project was intended to improve safety and to increase train speed. The change allowed bidirectional service in single-track territory with the use of passing sidings. On June 9, 1986, double-tracking of
4959-470: The line between Syosset and Huntington was completed, and seven additional trains (two diesels and five electric) were added to the schedule. The second track sped some trips by up to 15 minutes, and increased operational flexibility. The $ 41 million project started in September 1983 and included the widening of bridges at West Rogues Path and Woodbury Road, five rubberized grade crossings, and the installation of
5046-428: The line between Syosset and Huntington. The project eliminated grade crossings, shortened the line by 3,300 feet (1.0 km), and provided two million yards of excavated material that could be used for the reconstruction of Jamaica station. In 1911, the line's second track was extended from Hicksville to Cold Spring. In 1985, the second track was extended from just east of Syosset to just west of Huntington to alleviate
5133-480: The line would have just about all the positive aspects of electrification with this proposal." The LIRR's dual-mode locomotives debuted in the late 1990s, providing two round trips during weekday rush hours between Penn Station and Port Jefferson, the first time a one-seat ride was available. In 2015, multiple parties renewed calls for electrification of the branch. The LIRR estimated that electrification would cost up to $ 18 million per track mile, so electrification of
5220-550: The mid-19th century. The village has since transitioned to a tourist-based economy. The port remains active as terminus of the Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Ferry , one of two commercial ferry lines between Long Island and Connecticut , and is supplemented by the terminus of the Long Island Rail Road 's Port Jefferson Branch . It is also the center of the Greater Port Jefferson region of northwestern Brookhaven, serving as
5307-550: The most hazardous grade crossings in the country. On April 28, 1998, a bridge over Herricks Road opened, replacing a grade crossing which was once "labeled the most hazardous in the United States by the National Transportation Safety Board ." The grade-crossing elimination project was initiated after an incident on March 14, 1982, when a van with ten teenagers got struck at the four-lane wide rail crossing with
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#17328451364365394-717: The national origins of the engineers and managers who built the inaugural rail infrastructure . An example is the term railroad , used (but not exclusively) in North America , and railway , generally used in English-speaking countries outside North America and by the International Union of Railways . In English-speaking countries outside the United Kingdom, a mixture of US and UK terms may exist. Various terms, both global and specific to individual countries, are listed here. The abbreviation "UIC" refers to terminology adopted by
5481-416: The non-electrified portion of the branch between Port Jefferson and Huntington is usually provided by diesel shuttles; transfers generally occur at Huntington between diesel shuttles and electric trains to/from city terminals. During rush hours, the branch sees extra service, including direct service between stations east of Huntington and Hunterspoint Avenue , Long Island City , or Penn Station. Stations on
5568-592: The physical trackage called the Port Jefferson Branch) extends east from Floral Park , where the Hempstead Branch separates from the Main Line. The line west of Huntington is electrified and double tracked. Electrification extends east of Huntington, past a layup track used to store electric trains, to a point between the Park Avenue and Lake Road grade crossings. East of there, the line is single-track, with
5655-425: The previously planned 11.5-mile (18.5 km) segment starting from Queens Village . Despite the promise of mitigation efforts, several local politicians denounced the governor's plan within a day of its announcement; Floral Park's mayor told The New York Times that "we thought this was dead and buried", while New Hyde Park's mayor pledged to "fight the governor vehemently on this" and a local state senator called
5742-454: The public include that part of the Main Line in the "Port Jefferson Branch" service. The Port Jefferson Branch is one of the busiest branches of the LIRR, with frequent electric service to Huntington where electrification ends, and diesel service east of Huntington continuing to Port Jefferson. The MTA also refers to the line as the " Huntington/Port Jefferson Branch " or " Huntington Branch ". Port Jefferson Branch service (as distinct from
5829-534: The regular sighting of people who dress in 19th century clothing, house tours, the reading of winter-related poetry, caroling, and booths set up by local businesses. Students from the Port Jefferson Middle School and High School submit poetry and art that are used in the festival. Free concerts of seasonal music by various ensembles are presented at the Methodist church. Many small festivals are held during
5916-556: The remainder of Port Jefferson consists of several residential neighborhoods defined by the hills on which they sit. In the northeastern corner of the village is the neighborhood of Harbor Hills . This neighborhood occupies the western edge of Mount Sinai Harbor and contains the Port Jefferson Country Club at Harbor Hills. Brick Hill is the neighborhood directly west of the Lower Port Jefferson commercial center and
6003-659: The repaving of the road, Urban Avenue was officially reopened on September 5, 2019. Covert Avenue underwent the installation of a three-track trestle on the weekend of August 24–25 and reopened on October 12, 2019. New Hyde Park underwent the installation of a three-track trestle on the weekend of July 11–12, 2020, and reopened in August 2020. By mid-2021, Main Street in Mineola, the pedestrian crossing at Mineola's station, and 12th Street in New Hyde Park were permanently closed to pedestrian and vehicular traffic, while Willis Avenue in Mineola and School Street in Westbury received trestles, with
6090-468: The roadbed for the track was awarded for $ 9.5 million. In December 1983, grading and construction work was expected to begin that month, and track installation was scheduled to be completed by the end of 1985. As part of the project, the 800 feet (240 m) south platform was to be extended to accommodate 12-car trains. The design of the project to Northport was completed, and preliminary designs were expected to be completed by early 1984. On August 6, 1984,
6177-430: The roads crossing underneath. From May 2020 to November 2020, School Street underwent a grade crossing elimination and reopened less than two years after a violent accident occurred involving a pick-up truck and two trains. On October 24, 2020, the stretch of the line in New Hyde Park was officially grade-separated following the permanent closure of the 12th Street crossing. By late 2020, the only remaining grade crossings on
6264-589: The subject of a 1993 art exhibition by the Long Island Museum of American Art, History, and Carriages in Stony Brook . Port Jefferson has been home to the annual Port Jefferson Village Dickens Festival every year since 1996. The festival celebrates the works and times of English novelist Charles Dickens . It takes place during a weekend early in December and typically includes many events and occurrences, such as
6351-572: The summer, showcasing music and crafts. Each Fourth of July sees a substantial parade on Main Street. The village also hosts an annual outdoor concert series and film screenings, both of which currently take place in Harborfront Park throughout July and August. In keeping with its seafaring heritage, Port Jefferson hosts its own annual boat race series known as the Village Cup Regatta , with proceeds benefiting cancer research. Port Jefferson
6438-472: The vicinity of Herricks Road during the grade crossing elimination project that took place in 1998, and another was built during a 2014–2018 renovation project at Hicksville station, which connected Track 1 at Hicksville station to the North Siding track located about 3,000 feet (910 m) west of the station. This short segment would eventually become the eastern end of the Third Track, and already allowed for
6525-458: The village adjusted itself to its new economic role. One such transformation was the 1976 redevelopment of the defunct Mather & Jones Shipyard into a shop-lined promenade known as Chandler Square. A result of the transition is new public access to much of the waterfront, as several industrial lots had previously stood in the way. Danfords Hotel and Marina was one major waterfront project, which integrated several new and historical structures into
6612-458: The village, which was under British control during the time he served as a commanding officer. In 1797, when the entire town had five houses, its first shipyard was built. By 1825, several shipbuilding firms were located there, which attracted new residents and commerce. During the War of 1812 , British interference on Long Island Sound upset local shipping routes. On one occasion, two British warships,
6699-412: Was 43.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.1 males. In the 2008–2012 American Community Survey , the median income for a household in the village was $ 108,060 and the median income for a family was $ 138,984. The per capita income for the village was $ 51,937. Of the population, 6.5% were below the poverty threshold . Port Jefferson
6786-475: Was a grand abode on the western end of Mount Sinai Harbor at Mount Misery Neck. The first settler in Port Jefferson's current downtown was an Irish Protestant shoemaker from Queens named John Roe, who built his still-standing home in 1682. It remained a small community of five homes through the 18th century, and was renamed to "Drowned Meadow" in 1682. Local lore has it that the pirate Captain Kidd rendezvoused in
6873-490: Was abandoned in 1988. The Kings Park Psychiatric run-off ( KPPC ) is an abandoned spur off the Port Jefferson Branch for the Kings Park Psychiatric Center . This spur started just west of Kings Park station , ran north of the station house, crossed Indian Head Road ( Suffolk CR 14 ) and then curved north to cross New York State Route 25A , where it ran along the western edge of the hospital property, and ended at
6960-515: Was accomplished by shifting the alignments of tracks in some areas to make room for the third track within the right-of-way and building a shorter third track than previous proposals, resulting in a 9.8-mile (15.8 km) three-track segment starting at Floral Park (the easternmost station shared by the Hempstead Branch and Main Line, where the Hempstead Branch and Main Line split from a 4-track corridor into two distinct pairs of tracks), instead of
7047-414: Was approximately 2,500 people per square mile (980/km ). The racial makeup of the village was 88.5% White , 10.5% Hispanic or Latino , 2.1% Asian , 1.6% African American , 0.2% Native American , 2.2% from other races , and 1.4% from two or more races. There were 3,090 households, out of which 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.2% were married couples living together, 8.0% had
7134-437: Was established in 1883 and was championed by influential circus owner P. T. Barnum . Barnum, who owned lands in both Port Jefferson and Bridgeport, Connecticut , became the new company's first president. The village additionally serves as the eastern terminus for the Long Island Rail Road's Port Jefferson Branch . The branch consists of a diesel train that connects to the electrified Main Line at Huntington station . During
7221-423: Was first developed by the noted circus owner P. T. Barnum . West of Upper Port Jefferson is Cedar Hill , which is topped by the c. 1859 Cedar Hill Cemetery where residents formerly would bask while enjoying views over the village from its highest point. Within Port Jefferson is Port Jefferson Harbor, a natural deepwater harbor. Setauket Harbor branches off to the west from the harbor. One notable geographic feature
7308-470: Was reduced to the benefit of residents along the tracks, and carbon emissions from idling vehicles was eliminated. The elimination and reopening of Willis Avenue on September 3, 2021, officially marked the completion of the grade crossing elimination aspect of the Third Track Project, and the branch being fully grade-separated west of Hicksville. Lacking a yard to store its electric trains, the branch has storage space for just three 12-car electric trainsets (at
7395-471: Was removed during the demise of the complex. On October 19, 1970, electrification was extended 16 miles (26 km) from Mineola to Huntington , the eastern limit of electrification on the branch. This was the first major LIRR electrification project since the electrification of the Babylon Branch in 1925 between Lynbrook and Babylon. The project was completed for $ 69 million, and received funding from
7482-415: Was stalled by fierce opposition from the villages of Floral Park , New Hyde Park , and Garden City , which advocated that construction and the resulting increased train service will reduce the quality of life in their neighborhoods. These villages did, however, support the station improvements and the elimination of grade crossings that the LIRR has planned in conjunction with the third track, and called for
7569-690: Was the rebuilding of a former shipyard warehouse into the Port Jefferson Village Center, a new public space for events and recreation. A number of historic buildings were included in the Port Jefferson Village Historic District , listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. Separately listed are the Bayles Shipyard and First National Bank of Port Jefferson building. The village's commerce
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